October has been deemed National Substance Abuse Awareness Month since 2011. Since then, the term “Sober October” has surfaced to encourage a month committed to abstain from alcohol.

This is Minot’s First Annual Sober October Day - a day dedicated to choosing a healthier lifestyle, finding ways to have fun without the assistance of alcohol by supporting local businesses, and to raise funds for the Brock Zavalney Memorial Scholarship at International Music Camp.

Brock struggled with substance abuse for the majority of his adult life, until passing away from liver failure in April of 2023. After his passing, his family created a scholarship at IMC to honor his lifelong passion of music, and childhood memories of attending the Garage Band Camp program in the summers.

This is a new scholarship - the first recipient attended the program just this summer! It is currently a $150 scholarship awarded only to 1 person. The goal of Sober October Day is to increase the impact of this scholarship to increase the dollar amount of the scholarship, as well as quantity of scholarships given annually.

A portion of the sales made on this day from the vendor show at LexiLou, as well as other local businesses involved will be donated to Brock’s Memorial Scholarship. We hope to see you all there.

Much love, my sweet pals.

Mandi Zavalney

Owner of The Flour Shop

Founder of Sober October Day

Brock’s sister