Stacy Emminger, executive director of Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance (DSAA) loves Fridays, but not for the same reason many of us do. While it signals the end of the workweek for some, it represents another step in the recovery journey for the people who come through her doors at 78 E. Main St., Mount Joy.

Now the public can see firsthand how art is helping people heal when DSAA holds its annual Recovery Art Show. The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

"The art is created by people in early recovery that come to our Art Heals program on Fridays," Emminger said. "It is my favorite day. We have so much fun. We hang out, have music and snacks and make art. For them it's a little break from their treatment setting, a place to unwind. The art teachers are in long-term recovery and share about how art has helped them."

At the art show, a variety of mediums will be on display, including paintings, oil pastels, collage and sculptures. It's not for sale, since DSAA does not have a retail license, but the art can be taken home for a donation.

The Recovery Art Show takes place during Fourth Friday in Mount Joy when there's lots to see and do in town, but it also serves another purpose, Emminger said.

"The reason I love to have people come out to see the art is because I'm constantly working to break the stigma of addiction," she shared. "And people need to understand that it can happen to anyone. In the end, we're all human beings. This is a way to show the humanity of our clients. And it's also a way for people to know about us and what we do. People still don't know we're here and we can help."

Helping people in recovery has been the mission of DSAA since its inception. The organization celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

"Back in 2015 when we started, the opioid epidemic wasn't a thing yet," she remarked. "No one was talking about the addiction crisis or the kids that were dying. It was very much a 'can't happen to me' climate. But over the years, we have gained support from the community here. ... I am always amazed and grateful when I put a need out there and the people of Mount Joy step up and fill it."

DSAA provides support and help to families that have a loved one struggling with addiction.

"So often when it's happening, families don't know what to do or how to help their loved one," Emminger explained. "We provide a listening ear, advice and steps you can take to help your loved one, and we understand because we have gone through it."

The organization is especially personal to Emminger. She lost her son, Anthony, to addiction in 2014.

"We help find treatment or other services. We have spent 10 years building relationships and connections with treatment centers, and we can find someone a bed quickly - usually within 24 to 48 hours," she said. "We have our Care Kit program, which is a bag of hygiene products that we give to individuals in recovery houses or that are re-entering the community." DSAA also has a clothing bank, offers yoga classes and provides free naloxone, and staff members present talks about addiction for clubs, churches and other organizations.

DSAA's newest initiative is the re-entry program at Lancaster County Prison, in its fourth year.

"Not only are we providing peer support to inmates and re-entrants, (but) we also are teaching drug and alcohol classes in the prison," Emminger said. "And we have yoga classes for the inmates! It's very exciting."

Along with attending the Recovery Art Show, people can support DSAA in a variety of ways, including donating money, hygiene products of any size (even partially used packs), adult clothing and accessories, coffee or snacks for programs, arts and crafts or office supplies, magazines for collages, books for clients to borrow and notes of encouragement for inclusion in Care Kits.

Looking back on the past decade, Emminger is proud of what she and the organization have accomplished.

"I really can't believe that we are 10 years old," she said. "I wake up every day grateful for DSAA, the community that supports us and for the clients. I am so grateful to be part of their journey and honored that they trust me enough to share their stories with me. It's hard work, and 95% of the time I don't know how things turn out for them, but it's amazing to have a small part in their journey."

To learn more about DSAA, visit https://dsasquared.org or search for "DSAA - Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance" on Facebook.