Charles County commissioners Sam Graves and Reuben B. Collins Friday night joined people in dancing at a fund-raising event for the oldest drug and alcohol treatment facility in Southern Maryland at the Jaycees of Waldorf.

The commissioners were attending the mid-winter ball of the Jude House, located at Bel Alton in Charles County.

 Charles County Commissioner President Wayne Cooper also briefly showed up at the event.

 “Long-term treatment is the better alternative to incarceration,” said Rene Grace, past president of the Jude House. He argues jails further criminal networking and regrets drugs are easily accessible in jails.

The Jude House is named after patron saint of those in need, St. Jude.

 Grace said the long-term treatment facility is trying to foster better understanding among different area entities that look after alcoholics and drug addicts.

 One of the groups that St. Jude is looking forward to work with is Walden Sierra, headed by Dr. Kathleen

 O’Brien, a Democratic Party leader and confidante of St. Mary’s Commissioner President Jack Russell.

 Jim Flynn, lawyer and president of the Jude House, said the process to forge relationship with Walden Sierra might take some time, but is sure to bear fruits for the community.

 Jude House provides a safe environ for those hooked to alcohol and drugs. It also encourages spiritual cleansing through the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous—a 2-million strong nationwide movement.

 The bulk of patients are Charles County residents, but over the years hundreds of St. Mary’s, Calvert and Prince George’s residents have also received treatment at Jude House.

 In the past, St. Mary’s never contributed any funds to the treatment facility, but this year the Health Department awarded $40,000 to the Jude House.

 Both Jude House and Walden Sierra are non-profit organizations.

 Meanwhile, Commissioner Sam Graves said the teenaged culprits responsible for the recurring acts of racially-motivated vandalism and graffiti in Waldorf have been arrested and are undergoing trial.

 Graves differed with the view population was creating a problem in Charles County.

 “We have a population of about 1,45,000. Barely 3,000 create a problem,” he said.