Akron Life December 2022

It’s a sunny October day in Kenmore, and Batman jumps up and down and dances around. A ninja mirrors Lambert’s thumbs-up and gives him a fist bump. A woman accompanying a cheerleader thanks Lambert for every thing he does while he passes out candy and toys like bubbles. Amelia, dressed in a red panda jumpsuit, pours out her candy and searches for Fun Dip. A line filled with Minecraft characters, superheroes and witches wraps around the parking lot. At Just A Dad’s third annual trunk or treat Oct. 30, volunteers in over 40 cars passed out candy to more than 1,000 trick-or-treat ers. It was an increase from last year’s 500 kids, and it isn’t the only sign of growth Just A Dad has seen recently. The company is expecting 400 families at this year’s holiday gift giveaway Dec. 18 at the store — which would double last year’s turn out. And it is reaching more people through its 12,000 Facebook followers and “The Movement” documentary, directed by film maker and now Just A Dad employee Nate Ankrom, which is streaming on YouTube. Lambert turned down an opportunity to stream it on Netflix, as he thought that would limit its accessibility. “The whole purpose of the documentary is to reach as many people as possible and use that as a helping tool to inspire change,” Lambert says. “People can leave comments. You can watch it at home. They can share it at treatment facilities.” That’s part of the plan. In March, Summit County’s Turning Point Program, which Lambert did, is set to offer a showing of the documentary to its participants who are on probation — over 300 people. It has already inspired some people to get further involved

Kyle Lambert. The two were in jail together, attended meetings together and worked on being sober together. Kyle didn’t stay sober when Lambert did, but now, using Just A Dad meetings to help him, he has been sober for over eight months, and he’s involved in his son’s life. Another is Ben Rich, a Just A Dad employee and a friend of Lambert for over 10 years. The two used to party together, but now, the two are sober and Amelia is friends with Rilynn, Rich’s 6-year-old daughter. Rich says being around Lambert and being involved with Just A Dad helps him hold himself accountable, and he’s over eight months sober. “Being super active in the recovery com munity especially, but the community in general, going to meetings, giving back to people, helping people, service work, going to church,” Rich says, “[Lambert’s] laid a blue print that I try to follow.”

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