Chicken barbecues are hot-sellers for Orleans – Recovery Hope

Organization offers Narcan training, other services

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – Volunteers work to fill take-out containers with chicken barbecue dinners on Saturday in the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.

There were 500 dinners available as a fundraiser for Orleans – Recovery Hope Begins Here. Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard is in back, center, with Danielle Kujawa next to her at right and Kathy Hodgins at far right. Hodgins is director of treatment for UConnectCare (formerly GCASA).

The organization last year gave out about 500 Narcan kits. Orleans Recovery works to reduce the stigma of addiction or substance use, while providing support to those with substance use disorders and their families.

Danielle Kujawa joined Orleans Hope about two years ago. Her brother Zach Kujawa died at age 30 on Oct. 25, 2019, after an overdose.

“I joined to reduce the stigma,” Kujawa said. “Everyone struggles with their own battle.”

Mike Hoch cooks 500 chickens for Chiavetta’s BBQ at the Fairgrounds on Saturday.

Orleans Recovery sold 400 of the dinners presale with about 100 available during the event from 1 to 4 p.m.

The organization is based at the Arnold Gregory Office Complex at 243 South Main Street, Suite 190.

It is planning more pop-up events this year to give away Narcan kits that help to reverse a drug overdose. Orleans Recovery also wants to make the community aware of the other services provided by the organization.

For more information call (585) 210-8750 or email OrleansRecoveryHope@gmail.com.

Scott Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner, greets a driver at the fairgrounds pulling in for one of the dinners. Schmidt is joined by Don Snyder, a retired chaplain who is active with Orleans Recovery.

Schmidt is the group’s acting president. As coroner he said he had been called to many scenes following fatal overdoses in Orleans County.

“This is an epidemic,” Schmidt said. “It’s awful. There are so many people who have accidently overdosed while trying to deal with their pain.”