The inaugural Recovery Month Gathering kicks off Saturday with an evening full of live music and food aimed at raising awareness about alcohol and drug addiction and recovery.

The community event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Butler Farmers Market in the city's Island neighborhood. It is being hosted by Action in Recovery, a local group aiming to help people working to stay sober to feel good about themselves by making a positive difference in their community. The group was founded in 2017 by Jason Beckwith, a Butler resident and certified recovery specialist.

Jamie Lee, a board member of the nonprofit group, said the free event will be fun for local families, but its primary goal is to raise awareness as part of National Recovery Month.

“It's really about fellowship and awareness,” Lee said. “September is the month of recovery awareness. We're hoping to kick this off as our first (event).”

The free event features local rock favorite Chuck Moses & the Trash Bandits, hot dogs, chips and other snacks.

Lee estimates 150 to 250 people from the Butler area will attend.

“It's not just for those in recovery,” she said. “It's also for those supportive of recovery, anyone suffering or anyone with a vested interest in recovery in our community. It's a family event.”

Recovery information will also be provided by such groups as Gaiser Addiction Center and the Butler County Drug & Alcohol Program. There will also be a Chinese auction, gift baskets, giveaways and toys for children. Lee hopes the event helps attendees understand more about recovery and learn about how the county is combating addiction. “It's to eliminate the stigma of recovery,” Lee said. “It's also to show the ways we've been progressing with recovery.”

For more information on the Recovery Month Gathering, visit Action in Recovery's Facebook page.