Recent Events:

Volusia Recovery Alliance’s ‘Keeping Hope: Overdose Awareness & Remembrance Day’ event history written by event Creator, Cathy Hartman: Yearly events held in 2019, 2020 – upcoming 8/28/21

As a Community Member who attended the beginning visioning meetings as VRA was being formed, I became aware of International Overdose Awareness Day/IOAD through Facebook. Because of my previous experience working with a nonprofit who support bereaved families after the loss of a baby and knowing how very important remembrance events are (personally and more), I wanted to bring the idea of hosting an IOAD remembrance event through VRA for our community.

I asked to be included on the Visioning Meeting Agenda at the June 2019 meeting to offer the idea. There were enough people interested to create an event and with less than 3 months, even with a hurricane looming, our event was created and a success – held on Saturday, August 31, 2019! We honored and remembered many lives lost by overdose through name reading of those who’s lives were lost to overdose and ceremony. We offered education resources including Narcan and had an exceptional Keynote Speaker, Dr. Kristin McCabe-Kline who spoke on the Epidemic Impact and Solutions, especially around the emergency room. We also had testimony of lives saved and of family testimony. The event was held at City Island, Daytona Beach with approximately 50 in attendance and $400 was raised. I also created and got printed the #End Overdose t-shirts with the VRA logo on the back for this event through Mid Florida Sportswear in Daytona, working with my sister in law who works there and is also named Kathy Hartman. 

Our 2nd Keeping Hope event was impacted by Covid-19 and though we had many challenges in keeping everyone safe, we were again able to have a successful event on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at the Daytona Beach Christian Drive-In Church utilizing radio transmission and Facebook live. Our wonderful Keynote Speaker was Dr. Aaron Wohl speaking on the topic of Substance Use disorder, childhood trauma/ACES, recovery support and MAT. Most everyone who attended in person received narcan and narcan training. Loved ones lives were honored and again we had testimony. 125 people attended in person and up to 50 people watching on FB Live at one time (averaged 35). 87 Loved ones names were read and all 100 boxes of Narcan were distributed along with other recovery resources. We had 37 feedback forms returned and raised $1,500 net. There was a 2nd version of the t-shirts created with more info on the back on shirt. A big shirt order was put in to Mid Florida Sportswear (financially supported by VRA’s grant money).

Drive In Church/Recovery Movie

In September of 2020, the VRA was fortunate enough to host a drive-in movie night on the beautiful grounds of the Daytona Beach Drive In Christian Church. The movie featured was ‘Ben is Back’ which focused on the struggles and dynamics of a family with a substance addicted son. This was a great success in raising funds for the VRA and spreading awareness by featuring this recovery related film to our community.

Multiple Narcan Events

Since the Summer of 2020, the VRA has had to pleasure to host between one to two (in person) Narcan events per month in different locations throughout Volusia County. Our Narcan events offer free Overdose Response and Reversal Trainings and Narcan to our local community. They also give the opportunity for those in our recovery community to meet our very own Peer Specialists and learn about the extended services they can individually offer to those on the road to recovery. Our event locations have included local hospitals, homeless shelters, crisis centers, treatment centers and areas indicated by the Dept. of Health as high overdose areas. Our Narcan committee also offers free individual trainings and Narcan to all those in need. Between January 1st 2021 – July 2021 – we are honored to report the following numbers:

• Trainings:      42
• Individuals:  210
• Narcan Kits: 812
• Reported Reversals:   27 (by those who received Narcan from us in the past)

“Recovery is Coming” Pasta Fundraiser”

Volusia Recovery Alliance’s first fundraising event created connection, educated the community about VRA and raised funds for the exciting programs in the works to help those seeking recovery from the impact of addiction including family, friends and allies. VRA is helping to create a Recovery Ready Community!