- October 10, 2024
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Courtesy photo
Pastor Charles Silano wanted to take the annual Open Door Recovery Gala to the next level. That meant trying to bring in a nationally known keynote speaker.
Silano decided to swing for the fences. He contacted a man who understands that term — former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry.
To Silano’s surprise, Strawberry accepted. The former New York Mets and Yankees star will be the keynote speaker at the gala on Sept. 24 in the Ocean Ballroom at Hammock Beach Resort.
Proceeds support Open Door Re-Entry and Recovery Ministry, a faith-based substance abuse recovery program in Flagler County.
“Darryl has a great testimony, a great story,” said Silano, Open Door's founder and chairman.
Strawberry slugged 335 home runs during his 17-year major league career. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1983, an eight-time all-star and a four-time World Series champ.
But he struggled with drug addiction and alcohol abuse during and after his baseball career. Today, Strawberry and his wife, Tracy, are ordained ministers who run Strawberry Ministries, with the mission of restoring lives and relationships.
“He’s turned his life around completely,” Silano said. “There will be a lot of enlightenment to people bewildered about recovery, especially those going through it. There will be a lot of ah-ha moments.”
This will be the 11th annual Open Door Recovery Gala. Silano said he decided to step it up seven years ago when the organization moved the event to Hammock Beach Resort. Now they are taking a similar leap, paying for a well-known, in-demand speaker.
“We prepared for that for the sake of keeping recovery here on the map, and enlarging the map. I hear people say all the time, ‘I didn’t know the problem is so serious,’” Silano said. “When you look at the size of the problem, we need as many hands on deck as possible. Law enforcement can’t do everything. We need more facilities, especially where people can get long-term help.”
Silano said Open Door is planning to build a campus where it can double its bed space and not have to turn anyone away.
“We’re looking for the right place to put it,” he said.
Open Door is a nine-month program. Clients are employed while they are in the program. The organization has a transition house to keep clients engaged in the program.
“The longer you do that, the chance of recovery increases exponentially,” Silano said.
Having the clients on one campus would provide more of a community atmosphere, he said.
In addiction, you’re hiding, you’re living by yourself. In recovery your whole demeanor changes. It’s a big deal to know you’re accepted.”
— PASTOR CHARLES SILANO
“The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s community,” Silano said. “In addiction, you’re hiding, you’re living by yourself. In recovery, your whole demeanor changes. It’s a big deal to know you’re accepted.”
The gala is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. so everyone could get back home for Sunday Night Football, Silano said. Tickets for the dinner and the event are $250 and are available at opendoorrecovery.org. Tables and individual tickets are available. Because of some generous donations, Silano said, Open Door plans to invite some of the people currently in residential recovery to attend.
“Who needs to hear Darryl more than they do?” Silano said.
