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In August, SOS Berks hosted two events in commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day, which takes place every year on August 31. This included a morning of Healing & Remembrance on Saturday, August 23, and a Flag Raising Ceremony at City Park in Reading on Monday, August 25.
The Healing & Remembrance event was held at Alvernia University’s McGlinn Conference Center, for individuals and families that have lost a loved one to an overdose. That event featured a presentation by Certified Grief Educator & Founder of Oasis Community Center Rhonda Miller, who spoke of her own loss and offered insights into the process of working through grief. In addition, SOS Berks member Marlene Rathman provided a guided journaling activity, and Grief Movement Guide Traci Millheim led the group through a yoga and meditation session. This was a powerful morning of healing and renewal, and we hope to build on it for future events.
This marks the second year that SOS Berks has joined with the City of Reading to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day with a flag raising ceremony at City Park. The ceremony was attended by about 40 people who came out to remember those lives lost to an overdose in our community. Speakers included Pastor Tom Scornavacchi, who led the event with an invocation.
“Today, we commit to working toward a day where no one anywhere will die from an overdose,” Pastor Scornavacchi said.
Dr. William Santoro, of St. Luke’s University Hospital Network Addiction Fellowship, gave a moving speech about a patient, who despite all efforts to recover, lost his life to an overdose. He urged the public to fight for those in recovery.
“We must fight for them with everything we’ve got: with passion, with science, with funding, with legislation, with truth & with humanity. Because recovery is possible, but it is fragile and it is not guaranteed,” Dr. Santoro said.
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera, who is the co-chair of the SOS Berks Coalition, spoke of the work being done by SOS Berks, and reminded the audience that substance use affects people from ” every corner of our county, across all races, genders and backgrounds. Substance use disorder does not discriminate, and neither should our compassion,” he said.
Reading Mayor Eddie Moran shared his own recovery story, and called on others to share their stories, to help spread the word that recovery is possible. Along with several members of Reading City Council, he presented SOS Berks with an official commendation from the City of Reading, recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day.
Senator Judy Schwank spoke about the work being done by so many to help fight the overdose crisis. “Let’s rededicate ourselves today, as we raise this flag, to making sure that we continue to focus on recovery,” she said.
Kathy Strain, Manager of Advocacy and Peer Services at Partnership to End Addiction, spoke of family members she had lost to overdose and noted that stigma both invalidates the loss experienced by those grieving a loved one who died from an overdose, “but also perpetuates the harmful notion that individuals who use drugs are less deserving of compassion and empathy.” She ended the ceremony by raising the flag, which will remain in place for seven days.
Shout out to our SOS member Ryan Schweiger for capturing drone video and the aerial shot of the flag flying at City Park.
