Addiction, its impact on families and the ability to come through to the other side will be featured when Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance (DSAA) and Dr. Anne Kinderwater Carroll of Lancaster County Joining Forces for Children present a program at the Milanof-Schock Library. Strength & Support: Resources for a Recovery Journey will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy. The evening will feature a documentary screening, community conversation and local resources for those impacted by addiction.

The event will include a screening of "No Matter What: A Family Story of Addiction Recovery," a documentary that follows one family's honest and hopeful journey through addiction and into recovery.

The documentary shares the journey of the Theurer family, a multi-generational household made up of a father and adult daughter in recovery, her young son, a mother and a teenage daughter. Their story weaves together each person's unique challenges and triumphs, showing how they draw strength and hope from one another while navigating recovery as a family.

Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with the family featured in the film. Carroll will facilitate the discussion and will guide attendees through reflection and conversation.

For organizer Stacy Emminger, executive director of DSAA, the program is about shining a light on the often-overlooked stories of recovery.

"I think that people need to see that recovery from addiction is not only possible, but probable. This family is testament to that," she said. "Amazingly, they are willing to open up about their recovery journey. It is unfortunate that most of what we hear in the media about addiction is about the negative - we don't hear the positive stories. We don't hear about the thousands of individuals and families that find recovery and heal. We don't hear about the fact that they lead healthy and successful lives."

Emminger first learned about the film several years ago at its premiere and knew it could serve as a powerful tool for community discussion.

"It's important to remember that there are a lot of people in recovery living normal lives, and you would have no idea that they struggled with addiction in their past," she said.

She worked with local partners to bring the screening to a public space, where more people would feel comfortable attending. The event is hosted by DSAA, Joining Forces for Children, Milanof-Schock Library and the Mount Joy Area Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the film and discussion, resource tables will be available, offering information and support from local organizations.

Joining Forces for Children is a countywide collaborative that works to address the needs of children affected by substance use through education, systems change and direct support for families. Backed by Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the collaborative connects organizations and individuals working to save lives and strengthen the community.

People are encouraged to register for this free program at https://mslibrary.org or by calling 717-653-1510. While there is no registration deadline, space is limited.