GALION — Today’s Take Back Our Community Rally in Heise Park is designed to bring more attention to the plight of drug addiction, the rally is from noon to 11 p.m. at the band stand in Heise Park, behind the YMCA.
Mary Shoup, of Galion, started a non-profit group called “Rally for Hope” that is organizing the rally. The group’s motto is “Together we can get your life back.”
In February, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, said “Ohio is No. 1 in opiate deaths” in the country. “So, with all of the great efforts that are going on, what we’re doing doesn’t seem to be working well enough.”
Shoup has seen three members of her family die of substance abuse and she is doing all that she can to help others get out from underneath their addictions.
Saturday’s rally will include testimonials and guest speakers from noon to 6 p.m.
Scheduled speakers include: Brenda Stewart, founder of The Addict’s Parents United at noon; motivational speaker Tiffany Lynn Robinson at 12:15 p.m.; Nicole Wamsley, a treatment coordinator for Satori Waters at 12:30 p.m.; Bud Lytle, public information officer for the Chillicothe, Ohio Police Department at 12:45; Chris Hargett of Teen Challenge of Greater Cleveland at 1:30 p.m.; Shelly Smith McNeal of Galion, and of Teen Challenge of the Firelands at 1:45 p.m.; Michael Brown, a recovering addict, at 2 p.m.; CR Carter, treatment coordinator at Arrow Passage Recovery at 2:15 p.m.; Cindy Tate Koumountzis, state director of OhioCAN at 3 p.m.; Kelly Mangold, a recovering addict at 3:15 p.m.; Chastity McGraw at 3:30 p.m.; Wes Walker of Oceanfront Recovery in Laguna Beach, California at 3:45 p.m.; Ashleigh Baker from the TV series “60 Days In” at 4:30 p.m.; Richie Webber, Sober Living manager at New Housing Ohio, Inc. and a founder of Fight for Recovery at 4:45 p.m.; Amanda Joan Quimper of Stripped Clean at 5 p.m.; Michael Pack, of F I Community Housing and the White Oak Run Treatment Center at 5:15 p.m.; Savage at 5:30 p.m.; special guest Brittany Gates at 5:45 p.m.
A vigil is planned from 6-7 p.m. in honor of anyone who has lost a family member, friend or loved one to addiction.
A concert will run from 7-11 p.m. Performances are planned by Teelow, Anthony Boggs, Smooth, Scott Greene, Ira Keenan, Jessie Crow, Chris Lewis and Blackheart.
There also will be representatives from drug rehab centers available to talk with anyone who feels they need help, or to anyone who knows and loves someone who needs help.
Shoup has had some success since starting Rally for Hope. Churches and other groups have helped her. She’s received donations and “scholarships” addicts can use to get to a rehab center to receive treatment.
But she wants to do more.
In the future, she’d like to open a “halfway house” to be used by addicts coming out of rehab.
“Right now, most of them go back to their homes and friends and before long they’re right where they started,” Shoup said. “They need a place to live, for a year, or two years, so they don’t go back and fall into the same habits.”
Shoup has not been deterred by naysayers and others who don’t believe addicts need or deserve a helping hand.
“I’m going to keep talking. I’m going to keep bothering people. I’m going to keep raising money and finding ways to get addicts into rehab,” Shoup said.
“I’m just tired of seeing people die,” she said. “We need to take back our communities. This is not about me. It’s about the people who are struggling and dying from their addictions.”
Ashleigh Baker, who is schedule to speak at 4:30 p.m., is one speaker Galion area residents may be familiar with. Baker appeared in the TV series “60 Days In.” The program, on the A & E network offers a real look at life behind bars at Indiana’s Clark County Jail. In the show, seven volunteers were sent to live among the general population of the jail for 60 days. Neither inmates nor the staff at the jail knew about the volunteers. Ashleigh and her husband Zac, a former Marine, were two of the volunteers. She will share information and insight about her two months in jail.
But Saturday’s rally is not just about dishing out testimonials and information about drug abuse, drug addiction and drug treatment. Shoup said if someone shows up at the rally asking for help, she will make sure they receive help.
She said she has developed contacts with rehab facilities in Ohio, Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia and other states.
Saturday’s rally is free to attend, but it’s also a fund-raiser for Rally for Hope. T-shirts will be available for $20. There also is a link on the Rally for Hope Facebook page for donations.
The program, on the A & E network offered a real look at life behind bars at Indiana’s Clark County Jail. In the show, volunteers were sent to live among the general population of the jail for 60 days. Neither other inmates nor the staff at the jail knew about the volunteer. Ashleigh, right, and her husband, Zac, left, were two of the volunteers. They’re pictured with Mary Shoup at a recent rally. (Courtesy photo)