By Michelle LaGuerre
ROME, N.Y. — The Center for Family Life and Recovery will host its third annual “Hope in a Bowl of Soup Rome” event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at 201 West Dominick St. in Rome.
The event is free and open to the community. Visitors can share soup and baked goods, talk with others and learn about addiction-recovery services available in the Mohawk Valley.
A meal built around connection
CFLR says the gathering is meant to offer more than food. It creates a welcoming setting for people in recovery, families supporting loved ones, people working in behavioral health and any resident who wants to learn or show support.
Addiction can isolate people and families. Shame, fear and uncertainty may make it harder to ask for help. A casual community meal can lower that barrier by creating a place where conversation begins naturally.
Organizers say the central message is that people do not have to face addiction, recovery or other difficult periods alone. The event highlights recovery as an ongoing process supported by relationships, reliable services and hope.
Erin’s Light carries a local legacy
“Hope in a Bowl of Soup” is supported through Erin’s Light, a recovery initiative created in memory of Erin, who died after struggling with addiction in 2019.
The initiative uses love, inspiration, grace and hope to support people working toward recovery while carrying Erin’s memory forward. The annual gathering takes place near her birthday.
Katie Rodriguez, CFLR’s director of recovery services, said the gathering has grown into a community tradition.
“What started as a way to honor Erin has become a tradition filled with love, hope, and connection,” Rodriguez said in the release. “It’s an event our community looks forward to every year, reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.”
That focus gives the event a personal foundation. It also reflects the experience of many Mohawk Valley families who have lost someone, supported a person through treatment or worked to rebuild their own lives.
Red Ribbon Week adds a prevention message
Guests will also receive information about Red Ribbon Week, a national drug-prevention awareness campaign. The 2026 theme included in CFLR’s announcement is “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.”
The campaign encourages families, schools and communities to support healthy, substance-free choices. Prevention messages are most useful when they go beyond slogans and connect people with accurate information, supportive adults and services that respond without judgment.
The Rome event brings prevention and recovery into the same conversation. Prevention efforts can reduce future harm, while recovery services meet people where they are now. Families may need both kinds of support at different times.
Who may benefit from attending
The gathering is open to people currently working toward recovery, people considering help, relatives and friends, service providers and residents who simply want to support the cause.
No one needs to publicly share a personal story to attend. A person may come for a meal, gather information or accompany someone else. That flexibility can make the event less intimidating for a first-time visitor.
Families often need support of their own. Addiction affects household finances, trust, mental health and physical safety. Learning what local organizations provide can help relatives understand that they also deserve guidance and care.
Local services across the Mohawk Valley
CFLR provides advocacy, prevention, counseling, recovery support and employee-assistance services. Its offices include locations in Utica, Rome and Herkimer, giving the organization a direct presence across the region.
The Rome office is located at 201 West Dominick St. CFLR’s Utica office is at 502 Court St., Suite 401, and its Herkimer office is at 205 North Washington St.
People seeking services should contact the organization directly to confirm program availability, eligibility and hours. Information is available on CFLR’s official website at whenthereshelpthereshope.com.
New York residents looking for treatment resources can also use the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports HOPEline by calling or texting 1-877-8-HOPENY. In an immediate emergency, call 911.
Event details
“Hope in a Bowl of Soup” will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at CFLR’s Rome office, 201 West Dominick St. Admission is free.
The event offers a simple point of entry into a serious issue. A warm meal cannot solve addiction, but it can create the conditions for connection. For someone who feels alone, that first conversation may be an important step toward help.
