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Rockin’ for Recovery supports Delaware Goes Purple

Annual campaign helps to raise awareness, provide information about substance-abuse issues
Dickens and Ballsworth is the first band to take the stage during Rockin’ for Recovery at Hudson Fields near Milton June 4. The event helped raise funds to support the Delaware Goes Purple substance-abuse campaign. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
June 9, 2022

The first Rockin’ for Recovery to support Delaware Goes Purple featured three area bands and booths set up by healthcare and substance-abuse treatment providers, as well as food trucks and vendors. The June 4 event took place at Hudson Fields near Milton with the bands Company B, Dickens and Ballsworth, and Rebel Soul performing.

In its fifth year, the Delaware Goes Purple campaign, founded by Sussex County Health Coalition Executive Director Peggy Geisler, aims to defeat opioid addiction and raise awareness of other substance-abuse issues.

Delaware Goes Purple wants residents to: Sign the online pledge at delawaregoespurple.org; attend a Narcan training or host a Narcan education site; host an event at work, school or church and encourage everyone to wear purple; share support on social media and tag #DelawareGoesPurple; contact legislators about supporting addiction programs and resources at legis.delaware.gov; and share personal use and recovery experiences.

Sponsors included the Matt Haley Trust, Highmark BluePrints for the Community, United Way of Delaware and Delaware 211, Delaware Health and Social Services, Beebe Healthcare, Bayhealth, ChristianaCare, WBOC, R. Short Roofing LLC, Hudson Fields and The Vault.

For more information, go to delawaregoespurple.org or sussexcoalition.org.

 

Steve Himmelfarb, trustee of the Matt Haley Trust, talks about the importance of offering second chances. The trust, named for the local philanthropist and restaurateur who died in 2014, supports organizations focusing on children, immigrants, those formerly incarcerated, job training and food.
Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long has supported the Delaware Goes Purple awareness campaign since its inception five years ago.
Some of the organizers of the event pose for a photo with Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, honorary co-chair, center. Others are (l-r) Trisha Newcomer, Sussex County Health Coalition board president; Kathryn Burritt, coalition project director; Peggy Geisler, coalition executive director; and Crystal Timmons-Bryant, coalition operations support. SUBMITTED PHOTO
A large crowd gets to its feet during the first song played by Company B, a Bad Company tribute band.
Rakynia Clark, left, and Ayona Walker represent CORAS at the Delaware Goes Purple event. With a downstate facility in Harrington, the agency offers residential substance-abuse treatment and a men’s recovery center. Go to coraswellness.org for more information.
Angie Ficco, community outreach manager, left, and Sharon Ostasewski, patient services, work at BrightView, an addiction center in Georgetown. Go to brightviewhealth.com for more information.
Sarah Fogarty, a Beebe Healthcare peer coach, supplies information about services.
Ayden Jackson and Gianna Tambourelli throw around a Go Purple beach ball.
It’s all about the color. Delaware Goes Purple is an annual campaign to stop opioid addiction and create awareness of other substance-abuse issues.
Company B guitarist wails out a rendition of the national anthem at the start of the band’s set.
Numerous health, wellness and substance abuse agencies offered information and giveaways.
Company B lead singer Mark Arscott takes the microphone during Rockin’ for Recovery.

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