The annual event for the community was organized by the center and Temple Shalom of Wheeling and featured a free meal from Undo’s restaurant of Benwood.

Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom said after trick or treating for candy the children and families could enjoy the free meal inside the center.

Anyone was welcomed to attend the event, but it was aimed at also allowing people who are recovering from drug and alcohol addictions to spend quality time with their children in a safe and fun environment.

Lief said Halloween may not be a Jewish holiday, but being kind to strangers is a Jewish value.

photo by: Photo by Shelley Hanson

Luna Poole, 5, of Wheeling participates in the Unity Center’s trunk or treat Sunday in Benwood. She was accompanied by her grandmother Laura Hock.

“We’re proud to be here to support those who are struggling for recovery, and to support anyone who may not realize how many friendly, kind, gracious people there are in the world, to realize the world can be an even better place if all of us were a little kinder to our neighbors,” he said.

Mary Hess, executive director of the Unity Center, said the event was open to the entire community.

“We’re letting everyone be a kid for the day. It’s for everyone of all ages,” she said.

After the dinner, she said there were also crafts to make and games to play.

Hess said the Unity Center’s first floor was recently remodeled and will soon include space to host the children of adults who are attending meetings there.

photo by: Photo by Shelley Hanson

Dressed as a train conductor, Marcus Cell, 3, receives candy from Amanda White, left, of the Health Plan during the Unity Center’s trunk or treat Sunday in Benwood. He was accompanied by his mother Maressa Cell and her boyfriend Allen Lewis of Wheeling.

“We’re going to work with other organizations to start up a children’s program so while guardians are in a support meeting upstairs, we can have a specialist working with our kids downstairs,” she said, noting this will include prevention work and group therapy.

“That way the kids aren’t forgotten when the parents are getting into recovery,” she added.

Hess said having the children’s program will remove a barrier for many who are entering recovery.

“We’re encouraging them to bring them and we’ll have set meetings throughout the week,” she noted.

Hess said the center holds 20 different support groups weekly. People from the tri-state area are welcomed. Some people traveling through the area also stop to attend a meeting, she added.

photo by: Photo by Shelley Hanson

Dressed as an Among Us video game character is Arthur Evans, 10, of Wheeling and his mother Debra Evans who is dressed as a witch during the Unity Center’s trunk or treat Sunday in Benwood.

“We are a hub of recovery for the community. We will help people get into treatment programs and detox programs if they are looking for sober living – we can connect them with people,” she said.

Hess said the center can even connect people with services related to getting housing and furniture and other needs to help them get back on their feet so they will not feel so overwhelmed while doing so.

The Unity Center is located at 4850 Eoff St., Benwood. For information about what types of meetings are held and when, visit www.ohiovalleyrecovery.org. The center’s number is 304-232-3888.

The Porter family of Wheeling gives out candy during the Unity Center’s trunk or treat Sunday in Benwood. In front are 3-year-old Mason, left, and 7-year-old Asher. And in back, from left, are mother Mia Porter, 8-year-old Levi, and father Matthew Porter.

The Unity Center, shown here on Sunday, hosts 20 different meetings to help those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.