BERLIN – A recovery house in Berlin is seeking the community’s support to raise funds for capital improvements.
On Saturday, May 18, Hope4Recovery – a nonprofit organization in Worcester County that provides a safe, sober and structured living environment for those in recovery – will hold its first annual barbecue picnic fundraiser.
Since October, Hope4Recovery has operated its sober living facility at a house on Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin. The building was formerly occupied by the Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health.
And while she highlighted the success of Worcester County’s first recovery home, Executive Director Tish Ottey said the nonprofit is now looking to raise money for capital improvements at the facility.
“We have some repairs that need to be done,” she said. “So we are looking to take care of those before another season comes through.”
To that end, Hope4Recovery will host its first fundraiser on May 18 for members of the community.
“We invite everyone in recovery or not in recovery to come out,” she said. “It will be a family friendly and relaxing event.”
Ottey said the fundraiser will feature food, snow cones, moon bounces, a dunk tank, cornhole tournament and more.
“It will be a way for everyone in the community to celebrate recovery,” she said. “If we can fundraise a little money along the way, then that would be great.”
Ottey explained funds raised from the picnic will be used to complete phased repairs and renovations at the Hope4Recovery house. The nonprofit will also hold a second fundraiser for facility improvements on June 2 at 1 p.m. at Ocean Lanes bowling alley in Ocean City. The $300 registration fee per team includes three games, shoes, pizza and water.
“Our first goal is to replace the HVAC for our building and the building out back,” she said. “From there, we will have to address some issues in the basement and then work on expanding and updating the kitchen. It’s a big undertaking.”
Ottey explained the improvements will ultimately benefit the living environment at the Hope4Recovery house, which she said has remained full since the beginning of the year.
“Things are going great …,” she said. “We haven’t had more than a day or two where we haven’t been full in the past three months. We’ve also had a few long-term residents, which is amazing. It’s a huge success, and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys that live there. They’re amazing.”
The barbecue picnic will take place on May 18 from noon to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Hope4Recovery house, located at 10226 Old Ocean City Boulevard in Berlin. This year’s inaugural event will be sponsored by Maryland Title Service.
The fundraiser will have a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children. The nonprofit is also seeking volunteers to man the dunk tank.
“This is a little different than a lot of fundraisers …,” she said. “We want the community to celebrate everyone that’s working so hard to be in recovery, and we want to show off how great these guys are doing.”
For more information on the barbecue picnic or bowling fundraisers, visit the Hope4Recovery Inc. Facebook page.
