By Erik Jones, Lorain Daily
LORAIN, OH — In a heartfelt moment during Monday night’s council meeting, the City of Lorain formally recognized Let’s Get Real, a grassroots recovery community organization that has quietly become a lifeline for individuals and families facing addiction and mental health challenges.
Councilmember Beth Kemp introduced a resolution proclaiming April as Drug and Alcohol Awareness Month, and honoring the tireless work of Let’s Get Real, noting that while their efforts don’t always make headlines, they’re felt in “living rooms, church basements, and community rooms across Lorain.”
“Recovery is rarely a straight line,” Kemp said. “For many, it takes multiple attempts, and the constant presence of people who refuse to give up. Let’s Get Real doesn’t just support individuals—they stand beside their families, distribute life-saving Narcan, and walk alongside people in their most vulnerable moments.”
The organization, which began as a small, peer-led initiative, has grown into a trusted recovery network offering everything from crisis response to support group meetings and community education. Many of their volunteers and staff are in recovery themselves, bringing authenticity and understanding that’s hard to replicate through traditional channels.
A Personal Mission with Public Impact
During the presentation, Let’s Get Real staff and supporters filled the council chamber, standing shoulder to shoulder as founder and director [name] accepted the resolution.
“It’s rough out there,” she said with emotion. “Anytime we hear something positive, it fills our hearts. We’ve been doing this a long time—quietly, consistently. But it means a lot to be seen.”
Several council members offered emotional testimony about how recovery programs like Let’s Get Real have touched their own families and neighborhoods. Councilman Mitchell Roy, who has publicly shared his own experience with addiction and recovery, praised the organization for helping people like him find a path forward.
“I refused treatment the first time. I was angry. But I came back,” Roy said. “Because of programs like Let’s Get Real, people like me get a second shot at life—and our families get us back.”
A Community of Hope
While the opioid crisis and rising mental health needs have strained many communities, Let’s Get Real has positioned itself as a frontline resource—providing peer support, facilitating access to treatment, and connecting people to services they might not otherwise find.
The organization’s impact stretches beyond individuals, helping families navigate the emotional toll of addiction and loss, while educating the public on prevention and stigma reduction.
“They don’t just hold hope,” Kemp said during the resolution. “They hold people. They walk with them.”
What’s Next for Let’s Get Real?
As the organization looks toward the future, its leaders say the demand for services continues to grow, but so does their resolve. In April, they’ll be expanding outreach events and community education in observance of Drug and Alcohol Awareness Month.
“We’re here for the long haul,” one team member said after the ceremony. “And we’ll keep showing up—because we know what it’s like to need someone and not know where to turn.”