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Taco the Town: Organizations shell out free food, share info on recovery services

By Candice Black 4 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The recovery community celebrated Taco Tuesday as locals and organizations gathered at Bicentennial Park to spark discussions and encourage people through recovery.

Coordinated by Dominique Kirl from Jobs and Hope, the event was an opportunity for people to enjoy food from Jimmy Avacado's food truck and "Taco 'Bout Recovery," in honor of recovery month.

Representatives from organizations such as Hope Center Ministries, OVP Health Recovery Center, Simonton Windows, Westbrook Health Service, Peer Solutions, the Public Defender office, Jobs and Hope WV were also set up to pass out information materials about the services they offer.

Kirl said one of the goals was to "let the community know about all of the wonderful things that are going on in Wood County with recovery and to provide education materials and resources to the community so that they can see the good that's going on and not just the negative."

With treatment centers, sober-living houses collegiate recovery, Kirl said the recovery community wants to work together to enhance the region.

"We want people who are in long-term recovery to get education and training, help them overcome their barriers so that they can go on to get careers and open businesses in our community and be tax paying citizens who do good in our community and give back what they're been given form our community," she said.

A few people spoke to the group either about the organization they're a part of or shared a personal story about how some of the recovery programs helped them.

Wendy Tuck, District 4 Parkersburg City Council member, helped with the event and she was the first speaker to address the group.

"When you think about recovery, almost everybody is recovering from something. If you think about it, our economy is recovering, you recover after a flood, you recover after a heart attack, you can recover after additions, there are so many things. Everybody is recovering from something," Tuck said. "I really don't see this as anything different than what many of us do trying to get our lives back together."

Tuck also addressed the city's moratorium on treatment facilities and said she believes the pause will allow for more input from the community and to spread out some of the treatment beds beyond Wood County.

"During this moratorium (Mayor Tom Joyce) really wanted to set up a working group to understand what the issues were, to understand the questions, to give the community a chance to ask questions and find out more," she said.

Julie Bailes stepped up to the microphone and shared her experience with Jobs and Hope for about a year.

"Jobs and Hope has given me an opportunity to make a career out of anything," Bailes said.

Bailes is pursuing a business degree at Washington State Community College and she said her boyfriend has worked alongside her through the program.

"They have helped him be able to be more than what he ever thought he could possibly be. He had the potential to do so much and they (saw) that in him," she said.

Bailes said that in working with Jobs and Hope, it can sometimes be simple things like regular drug screening or checking in once a month that can help someone reach their professional goals.

"I personally am thankful for the opportunity to be a participant," she said.

Other speakers at the event were Steve Ball from the Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home and Eric Beeson, who works with collegiate recovery, which "helps people who are in long-term recovery go back to college and address all of their barriers," Kirl said.

The event ended before the city council meeting and Kirl encouraged people to attend council meetings regularly to learn about what decisions are being made in the community.

"The only way you can advocate for yourself and your recovery is if you show up and go to those city council meetings, that's very important," she said.

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