A first-time visitor reflects on the Founders Day experience

By Nivia Wilson

Saturday’s Saugus Founders Day celebration clogged some roads, closed others and enticed hundreds of visitors to stroll from tent to tent for food, games and raffles.

The scene was Americana, New England homespun and authentic Saugus. Vendors sold homemade goods and offered services. Families played cornhole, a dunk tank splashed and live music reverberated from a small stage. Many in the crowd paused to honor Nancy Prag as Woman of the Year and Eugene “Gene” Decareau as Man of the Year. Along the way, a cluster of tables offered advocacy, support and information.

At The Rehumanization Project, Ethan Bagley noted the nonprofit’s debut. “This is our first Founder’s Day.” The goal, he said, was simple: “to let people know that we exist.” Bagley added that the personal connection made possible by events such as Founders Day helps reduce stigma and connect neighbors to resources.

A few tents away, Power of Recovery, an addiction treatment center, focused on accessible, end-to-end help. “We’re a one-stop shop. We can take your loved one from the street to the apartment and everything in between. They never have to leave our care,” said executive director Matty Powers. “It’s never too late, and all you need to do to start is get one day.”

Down the row, Partners in Rehab was a familiar fixture. “We have been coming for probably the last 15 years to Founders Day,” said clinic supervisor Krista Virgin. “We like to have our faces seen in the community and let people know that we are always there to serve them.”

For a first-timer to a 15-year regular, the service tents shared a common thread: meeting neighbors where they are and pointing them towards help alongside the fried dough and games.

  Nivia Wilson is a student journalist in the Boston University Newsroom program.