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Sobriety, mental health and veterans on Peace & Justice Weds. Oct 9 at 9AM

Written by on Monday, October 7, 2019

WSLR and Peace & Justice supporter Roland Levy is celebrating riding 100,000 miles on the Legacy Trail! Roland supports WSLR and three other local nonprofit groups. We’ll talk about them this Wednesday.

Roland leads a local group of SOS – Secular Organizations for Sobriety each Wednesday from 6-7 PM at Prospect House at 240 S. Tuttle Avenue in Sarasota. He’s also on their advisory board and board of directors. See www.sossobriety.org.

Roland is bringing two guests this Wednesday: Arin Norris, Executive Director of the Mental Health Community Centers, and Pete Beisler, Quartermaster of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

Arin Norris and the MHCCI serve more than 400 client members with a full-time staff of 12 and a part-time staff of 10. MHCCI’s programs include integrated dual disorders groups, symptom management groups, wellness education, skill-building groups, and art and community-outreach activities.

Mental Health Community Centers (MHCCI) operates four psycho-social rehabilitation Drop-In Centers in Arcadia, North Port, Sarasota and Venice, providing consumer-driven, wellness and recovery-focused programs for adults diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. MHCCI.COM.

Pete Beisler is the Quartermaster of local VFW Post 3233. He served in the US Army 1966 to 1969. He is a proud Vietnam Veteran, serving there 1968 to 1969.

The VFW traces its roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans’ pension for them,and they were left to care for themselves.

Annually, the nearly 2 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliaries contribute more than 8.6 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and National Volunteer Week. 

Note: Roland Levy’s celebration of his 100,000 mile bike ride will take place at Real Bikes, 581 US 41 by-pass, Bird Bay Plaza 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM Saturday, October 19. No charge. There’ll be a raffle and prizes.