A candlelight remembrance ceremony for loved ones lost to the disease of addiction will serve as a precursor to an addiction resource fair scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, at Match Factory Place in Bellefonte.
“We have lost so many county residents, and loved ones of county residents to this horrible disease,” said Gene Lauri, director of Centre County’s criminal justice planning department. “Last year, we had 21 deaths attributed to opioid overdoses, and already this year, we have five. We want to take a moment to start the event by remembering these people, and honor their lives.”
The candlelight vigil will be held from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Centre County’s HOPE (Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education) initiative, which is made up of several county and local organizations, all determined to lessen the effect of dangerous opioids on the community.
As part of the remembrance ceremony, there will be a memorial wall where photos of loved ones lost can be displayed. To submit a photo, email contact@centrecountyhope.org by Monday, March 27.
“This is really our fifth public get-together, but it’s going to be different than the first four,” said Lauri. “This one will be much more personal towards the families of people affected.”
Lauri explained HOPE has sponsored four town hall meetings concerning the heroin and opioid epidemic in Centre County. He said each of these meetings had a different subject; however, they were all designed as a way experts from various fields could discuss different aspects of addiction, recovery and treatment.
“What we want to do on March 29 is have people come in and interact with different groups that offer treatment and recovery,” Lauri said. “We want these people to get some one-on-one time with some service providers so they can talk about the issues they are dealing with, and what are the best ways to deal with them.”
Lauri said, as of March 3, about two dozen service providers and government agencies noted they would participate.
“If there isn’t someone there with the help someone needs, rest assured, someone there will know where to go for that help,” he said.
This event is free and open to the community. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit www.centrecountyhope.org.
