FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — An event in Williamson County on Monday raised money and awareness for a non-profit organization that helps people fight addiction.

The gathering also served as an opportunity to honor someone who has spent decades working to restore people’s lives.

The Court of the 21st Recovery District – serving Williamson County – has been helping people change their lives since 2002.

“We help people who need addiction services with mental health services,” said Connie Martin, program director for the 21st District Recovery Court.

The court offers nonviolent offenders suffering from addiction an opportunity to complete a 2-year program instead of a traditional sentence.

“They apply to our program and are put on probation and as part of their probation they are required to complete our program,” Martin said.

Connie Branham is a graduate.

“I thought it would be easy to pass, it’s not, you have so many demands,” Branham said.

Branham was among many speakers at the court’s 14th annual community luncheon Monday at the Williamson County Enrichment Center.

“I started doing exactly what I was supposed to do, I actually felt like I found a family,” Branham said.

Part of that family is attorney Jeff Mosely, who received the court’s Gayle Moyer Harris Award. He has a long history with the organization.

“I was on the board when I started this award, so little did I know it could come full circle,” Moseley said.

The award is named after one of the court’s founders.

Mosely has seen the court’s impact firsthand over the years.

To date, approximately 300 people have completed the program, with a 90% success rate.

“The important thing is what it does, it addresses addiction, not crime,” Mosely said.

While the award is an honor, according to Mosely, it wasn’t his goal.

“Being in the service is its own reward, I didn’t do it to get a recovery award. We did it to try to help improve our community.” Mosely said.

The 21st District Court of Reclamation was started by a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2002.

The court spends about $15,000 per participant, using mostly grant money and private donations.

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Travel to see some of our neighbors’ best Halloween decorations

We’re just days away from Halloween. This year, Americans are expected to spend around $12 billion on candy, costumes and decorations. In recent years, it seems that a lot more people are making an effort to decorate their homes. Forrest Sanders had a chance to visit several midstate communities to see some of those Halloween decorations.

– Lelan Statom