Clean and Sober Party open to everyone

An estimated 250 to 300 people are expected to attend the Clean & Sober New Year's Eve Party on Dec. 31.

Sponsored by the SURF Center (Service, Unity, Recovery and Fellowship), the festive alcohol-free event will be held at the Bauer Community Center, formerly called the Southside Community Center.

Since 1993, the nonprofit SURF Center has provided meeting space for 12-step groups and other recovery-related organizations.

"The party is open to everyone," said Beth Moore, a SURF Center board member. "We usually get 30 to 40 people every year come to the party who aren't part of the recovery community.

"People come who want to bring their family to something that is safe and alcohol-free."

There is a need for food donations and volunteers for the party, said Sue Antibus, a volunteer for the party. She is recovering from substance abuse and takes the lead in group meetings.

"Why not start the New Year at the Clean & Sober Party?" she said. "It is fun with good food and dancing."

Antibus is in charge of coordinating donations for the party. She volunteers at the SURF Center four times a week.

"Coming to the SURF Center has helped me," she said. "There is fellowship, trust and honesty."

Fellow volunteer Rick Nelson will be in charge at the party. He's been sober for almost 24 years.

"My vision is that we will have enough volunteers to be open 24 hours a day at the center," he said.

The Clean & Sober Party includes sandwiches, beverages and door prizes. A WSL Mobile disc jockey will provide dance music.

In related news, the SURF Center in October received a two-month extension on the lease for its building on North Third Street. The building had been sold for a redevelopment project involving CityBus.

"The extension goes through December and then it is month to month," said Barbara Webster, SURF Center board president.

She said the group continues to look for another meeting site.

If you go

The SURF Center's annual Clean & Sober New Year's Eve Party is scheduled Dec. 31 at Bauer Community Center, South Fourth and Fountain streets in Lafayette. It is the former Community and Family Resource Center.

The alcohol-free party will start at 8 p.m. and end at 12:30 a.m. Admission will be free, although donations at the door are encouraged.

There will be food, beverages, door prizes and dancing.

The party is for all ages, especially for families.

How to help

Food donations and volunteers are needed for the Clean & Sober Party on New Year's Eve.

To donate items or to volunteer, call (765) 742-1033 or visit the center at 316 N. Third St.