Free meals, entertainment and haircuts offered at the second TownHall II picnic

Townhall Integrated Health Network II will host its second annual community picnic on Thursday, October 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The picnic will be held at the Hometown Bank Plaza in downtown Kent. If weather does not permit, the event will be held in the City Hall II parking lot under tents at 155 N. Water Street in Kent.

The highlight of the event will be a performance of “The Sound of Recovery: Music and Message” by singer-songwriter Marc Lee Shannon at noon. Shannon is perhaps most recognizable for his work with local legend Michael Stanley and his band The Resonators, with whom he played for 25 years. Shannon’s latest album, “Lucky 7,” pays tribute to her seven years of sobriety.

“Seven years ago, I felt like I could have a better life,” Shannon writes in the liner notes for “Lucky 7.” “I was broken, beaten and lost, with no confidence in my future. Thanks to medical treatment and the miracle of a healing community, I was given another chance at life.

A strong advocate for addiction treatment, Shannon is the author of the monthly column “Sober Chronicles” for The Devil Strip. His podcast, “Recovery Talks, The Podcast,” features people who freely share their sobriety and mental health journeys and is available at recoverytalks.org.

Burgers, hot dogs and vegetarian options will be served all afternoon, accompanied by s’mores and ice cream courtesy of Frank’s Ice Cream and apples courtesy of Beckwith Orchards. There will be games, music and free haircuts all afternoon.

Townhall II is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable agency that provides integrated health care services to Portage County, Ohio and surrounding areas. As part of its services, the agency operates a 24-hour crisis help line, seven days a week at 330-678-HELP (4357), and is the designated help line for the line Life Crisis 988 in Portage County.

Townhall II is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the American Association of Suicidology, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The agency is supported by the Portage County Mental Health and Recovery Council, the Ohio Behavioral and Family Health Service Provider Council and the United Way of Portage County. Learn more about Townhall II and the services it offers at www.townhall2.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Marc Lee Shannon highlighted at Townhall II picnic