The end of August brings with it not only the promise of beautiful autumn colors and cooler temperatures, but also two days of remembrance that are dear to us at Hope Movement Coalition: National Grief Awareness Day on August 30, and International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.
The conjunction of these two important days, both reminding us of the terrible toll of grief and illicit drug death, is more than just a coincidence. Taken together or separately, they’re an opportunity to remember those we’ve lost. But they’re also a chance to recommit ourselves to the belief that if we all work together and share what we know, providing support to every family in Arkansas that has lost someone to opioids is a realistic and reachable goal.
In this fight, there’s no greater tool than information and access to resources. So do Hope Movement Coalition a favor on August 30-31: consider these two, special days as an opportunity to educate and share about the free resources available for grieving families through Hope Movement Coalition.
Bridge the Gap
On August 31, we’ll gather for the 4th Annual Bridge the Gap Overdose and Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Event to remember the lives we’ve lost to this epidemic. Guests from all over the state are invited.
Before the bridge lighting and memorial service begins at sundown, we will have guest speakers, plus Can You See Me Now AND Lost Voices of Fentanyl banners on display. Prior to the memorial service, a Surviving Family Reception will be held at the Ron Robinson Theater.
For directions and more information, please visit the event page or contact us.
Hope, Healing and Living.
Our free support services include:
Funeral Assistance: By the time an addicted person is lost to drugs, families are often exhausted not only emotionally but financially. It’s why one of our longest-running forms of funding assistance has been helping pay for the funerals of those lost to illicit drug deaths.
PTO Assistance: Many businesses offer only three days of paid time off for bereavement. That’s often not even enough time for the family to get a loved-one’s body released by the Crime Lab. In addition to funeral assistance, Hope Movement Coalition offers supplemental PTO funds, giving families the financial breathing room they need to recover emotionally before returning to work.
Peer Partners: Unless you’ve been there, it’s impossible to understand what it’s like to lose a loved one to an illicit drug death. But our parent and sibling peer partners have been there. These experienced volunteers offer one-on-one grief support and advice, helping people work through the complex feelings that can seem overwhelming– and come roaring back even years later.
Grandparents Assistance: Following an illicit drug death, grandparents are often forced to step in and raise the children left behind. For older Arkansans who may be struggling financially, sudden caretaking can prove to be too much. We offer specialized services specifically for grandparents raising children. From legal referrals to supplemental funding for child care, diapers and more, we’re ready to help.
Counseling Referrals: Seeking mental health counseling after an illicit drug death saves marriages, careers and lives. But when you’re already dealing with the confusion and grief of losing someone, finding the right counselor can seem impossible. Hope Movement Coalition has compiled a list of counselors across the state who are skilled at navigating the complicated emotions associated with a drug-related death.
Monthly Support Meetings: You are not alone in your grief after an illicit drug death. Hope Movement Coalition proves that on the last Saturday of every month, when we gather with others who have lost loved ones to drugs. Share, encourage, offer support or just listen and say nothing at all. Our community is here for you.
Services offered by Hope Movement Coalition can be accessed online by submitting a request at: hopemovementcoalition.com/contact. Be sure to include as much detail as possible so our board can review and consider your request. We’ll reach out for more information if needed.
To learn more about other resources we offer, visit: hopemovementcoalition.com/notalone
