HIGHTSTOWN: It’s the season of angels – A different kind of family joins together for Thanksgiving

By Michael V. Crismali, Correspondent
HIGHTSTOWN – ‘Tis the season when families all across the country are preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. This past Saturday, a different kind of family came together at the First Baptist Church in Hightstown to celebrate, and there is certainly plenty for which to be thankful.
It was the annual gathering for the City of Angels (COA), an independent organization that serves to guide people with addiction to treatment and support them in their recovery.
Upon walking into the church dining room, that familiar smell of Thanksgiving was in the air, and the warmth and affection the people felt for each other was undeniable. In attendance was a combination of City of Angels volunteers, former addicts in recovery and the families who support them.
According to Executive Director Char McCallum – affectionately known as “Mama Char” – City of Angels is comprised of 100 percent volunteers. An overwhelming majority of the volunteers are either people who have experienced addiction in their own families, or former addicts, now recovered and devoting their time to helping others who continue to struggle with addiction.
On several occasions during the event, Ms. McCallum was approached by people politely excusing themselves so they could give her a hug prior to leaving. Each one called her “Mom” on the way out“Mama Char” explained that these were, in fact, not her actual children, but that they had formed a bond that was just as strong through the years.
City of Angels co-founder Kevin Meara explained that it is that family bond that makes an event such as the Thanksgiving dinner so important to the men and women who devote so much of their time to the City of Angels mission.
He told the story of how he and his wife MaryAnn turned their own personal tragedy, losing their son to drug abuse, into this movement of addiction outreach which has picked up so much momentum since its origination in 2009. He went on to state that what impresses him most are the people that stay involved in the organization even after they lose someone to drug abuse.
Another executive director, Art Ackerman, joined City of Angels approximately two years ago, and has taken on the roles of webmaster, head of fundraising, as well as managing the City of Angels radio station, known as “Recovery Radio.”.Present at the dinner was his daughter Kaitlyn Ackerman, and his 3-month-old granddaughter, Brea-Rose Burg, whose first ever Thanksgiving dinner was not only spent with her real family, but this extended family as well.
For 24 hour access to “Recovery Radio,” go to www.coaradio.com. To learn more about the City of Angels organization, visit http://www.cityofangelsnj.org/.
If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, the City of Angels hotline number is 609-910-4942.