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For many years, friends and relatives of alcoholics in Jessamine County could get support through Al-Anon meetings, first in Nicholasville, and more recently, in Wilmore.

Then the coronavirus pandemic struck, and the meetings ceased, another victim of the lockdowns.

But now Al-Anon is back. The Let It Begin With Me Al-Anon Family Group, which had been meeting in the basement of the Wilmore United Methodist Church, 209 E. Main St., on Tuesday evenings, has resumed its meetings by way of telephone conference calls.

Information on joining the group is available on the LexingtonAl-Anon.org website, or by calling (712) 775-7031, then 576-159-278# at 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday.

Aureol (she only uses her first name because Al-Anon is strict about anonymity) of Wilmore has been involved in the group for years because her former husband was an alcoholic.

Al-Anon uses the same kind of 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous, which is a support group for alcoholics themselves, while Al-Anon is for family members and friends, who also suffer from alcoholism.

“It’s focused on our own improvement and recovery,” she said.

“Alcoholics can be very manipulative, usually,” Aureol said, and that can damage those around them.

She said Al-Anon is also similar to Alcoholics Anonymous in that it is “not religious, but spiritual.”

“We have no religious affiliation whatsoever, but we believe there is a power greater than ourselves,” and that belief, she said, helped restore her to sanity.

Al-Anon’s only purpose is to welcome and give comfort, understanding and encouragement to families and friends of alcoholics.

Let It Begin With Me AFG charges no dues for membership but is self-supportive through contributions.