Walking next to family, friends and strangers never felt more empowering than at Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet’s fourth annual Out of the Darkness into the Light walk on Saturday.

Founders of Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet John and Tammy Sienkiewicz said they noticed a need for familial and interpersonal support for recovering addicts in the community and the walk is just one of the things they have done in support of the recovery process.

“It means a lot to us,” John said. “Our main thing is we want to show that there is unity in recovery. There’s support and resources and what we do (at the walk) is bring those people together in one location.”

About 50-60 volunteers and many nonprofits and resource vendors attended this year’s event.

Lacey Blasko of Coaldale volunteered her time to help the nonprofit by taking photographs of the walk for John and Tammy. Blasko says the two of them are family friends and since she’s seen what they can do to help families come together, she wanted to help give back.

Jeeps Against Suicide attended the event in support of the mental health aspect of addiction. The group came together to memorialize a friend and fellow Jeep enthusiast who lost his battle with depression and died from suicide in 2017.

Today they attend events in support of recovery to help raise awareness.

One of the founders Nicole Cicero said, “It was heartwarming to see the adults who came to paint their message on the Jeeps - how long they’re sober, a positive message like ‘God Loves You’ or the names of loved ones they’ve lost.”

Other vendors offered resources to help guide those in recovery toward a brighter future. Some vendors have been Safer Streets clients in the past and John Sienkiewicz said it warms his heart to see them passing it on by helping others recover.

“It’s the name of the game: help others get treatment and help them get through it,” he said. “And CRS’s (Certified Recovery Specialists) are the biggest key.”

Although John says both recovery and family specialists play an important role in the recovery process, he says that recovery specialists are central because they’re the ones who help create a good home plan and provide a support system. They also help those who need to work through suspensions and fines as well as helping them find a job.

“When first going into recovery, most don’t know how to cook or wash or do simple things - that is what a certified recovery specialist helps with,” Sienkiewicz said.

New Roots Recovery Support Center, another foundation at the walk, hires recovery specialists to work with people. The organization often hold events in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre that help people understand recovery as well as help people through it.

All profits raised from the fundraisers held by Safer Streets are put directly toward their efforts of helping those in recovery, whether it be helping someone get treatment or holding important trainings.

Although Safer Streets holds its own naloxone trainings, St. Luke’s held two trainings at the walk. About 30 people attended.

John says most police department members and first responders in Schuylkill County carry naloxone, the reversal for overdoses.

When the Sienkiewicz family lost their daughter to an overdose on April 2, 2016, the family was motivated to raise awareness in the community as well as provide help to other families to prevent them from the emotional pain they had to feel.

Sienkiewicz summarized why he and his wife do what they do in one statement.

“If another parent doesn’t have to bury their child - it was worth it.”