Sunrise Vigil, Recovery Month Party in Park set for Saturday
Those who would like to mark the passing of a loved one who had substance abuse or mental health issues can do so this Saturday in Fort Myers.
Kimmie’s Recovery Zone, in partnership with countless area non-profits, is hosting a Sunrise Vigil and Southwest Florida Recovery Month Party in the Park at Lakes Park in remembrance of those whose battle has ended.
Each September, Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation that make recovery in all its forms possible.
Former NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Founder of “Athletes in Recovery,” Randy Grimes, will serve as the keynote speaker.
“I think Southwest Florida is heading in the right direction when it comes to working on substance abuse and mental health issues, and I think we’re doing the right things and all collaborating with each other,” said Kimmie’s Recovery Zone Founder Al Kinkle. “We’re going to fight in this tsunami we’re fighting right now. And we’re going to beat it. You can’t do it alone. The numbers speak for themselves.”
The vigil starts at 9:30 and includes a song, prayer, and a reading of the names of those being remembered.
The Party in the Park is to follow around an hour after and features food trucks and games/activities for children. Also included will be corn hole, volleyball, a live band and deejay.
“We have so many people that are interested in the mental health and substance abuse issue in our community,” Kinkle said. “It’s a tribute to Southwest Florida and all of the people that we’ve worked with year after year. Nobody has given up. In fact, everybody is trying harder. I’m overwhelmed and proud of this community.”
Kinkle lost his daughter, Kim, at the age of 35 in 2015 to substance abuse. Since her passing, he has dedicated his time and efforts of leaving a legacy in her name to assist others who have felt the disease that is substance and mental heath issues.
Kimmie’s Recovery Zone was a non-profit created in 2018, but Kinkle has been working effortlessly since her passing in other incarnations, including benefiting children with cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital, since she passed.
“When we lose a loved one, one of the things we want to do is honor them, and we want somebody to mention their name and talk about them,” Kinkle said. “I get an opportunity to speak a lot about my daughter, which at times is very hard to do, but the mission overshadows that. She’s still very much here with me and working with me and encouraging me to continue the fight for other people.”
He added that it’s important for people to break the stigma and understand substance abuse and mental health issues are diseases that any individual can fall into.
“My daughter passed on from a disease just like any other disease,” Kinkle said. “And I’m not ashamed of that. I’m proud of my daughter. She fought every day for 20 years to get away from addiction — but it’s powerful, so powerful. We have to honor and respect them, and this vigil gives us a chance to honor our kids, and our moms and our dads. This is more dangerous than anything in all of my years I’ve seen come down the pike. But again, I think Southwest Florida and our collaborations we’re doing with each other, that we’re going to make a big difference and save a lot of people.”
Kinkle, who lives in Fort Myers, said that phone calls have tripled in last few months for those needing help with substance or mental health issues, and from individuals that have lost loved ones. More than 123,000 individuals have lost their lives due to substance or mental health issues in 2022 so far. Kimmie’s Recovery Zone has partnered with numerous other non-profits in Southwest Florida, and CEO Heidi Webb is a Cape Coral native that is helping spread the word of their services in the city.
“It’s going to take time and a lot of energy, but we have a lot of energy,” he said. “Hopefully we can cut down on the time. Everybody deserves a chance to come back and recover. We just sometimes need more than one chance. Who knows, it could take 50 chances — who cares? As long as the end result is that we save somebody.”
For those who may be wary of attending an event to remember a lost loved one, or to even get help themselves, for whatever reason that may be, could find the setting to be comforting and even make it easier to open up and talk.
“The bonding with each other is so very important,” Kinkle said. “It can be uncomfortable to talk when something tragic happens. There’s a lot of therapeutic value in these events. When people see how we bond together, it can be their first step. It’s important to even have a friend to talk to, or to get out and volunteer. When my daughter died, I would tell myself I’m doing this work in her name. And it helped me. I can’t tell you what I would look like if I weren’t doing what I’m doing now. It’s easier to carry that heavy load with supporters around you. We all need help.”
Kimmie’s Recovery Zone will have an office location in the Paige Field area in the coming weeks. They will offer peer specialists, parents group, provide resources to community members, and can even distribute Narcan for free.
“We’re going to be there to help people and hold their hands through the difficult times,” Kinkle said. “We want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We want to be a center for support and a place you can go to find out information. We have a great relationship with different agencies that all try and help out where they can.”
Lakes Park is at 7730 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers.
For more information, visit www.KimmiesRecoveryZone.org.
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To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com