HOPE in Fostoria to host overdose awareness event

FOSTORIA — HOPE in Fostoria is partnering with Project Noelle and the Seneca County General Health District to host an Overdose Awareness Day Event on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 2-4 p.m. The free of charge event will take place at Fostoria Elementary School, 1202 HL Ford Dr., with the goal of raising awareness and providing prevention and recovery education to those in the Fostoria area. The event is funded in part by Wood County Alcohol, Drug-Abuse, and Mental Health Services board (ADAMHS), North Central Behavioral Health Board, and United Way of Fostoria. It will serve as both a prevention and recovery event, but also a time of remembrance. One of the features of the Overdose Awareness Day Event includes memory boards for families to remember their loved ones. Families may request a memory board through Eventbrite, which will be displayed during the event. "The memory boards provide families with a special opportunity to honor and remember loved ones lost to overdose. Families may request a board dedicated to their loved one, and the displays will be placed in a quiet reflection area for attendees to visit," said HOPE in Fostoria's Prevention Coordinator Ronele Myers. "The boards serve as a powerful reminder of the lives behind the statistics and help create a space for remembrance, healing, and connection." The day's activities will also include resource vendors, guest speakers, a kids' corner, free Narcan and snacks and refreshments available for purchase. According to HOPE in Fostoria, some of the guest speakers will include representatives from the local health department, Project Noelle, and a community member in recovery. Together, they will provide a range of perspectives, including public health, community outreach and support services, and lived experience with recovery. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with organizations offering recovery services, mental health support, and treatment options. These vendors will be available to answer questions, share information, and help individuals and families learn about available resources. The Kids' Corner is provided because the event is designed for families and friends to come together to remember loved ones lost to overdose. "Because many attendees bring children, a Kids' Corner was created to provide a welcoming space with activities such as games, rock painting, and ribbon tattoos. Including family-friendly activities helps ensure that all members of the community can participate in this meaningful event," Myers said. Myers spoke about the importance of events like the Overdose Awareness Day Event, and community education on prevention and recovery. "There are detox and outpatient treatment centers available locally and throughout surrounding counties. One of the biggest challenges is that individuals are often unsure where to begin their recovery journey or what resources are available to them," said Myers. "That is why community education is so important. While services do exist, people need access to clear, reliable information about those resources and how to connect with them when they are ready to seek help."