A Parkinson’s disease support group in Williamsport is encouraging new members to join.

Pastor Dave Parker and his wife, Candy Parker, with Hepburn Baptist Church, began the support group after they moved to the area years ago.

The two saw a need for more resources related to Parkinson’s disease in the area and decided to become organizers of the group.

In 2020 the group had to put a pause on in person meetings due to COVID. Recently, they have started up meetings again, and are now looking for new members.

“Some people are a little hesitant to come to a support group, but I think when they do they find out that it’s a valuable resource — You can share information and help each other to cope with things, and have a community of people who understand,” Dave Parker, Pastor of Hepburn Baptist Church said.

The group is open to those who have Parkinson’s disease, as well as caretakers of someone with the disease.

“Not only the people who have it, but their caregivers need support too. Some places have a support group where they meet together, and then they split up into those who have it, and those who are caregivers, because they have different concerns. Right now, we don’t have enough people to do that,” said Pastor Dave.

During most of the year, the support group meets at the YMCA in Williamsport. But during summer months, the group plans to meet at an outdoor park.

“It’s informal, and everybody gets to know each other better,” said Pastor Dave.

The group also discusses new treatment methods, exercises and anything else that can be shared in support of one another.

“If somebody had found something, some device really worked well. They can take a few minutes in the beginning or the end of the exercise class, to say, hey, look what I found. This is really helpful to me — That’s the kind of thing that is a good first support group,” Candy said.

“We like to say ‘do what we can and leave the rest to God.’ There’s only so much you can do. You do what you can and trust the rest,” said Pastor Dave.

To get involved with the group, contact Pastor Dave Parker at 570-998-2070.