Picnic 2004

An important part of recovery is relationships with family and friends. It is said over and over that “it takes a village to raise a child” well it takes village for the success of adults as well. We are not wired to be on our own all the time and spending time with people and having fun are great for a healthy life. The patrons of Share Center in Battle Creek believed and practiced this at their 4th of July picnic. Consumers planning activities strengthens mental health and recovery, but too often we plan and do everything instead of letting people plan the event themselves.

The following pictures showcase a consumer run event and what happens when many minds and appetites are brought to the table. Coming together around food is a common bond across cultures as you can see below. These consumers each took a different role to plan this 4th of July picnic. Event planning, marketing, transportation, meal preparation, table setting, games and eating were planned totally by consumers for this event. Hamburgers, hotdogs, and sunshine are a recipe for health!