Dr. Harold Jonas opened the KoffeeOkee sober coffee house as a refuge filled with staff ready to talk with and provide help to anyone with a mass variety of issues. People looking to talk over personal issues ranging from cancer, drug or alcohol addiction, or even depression, pack the house almost every evening. Now three years after opening KoffeeOkee, he hopes by showing the premiere of a new documentary on sobriety that he can help spread the messages of hope and recovery even further.
“Real Sobriety” is a 45-minute documentary film portraying the lives of Floridians who’ve overcome drug and alcohol addictions, and will debut at KoffeeOkee for three showings on Sunday, Sept. 13. The film features about eight minutes of KoffeeOkee footage where Jeannie Saros, a licensed mental health therapist at the sober house is interviewed.

“Since becoming sober I’ve completed high school, obtained a masters degree and started my own private practice where I help others, set goals of personal growth and focus on ethics,” Saros said.

“The impact and power of this professional film and having the chance to host it is a big deal for us. I’m expecting at least 60 people and I’ve got a red carpet for the premiere,” Dr. Jonas said.

Jonas said this is the first time KoffeeOkee will host a movie premiere, and that “Real Sobriety” filmmaker Robert McClellan will be at the showings for question and answer periods.

“My guess is we will have a diverse age group of people that choose to come to the premiere. Eighteen- to 25-year-olds are the main demographic that frequent KoffeeOkee. You see a group for about 12 to 16 weeks and then people move on. We have people coming for help from 14 years old to 72,” Jonas said.

“The old city commission supported recovery. I hope this film opens a lot of eyes on what’s happening locally. This film offers a whole lot of hope and different pathways for recovery,” Jonas said.

“Real Sobriety” premieres Sunday, Sept. 13, with showing times of 2 p.m. for (family and friends), 4 p.m. (invited guests) and 9:30 pm in the KoffeeOkee courtyard (general public). Dr. Jonas plans to host an 11 p.m. viewing as well. For more information call KoffeeOkee Sober Coffee House, Delray Beach at 561-455-0899.