Riverview Park Hosts 10th Annual Rally for Recovery: Community Unites to Support Addiction Recovery
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— Riverview Park in Woodward Township became a vibrant hub of hope, healing, and support on August 19, as community members came together to rally behind a cause that’s both worthy and vital: recovery from addiction.
The 10th Annual Rally for Recovery, co-hosted by Advocates for a Drug Free Tomorrow and the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, was held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The highlight of the Rally was an untimed, symbolic walk along Riverview Park’s walking path—two laps taken with a single purpose: to celebrate the strength and resilience of those in recovery, as well as the individuals and organizations dedicated to providing critical services and support to those facing addiction.
As the clock struck 10:00 a.m., attendees began to arrive while representatives from various treatment service providers and non-profit organizations set up informational tables along the walking path. The five-hour event, projected to draw between 125 and 150 participants, brought the community together to celebrate recovery, promote prevention and wellness, and foster hope.
“By celebrating individuals in recovery, we acknowledge the incredible work that goes into the journey and their value as people, no matter where they are in that journey.,” said Jennifer Reeder, BA, CAAP, CCSM, Assistant Executive Director of the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission and a key organizer for this year’s Rally for Recovery event. “Showing up demonstrates support in a beautiful way.”
The Rally, which began ten years ago as a grass-roots vision to unite Clinton County residents against rising substance abuse, has evolved into a cornerstone event. Planning is a team effort, led by a committee comprised of Advocates for a Drug Free Tomorrow, the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, Clinton County Probation Services, Applegate Recovery, and passionate community members who have dedicated themselves to the cause.
The 2025 Rally for Recovery was more than just a walk along the path through Riverview Park—it was a festival of hope. Supporters of all ages participated in the walk, and the event also featured a variety of activities that were both family and recovery-friendly. A few highlights included engaging activities geared towards children, food, volleyball, cornhole, giant Jenga, Yardzee, and kickball, creating a lively atmosphere that truly captured the spirit of hope and recovery.
Two local crowd favorites made appearances at the Rally this year: SSD Clark, the Clinton County Court’s beloved facility dog, and “Benji the Bigfoot,” both drawing the attention of kids and adults alike. SSD Clark is trained by Susquehanna Service Dogs (SSD), an organization that breeds, raises, and places facility and assistance dogs. Clark’s primary role is in the Clinton County Garden Building within the Probation Office, where his primary duty as a facility dog is to perform specialized tasks that support the county’s Specialty Court participants.
Rally for Recovery participants and attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with a wide variety of treatment service providers. Alongside the walking path, tables were set up and staffed by representatives from numerous organizations, including Endless Mountain Behavioral Health Center, a detox and residential addiction treatment facility based in Sayre, PA; Firetree Ltd., which offers residential treatment and reentry programs for individuals facing challenges after incarceration across eight Pennsylvania locations; and Gaudenzia Addiction Treatment & Recovery Services, which operates in more than 20 counties statewide. Also present were Pyramid Healthcare Inc., with over 20 inpatient and outpatient locations in Pennsylvania and beyond, and Applegate Recovery, which specializes in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder at eight sites throughout the state. West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, the private, non-profit human service agency serving Lycoming and Clinton Counties, was also on hand to provide resources for prevention, intervention, and treatment.
Other organizations in attendance included the Center for Community Resources, which offers behavioral health and addiction recovery services in more than 30 counties statewide, and St. Joseph’s Institute, providing treatment for both substance use and mental health disorders in Port Matilda. Crossroads Counseling Inc., specializing in mental health and substance abuse treatment at seven locations—including one in Lock Haven—and Genesis House, Inc., which focuses on the treatment of substance use and gambling disorders, were also present. Additionally, representatives from White Deer Run Treatment Network were on hand to share information and resources about the facility’s seven drug and alcohol rehab centers throughout the state.
Non-profit organizations, AIDS Resource and AR Health Services, were present to provide information about HIV and STI prevention, testing, and care services, which are available to both the general public and the LGBTQ+ community at their Williamsport and State College locations. Lastly, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization—a health insurance company specializing in mental health and substance use recovery for over 20 years—offered resources and information to attendees throughout the event.
In addition to Jennifer Reeder, Assistant Executive Director of the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, several other prominent community leaders and recovery advocates were present at the Rally to show their support and celebrate the recovery community in Clinton County. Among them was Shea Madden, Executive Director of the Commission; Don M. Powers, District Court Administrator at the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas; Patrick Johnson, Clinton County Public Defender; President Judge Craig P. Miller, who founded the Clinton County Specialty Courts program; Bekie Gram, SMART Recovery Program Facilitator leading meetings at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on E. Main Street in downtown Lock Haven every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday at 12:00 p.m.; and Clinton County Chief Probation Officer Jason Foltz. Several members of the Clinton County Probation Department also mingled with attendees, demonstrating a supportive and encouraging approach to recovery.
Advocates for a Drug Free Tomorrow, together with planning partners West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission, the Clinton County Probation Department, and Applegate Recovery, extend their sincere gratitude to the generous sponsors of the 10th Annual Rally for Recovery. The event and its festivities were made possible thanks to the support of Platinum sponsor Crossroads Counseling, Inc. Gold sponsors included White Deer Run Treatment Network, AppleGate Recovery, UPMC Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, and Pyramid Healthcare Inc. This year’s Silver sponsors featured local businesses such as Brigandi, Gleghorn & Haffley Insurance Agency, Redmond’s Complete Comfort, and First Quality, alongside Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board Behavioral HealthChoices and Gaudenzia Addiction Treatment & Recovery Services, all of which highlighted a community-wide commitment to recovery, support, and wellness through their contributions.
This year’s Rally for Recovery was a powerful display of the recovery community’s strength and resilience, while also recognizing the vital work of those who provide prevention, treatment, and support services. The event created a welcoming space for connection and wellness activities, extending beyond support groups and services. As attendees mingled and walked the park’s path together, one thing was clear: in Lock Haven, recovery is not a journey taken alone— it is a journey shared by the entire community.
For those wishing to support the cause through a contribution, contact Jennifer Reeder at (570) 367-8670 or send donations to West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission at 124 1/2 E. Main Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745.
To learn more about West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission and Advocates for a Drug Free Tomorrow, visit https://wbdrugandalcohol.org.
