Church’s Mardi Gras Advances Fight against Drug Addiction

OCEAN VIEW – Messiah Lutheran Church, 2298 Route 9 North, found a way to celebrate Mardi Gras and combat drug addiction. 
The evening before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, Feb. 28, the church community hosted a dinner, jazz concert and silent auction.
Those were held to support the work of Cape Assist in fighting against drug addiction. 
Donors were served a repast of shrimp or sausage jambalaya, with a spring salad, muffins and chocolate cake for dessert by volunteers from Dennisville Girl Scout Troop 44536.
Those girls were Jessica Raab, Charlotte Selver, Madison Fowler and Anna Harrar. The troop was led by Christine Selver and Nancy Fowler.
As they ate, the Atlantic City Jazz Band played old and new sets from the world of jazz. Their music is heard regularly on Jim McMillan’s Sunday jazz program on WOND 1400 AM. He was present to lend his support to the evening’s cause which he promoted on his radio show.
The more serious topic of the evening was presented first by Chet Labov, who is himself an addict in recovery from dependency on opioids.
He and his wife Dawn are both church members and are in a continuing struggle with addiction. Heroin and opioid addiction is one that affects the nation and state.
In 2015 in New Jersey there were 1,600 deaths attributed to heroin overdoses with many more persons being saved by Narcan. The problem is so grave that Gov. Chris Christie has committed the last year of his administration to the quest of combating this epidemic and has asked the state Legislature to dedicate new and increased resources to helping the addict and stopping dealers.
The diners heard from Dawn Izzi, a congregation member, who has fought her battle with alcoholism.
Parent to Parent, an organization founded by four mothers, three of whom lost sons to drugs, also addressed the group. They direct their efforts to help families and individuals to find affordable treatment services for addiction so that no one will be without help.
They can be reached at 856-983-3328. They were also recipients of the night’s proceeds along with Cape Assist and Messiah Lutheran’s anti-addiction ministries.
Vice Pastor Jeff Rickards said that Messiah has been hosting the jazz concert since 2014 and that the partnership with Cape Assist started in 2014.
“This is a small church but a very giving church,” he said. “It is full of dedicated, talented people,” he added; people such as Nancy and Jack Birkmeyer, Carol Boland, Liz Deneker, Jane Vitulo, Harry Labov and Tom Keck who organized and worked the event.
Messiah Lutheran Church may be contacted at 609-486-6043.