International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on 31 August each year to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. This year, the in-person event was canceled out of concern for public health and safety resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, our church bell will be rung in Ivey Garden on August 31st at noon in honor of the lives lost. The bell will ring 11 times, symbolizing an estimated 10.6 deaths per hour from overdose in 2020. We hope this is meaningful for all of you and that this will offer a moment of reflection and prayer to remember those we’ve lost and take a moment to learn more about how to prevent overdose.

Learn more at  www.roonow.org and www.overdoseday.com