REBOOT Recovery: A course to cope with crisis or trauma offered in Groton

In fall 2023, after more than 25 years under the oversight of Groton Assembly of God Church (GAOG), the Groton Food Pantry in the Joyce Crouch Benevolence Building (JCBB), 101 McKinley Ave., moved to 122 Spring St. and became the Groton Community Cupboard.

Since then, Sam Neno, senior pastor of GAOG, and the church leadership have been gearing up for a use for the JCBB that would address the needs of the community with a different focus. To that end, Sam and his wife, Penny, will co-lead REBOOT Recovery there. REBOOT Recovery is a 12-week course focused on practical help for anyone struggling to cope with crisis or trauma. The course will be open to anyone in the community who is interested in finding solutions to such life issues.

“Bruce Stotts [a member of GAOG] has been working hard heading up renovating the Benevolence building,” Sam said, “and anyone who had ever seen it before will be amazed at the transformation!”

Sam has lived his entire life in the town of Groton, but in the Lansing Central School District (LCSD). He is a 1980 LCSD alumnus and earned his associate’s degree in liberal arts from Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). He went on to SUNY Binghamton, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English with a creative writing emphasis.

Penny, a 1981 alumna of Skaneateles High School, earned her bachelor’s degree in English at SUNY Binghamton, after she garnered her associate’s in humanities from Onondaga Community College. Penny earned a master’s in teaching at SUNY Cortland, where she was also an adjunct professor for five years.

Sam spent 13 years as an adjunct teacher at TC3 and 16 years at Stewart Howe Alumni Services, but he believes his foundation for counseling began when he attended SUNY Binghamton.

“I was an RA [resident assistant] and progressed up to being a resident director with a staff of six RAs under me,” Sam said. “I did a lot of counseling during that time and enjoyed that more than my studies! I trained for counseling officially later, but that gave me a taste for it, and being bullied in grade school and middle school taught me compassion for others.”

It was SUNY Binghamton where Sam and Penny met in April 1985. They were married January 1, 1986, and have since raised three children and added seven grandchildren to their family.

“I was a pastor-in-training at GAOG from 2000 to 2002 under Pastor Bob Richardson,” Sam said. “He was my mentor, and I am so thankful for him. When he was called to another church, I became the pastor in 2002. Penny became the Sunday School coordinator in 2001, and still is today, although the classes are now called Life Groups.”

Since becoming the senior pastor of GAOG, Sam has had numerous opportunities for counseling, but he always refers people to professionals when he knows the issues are beyond his ability. Sadly, he said it has “become increasingly difficult to find professionals to refer people who are struggling with life to,” and there are often long wait lists. He explained the depth of the most recent training that both he and Penny have taken to further their ability to help people in need.  

“Two years ago, the General Council of the Assemblies of God partnered with the American Association of Christian Counselors to help train pastors in mental health coaching,” Sam explained. “Penny and I took 45- to 60-minute online classes with tests after each class for two years, and [we] earned a certificate for Mental Health Coach, First Responder Training through Light University.”

While taking those classes, Sam and Penny were introduced to REBOOT Recovery. After taking a short five-week course, they both enrolled in the full training program. Both said they knew they wanted to bring REBOOT Recovery to the Groton community. They emphasized that it is a course, not a support group, providing practical help for anyone struggling to cope with crisis or trauma. You won’t find shortcuts or easy answers, but instead you’ll find solutions that last. It is peer-led and outcome-based, where participants can discover that there is hope after trauma.  

“Most of us have experienced trauma of some sort,” Penny said, “but what I took away from the training most is that we’re wounded, but not broken. Wounds can heal.”

The course will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays from Jan. 22 through April 9. There will be free child care, and a light meal will be provided before each class. Family members may attend with the person who signs up, but it is required that the main participant register at rebootrecovery.com. Click on “Join a Course,” then “Trauma REBOOT.” From there, search for “NY – Groton” in the location field of the sign-up sheet. There is a $25 fee due at the time of sign-up for the cost of a workbook, but everything else is free of charge. Call or text Sam Neno at 607-898-5163 with questions.

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Ridge Runners spaghetti supper

The Groton Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club will hold a spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at its clubhouse, 748 Salt Rd. Meals include spaghetti and meatballs and a side salad. Cost is $14 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, and $10 for children aged 5-12. Children 4 and under may eat for free. Take-out dinners are also available.

New Story Walk

Toni Yuly’s “Some Questions About Trees” is the new Story Walk book on the trail behind Groton Memorial Park this winter. This charming picture book celebrates a child’s sense of curiosity about the world around her.

American Legion blood drive

The Groton American Legion Post 800 will sponsor a community blood drive through the American Red Cross in the Legion Hall, 307 Main St., from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. To schedule an appointment to donate please call 800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.