A group of community members, businesses and organizations are teaming up to save lives.
WINGS Support and Recovery is hosting an Overdose Awareness Day event from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 at the Memorial Health Pavilion in Partners Park.
The event will feature speeches, resources, crafts and free food and is open to everyone.
WINGS Executive Director Julli Griesheimer said it has been “overwhelming” to see how many people are coming together to advocate for those in need.
“You can’t imagine the breadth of impact one person struggling has on an entire community,” she said.
Governor Mike DeWine recently signed a bill declaring Aug. 31 “Overdose Awareness Day” in Ohio to raise awareness and honor the lives lost to addiction. Griesheimer said the Union County Commissioners are also planning to sign a proclamation that will recognize the day locally.
Additionally, she said the courthouse will be lit purple during the event, the color representing Recovery Month in September.
WINGS Events and Marketing Coordinator Tamara Ulery said the local event will be emceed by Griesheimer and feature a speech from Union County Common Pleas Court Judge Don Fraser.
Griesheimer said it is incredibly powerful to hear Fraser tell his family’s story, as his daughter, Shea, is in recovery from substance use.
She said their experience is a testament to the broad reach of the opioid epidemic and the fact that “it may not be you today,” but most everyone is affected.
“This is a problem all of us are experiencing together,” Griesheimer said.
She noted that the problem has become even more prevalent and severe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Griesheimer said overdose deaths have increased nationwide over the past year. In Union County, she said the annual death rate is the highest it’s been since 2017.
While the numbers can seem daunting, Griesheimer emphasized that help is available.
The event on Aug. 31 will also feature a “health fair” with information and resources from about 15 different providers, including New Vision, Memorial Health, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions, Maryhaven, Lower Lights Christian Health Center, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Parents United and a variety of community support groups.
Griesheimer said the hope is that every person who attends can leave with information about at least one resource available to them locally.
WINGS will also be handing out Narcan, a prescription drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Griesheimer said WINGS began an initiative on June 1 to distribute 100 doses of Narcan – a goal that was achieved on Aug. 20.
The Overdose Awareness Day event will feature a 10-minute training session and free Narcan distribution for those interested.
Ulery said she hopes to provide as many doses of the life-saving drug possible.
“You never know who you’re going to encounter,” Ulery said.
Along with getting people connected and providing resources, Ulery said there will be plenty of opportunities to have fun and enjoy time with fellow community members.
There will be a craft table for children, along with the splash pad, so “mom can bring the kids and still come and enjoy herself.”
WINGS is also providing free lunch to those in attendance, Ulery said. Two food trucks, Mother Truckin Tasty and The Big Greek Café, will be on site.
Ultimately, Griesheimer said she hopes the event encourages those in need to embrace “recovery out loud.” She said those pursuing recovery should not feel ashamed, as the community is “so proud, so inspired” by their journey.
Ulery agreed. She said those in recovery have been “pushed into the shadows for too long.”
“Everyone is here for you,” she said.
Griesheimer noted that WINGS is the only peer recovery organization in the state that is actively billing to Medicaid.
She acknowledged that it can be “terrifying” to begin treatment, but encouraged those in need to at least connect with others who have experienced addiction and embraced recovery.
“We want to help,” she said.
WINGS Support and Recovery is located at 729 S. Walnut Street. Those interested in more information should call (937) 642-9555.