Warren Coalition Plans Recovery Month Kickball Game, Picnic to Support Local Recovery

The Warren Coalition is putting a new spin on its annual National Recovery Month celebration this September, bringing people in recovery and law enforcement together for a friendly kickball game followed by a community picnic.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Mason Field at Gertrude E. Miller Recreation Park (next to Bing Crosby Stadium) in Front Royal. The kickball game will feature “Team Recovery,” made up of people in recovery and their supporters, taking on “Team Law,” representing law enforcement. A free recovery picnic will follow at Shelter No. 5.

Christa Shifflett, executive director of the Warren Coalition, said the organization has traditionally held a picnic during September, which is National Recovery Month. This year, organizers wanted to add something different that could bring the community together while raising money to help people rebuild their lives.

“We decided we would spice it up a little bit this year,” Shifflett said.

Clear Horizons and Matthew Rosario are serving as the official sponsor of the kickball game. The contest will run seven innings or 50 minutes, whichever comes first.

Both the game and picnic are free, but those planning to attend the picnic must register in advance through the Warren Coalition’s website so organizers know how much food to prepare.

“We’d love to have people come out and cheer on your favorite team for the game, and we’d love to have you come to the picnic,” Shifflett said. “We just need to know ahead of time if you want to come to the picnic and support people in recovery.”

The public can also donate in support of either Team Recovery or Team Law. Donations may be divided between the two teams for those who do not want to choose sides.

The Coalition hopes the event will raise $10,000 to help people in recovery with practical needs that can become major obstacles as they try to start over.

The Warren Coalition operates three recovery residences in Front Royal: The Landing and Colby’s House for men and The Nest for women. Together, the houses can accommodate 27 residents.

Shifflett said some residents arrive after incarceration or extended substance-use treatment with few personal belongings or financial resources. Donations can help pay for necessities as basic as shampoo or clothing, as well as larger expenses, such as work boots needed to begin a new job.

The Coalition also offers a matching program to help residents regain their driver’s licenses. When a resident saves 50% of the required amount, the Coalition can match the remaining 50%.

Those expenses may seem small compared with the larger challenges of recovery, but Shifflett said they can make an important difference for someone trying to return to work and regain independence.

The kickball game is also intended to bridge a divide that sometimes exists between people who have struggled with addiction and law enforcement.

People with a history of substance misuse may associate police with arrests or incarceration, Shifflett said, while the event offers an opportunity to show another side of that relationship.

“The reality is, law enforcement would like to see people get well too,” she said.

The family-friendly atmosphere is part of that effort. Organizers are encouraging residents to bring their children, cheer for the players, and then stay for an afternoon picnic in the park.

Michael Williams will serve as referee for the inaugural game.

Beyond raising money, Shifflett hopes the event will help residents better understand recovery and recognize that people who have experienced addiction are part of the community.

She said people in long-term recovery include local business owners and others whom their neighbors may never realize have faced addiction.

“If you give people the support they need, they are able to get well and stay well,” Shifflett said. “And often they help other people who are trying to walk that path.”

That support is particularly important because recovery does not always follow a straight line.

Shifflett described addiction as a chronic illness in which relapse can occur. When someone reaches out after relapsing, she said, the useful response is not shame or judgment but trying to understand what led to it and how another relapse might be prevented.

“Thank you so much for calling me,” Shifflett said of how she responds. “Let’s talk about what happened three weeks ago. Because your relapse started a long way in the rearview mirror.”

Shame, she said, can make recovery harder rather than easier.

The Warren Coalition’s work comes at a challenging time for charitable organizations. Shifflett, who said she has worked in the nonprofit field for more than 25 years, described the current fundraising climate as the most difficult she has experienced.

Organizations are dealing with funding gaps while residents are being asked to support numerous community causes, creating what she called “giving fatigue.”

That makes every contribution important, she said, regardless of size.

“It doesn’t have to be a large amount,” Shifflett said. “Sometimes people are like, ‘All I can give is five dollars,’ and feel bad. I’m like, ‘Don’t feel bad. You gave five dollars. Five dollars we didn’t have.’”

She said the response from businesses, individuals and organizations supporting the kickball event has already been encouraging.

The event also reflects a larger part of the Warren Coalition’s approach: working with other local organizations rather than trying to solve community problems alone.

“We do collaborate. We do work together,” Shifflett said. “We do look at gaps and say, ‘How can we fix this?’ And it might take eight of us together to try to figure it out.”

For the Sept. 12 event, however, the immediate goal is much simpler — get people together, have some fun, support recovery and remind neighbors that people working to overcome addiction remain part of the community.

Those interested in attending the picnic should register in advance on the Warren Coalition website. Donations supporting Team Recovery or Team Law can also be made through the organization.

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