LoonFest Recap: From Community Care to Hometown Pride

LoonFest Recap: From Community Care to Hometown Pride

By: Maggie Rogers

This past weekend, the community came together in full force for the annual Loon Festival! It was a vibrant celebration of community and hometown pride. At our booth, Save A Life Recovery Resource Center handed out free Narcan, lock bags & boxes, hygiene kits, educational materials on harm reduction, and information about local treatment and recovery options. Staff and volunteers engaged festivalgoers in conversations about substance use awareness and mental health, emphasizing the importance of community support in recovery. We also offered materials for making friendship bracelets free of charge! They served as a great conversation starter for all ages! Our friends from Healthy Acadia joined us on Thursday and Friday to help provide information and resources!  For many, the booth served as a reminder that recovery is possible—and that help is always nearby.

This year, we handed out a record number of lock bags this weekend at over 40!  Lock bags are a simple but powerful tool in the fight against substance misuse. These secure, portable pouches are designed to safely store prescription medications, keeping them out of the hands of children, teens, or anyone who might misuse them. By using a lock bag at home, families can prevent accidental poisoning in young children, deter theft or misuse of medications, especially opioids or stimulants, encourage responsible storage habits that protect everyone in the household, and support safe disposal by storing medications securely until they can be dropped off at a take-back site. At events like LoonFest, giving out lock bags helps raise awareness about safe medication storage and gives community members a practical way to protect their loved ones. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in preventing addiction before it starts. Did you miss us at LoonFest and are interested in a lock bag? Come by Save A Life during our open drop-in hours to pick one up!

Another highlight from the weekend was the new signups for our Teen Council! The Teen Council at Save A Life Recovery Resource Center plays a vital role in building a healthier, more resilient community, starting with young people. This youth-led group empowers teens to be active voices in the conversation around mental health, substance use prevention, and recovery support.

The winners from our 2025 Battle of the Bands took the stage at Cobb Field at 4pm! Coelacanth followed by Nick Wood, kicked off the evening’s concert at Cobb Field. Our Save A Life staff, volunteers, as well as our friends and families, hit the field to cheer them both on. We were again blown away by the talent that came from both Coelacanth and Nick Wood. Check out both of their Facebook pages to see where they will be next! A massive thank you to Shawn Rogers, Lincoln’s Event and Communications Director, for allowing Save A Life to be a part of LoonFest again this year in more ways than one! As the music faded, the final bracelets were tied, and the fireworks were lit, this year’s LoonFest came to a close with full hearts and a renewed sense of community connection. From distributing life-saving resources to cheering on local talent, Save A Life Recovery Resource Center was honored to be part of such a meaningful and joy-filled weekend.

Events like LoonFest remind us that prevention, recovery, and community care are all deeply connected. Whether it’s through a simple conversation, a shared bracelet-making moment, or a powerful performance on stage, we’re grateful for every opportunity to connect with our neighbors and spread a message of hope.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s LoonFest—but until then, our doors remain open. If you or someone you love is in need of support, education, or resources, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can build a stronger, safer, and more compassionate community—one step, one story, and one lock bag at a time.

Open Hours for July:

Mondays: 11:30am - 6:00pm

Tuesdays: 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Wednesdays: 11:30am - 6:00pm

Thursdays: 12:30pm - 6:00pm

Fridays: `11:30am - 6:00pm

SAVE A LIFE LOCATION: 19 VFW Road, Lincoln, Maine. Phone: 207-403-9100

Please check our Facebook page at Save a Life Recovery Resource Center frequently for changes to the schedule. Occasional cancellations are unavoidable, and that is the quickest way to see if your activity is being affected: facebook.com/SaveALifeRecoveryNetwork

If you would like to donate there are several ways to do so: 

Paypal: director@salrecovery.org 

Checks can be mailed to: Save A Life Recovery Resource Center, P.O. Box 12, Lincoln, ME 04457.

Current Programs at Save A Life:

• NEW Book Club: Mondays at 1:30pm! We are reading “A Map of Home” by Randa Jarrar. Limited copies available at Save A Life. 

• Gardening Mondays: 4:00pm come to our Greenhouse and listen to the classic “A Secret Garden” while working in the Greenhouse.

• NEW All Recovery Meeting: Tuesdays 5:00pm for those in recovery or affected others.

• CREATIVE RECOVERY ART PROJECT – 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm 

• CREATIVE WRITING CLUB- Wednesdays 5pm all ages. 615pm adults only. All are welcome. Free childcare available.

• Drop-In Craft Time: Thursdays 3:00-6:00pm. During drop-in come and do a craft or take a small one to do at home. 

• NEW Creative Journaling: Fridays 5:00pm, come in every week and express yourself in more fun and creative ways.

• Walking Group: Saturdays 9:00am. Meet at the Lincoln Walking Trails. We will be meeting at the Lee Road Trailhead by the rec fields. 

• JUST JAMMIN’- Music Jam Saturdays at 5:00pm until finish under the guidance of Stanley Mitchell. Guitars, microphones, drums, and keyboard available for use, or bring your own! Free childcare is available.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Recovery Block Party on September 5th 5:00pm, Table at September Fest on September 6^th 11:00-7:00pm 

HARM REDUCTION DROP-IN – Free Narcan™, wound care and hygiene kits, locked medication storage containers, medication disposal kits, safer smoking, rig kits and quick, easy free training! All are welcome during any of our drop-in times.

RECOVERY COACH SERVICES- If you are seeking recovery from any substance or unhealthy lifestyle and would like a Peer Recovery Coach to help you on your journey, we offer one-on-one recovery coaching FREE OF CHARGE.

RECOVERY COACH TRAINING: Free virtual training to become a Recovery Coach is available. To learn more, please contact Save A Life at (207) 403-9100.

For additional information, please visit the Save A Life Recovery Resource Center’s Facebook

Page facebook.com/SaveALifeRecoveryNetwork, visit the Save A Life website at salrecoverynetwork.org, or find us on Instagram @TheCenter207