PAULDING, Ohio — On Friday, June 20, community members, graduates, and advocates gathered at Branch Christian Fellowship for an evening of reflection and hope to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Paulding County Drug Court and the official launch of Reclaimed Living, a new halfway house and nonprofit dedicated to sober recovery in Paulding County.
The celebratory dinner, which began at 5:30 p.m., brought together former and current Drug Court participants, court officials, and supporters for a moving tribute to the lives changed by a decade of commitment to recovery. Amber Krynock, a Reclaimed Living board member, was the chef for the dinner, and she prepared a delectable menu for everyone to enjoy. As a fundraiser, ticket sales and a dessert auction will be directed by Zach Gorrell of Gorrell Bros. Real Estate and Auctioneers, with all proceeds going directly to support the operations of the Reclaimed Living home—a long-awaited sober housing initiative designed to provide ongoing structure and support for people in recovery. Desserts were donated by individuals and businesses all over the area.
The evening featured emotional reunions as Drug Court alumni and current participants shared the stage, serving as a visual reminder of how far many have come—and how many more lives can be transformed through ongoing community efforts.
Jane and Dave Nice, Reclaimed Living board members, provided a brief history of the halfway house’s journey to where it is today.
Since its inception in 2015, the Paulding County Drug Court has helped hundreds of people find accountability, structure, and hope on their path to sobriety. The program, led by Common Pleas Judge Tiffany Beckman, provides an alternative path for substance abuse offenders that emphasizes recovery over punishment.
Judge Beckman, whose leadership was highlighted in the new “Who is PCDC?” series, has been an unwavering advocate for compassionate justice. “Judge Beckman approaches her participants differently than in criminal hearings,” the organizers noted. “She doesn’t wear her robe, gets to know them, and often speaks life into them with her nuggets of wisdom and inspiration.”
During the banquet, Judge Beckman addressed the audience with heartfelt reflections and a message of continued hope. “What I’ve learned is that when someone comes to Drug Court, it’s not just about whether they stop using,” she told me. “It’s about whether they begin believing that their life is worth living again.”
She went on to say, “Addiction is powerful, but so are love, support, and community. And I’ve seen what happens when people are given the opportunity to succeed, the structure to stay focused, and the encouragement to keep going.
Outside of the courtroom, Judge Beckman is dedicated to learning more about addiction and best practices for treatment court, demonstrating her commitment to those struggling with substance abuse in Paulding County.
Reclaimed Living, now an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded concurrently with the anniversary celebration to meet one of the community’s most pressing needs: a safe, sober living environment for those in recovery. The organization will provide individuals with housing, structure, and peer support as they return to society and rebuild their lives.
Participants must call in for drug screenings on a daily basis, attend treatment and peer support meetings, and appear in court twice per month. This results in more than 15 contact hours per week during their first few months in the program, which is a rigorous structure designed to support long-term change.
The celebration also recognized Power2Change (P2C), a Christ-centered peer support group that has collaborated with the Drug Court for the past five years. In a recent social media post, Program Director Mitch Maibach emphasized the core of their mission: “to create a space where everyone has the opportunity to hear the Good News of the Gospel and be heard, loved, and valued despite their past.”
P2C groups are dedicated to healing from grief, shame, anxiety, and other emotional wounds that frequently accompany addiction. Through weekly meetings, sober activities, and one-on-one peer mentoring, the organization hopes to accompany individuals as they move forward with hope and faith.
As Paulding County Drug Court enters its second decade, the launch of Reclaimed Living serves as a reminder of what is possible when the community, courts, and compassion work together. With new infrastructure and a growing network of support, Paulding County is poised to continue changing—and reclaiming—lives for many years to come.
