The Sun Will Rise Weekly Update

Week of August 25, 2024

Hello Friends,

We have one in-person regular group, one in-person specialty group, one hybrid group, two regular zoom groups and three specialty zoom groups this week. Login and location info. follow at the bottom of this newsletter.

INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY

This Saturday marks the 23rd year that this awareness day has been observed on August 31st. The sheer number of lives lost in the world due to any manner of substance use is beyond fathomable and my heart hurts when I think of all the families, friends, co-workers, and direct service providers left behind. In 2023, in the US alone, 178,000 deaths were attributed to alcohol and 107,000 to overdose. Although we will gather together in many ways this week, we acknowledge that these awareness events can be emotional and overwhelming. As you choose to attend or not attend International Overdose Awareness Day events this week, know that we at The Sun Will Rise Foundation will be thinking of you. For those of you speaking at, hosting, manning a resource table at any of the IOAD events, we thank you. We have lots of group support this week for anyone wanting to talk about their feelings surrounding these events, please join us.

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

GRANT AWARD

The Sun Will Rise Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to have received a CORE grant from Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership!!!! The funding for Mosaic comes from the MA Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, which resulted from the historic legal effort to demand justice from private companies for the harms caused by the opioid overdose crisis.

This grant will help us build our capacity to support more people bereaved due to substance use related causes and help us reduce harms caused by the opioid crisis.

Read the full announcement: https://mosaic.rizema.org/healey-driscoll-administration.../

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

1. SADOD's Psychoeducational Workshop: Creative Coping Skills Tuesday August 27, 2024 6:30-8:00pm ET Do you ever feel overwhelmed by grief and not sure how to cope? Do you wish you had more coping skills in your toolkit? Join us for this workshop where you will hear from SADOD staff who have found creative ways to cope with their grief. From song writing to karate, the possibilities are endless when it comes to finding the things that lift us up when we are feeling down. This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/creative-coping. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org

2. The Sun Will Rise Day at Fenway Park! Boston MA Sunday, September 22, 2024 Sunday 1:35 - 5:35 pm Sold out! Click here for waitlist. Questions? Please email judyannkelly@gmail.com

3. FINDING SUPPORT IN GRIEF CONFERENCE October 18-20, 2024 Framingham MA REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Discover hope, healing, support, and a sense of community at SADOD’s 3rd annual grief conference. Register now and learn more about this special event by clicking the link below: https://cvent.me/VVeBgB. Connect with others who have experienced the death of someone they care about to substance-use-related causes.

INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held each year and aims to raise awareness in the community 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. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. You are not alone.

IOAD event locators

Massachusetts

Other States & International

The Sun Will Rise Sponsored IOAD events

1. Nathan's Circle and Consoling Partners International Overdose Awareness Day Event 1106 Main St West Barnstable MA Tuesday August 27, 2024 6:00 pm. Please register with kerry@peersupportcommunitypartners.com so they know how many butterflies and to share a photo for the memory tree/garden.

2. Braintree International Overdose Awareness Day Butterfly Release 1 John F Kennedy Memorial Drive Braintree MA Friday August 30, 2024 10:00 am. Each attendee will receive a live butterfly to set free or a wildflower seed paper. Please rsvp to the Facebook event or email marci@thesunwillrise.org so we know how many butterflies are needed. Rain Date: 8/31/24

3. Bridgewater International Overdose Awareness Day 91 Main St Bridgewater MA 8/31/24 7:00 pm.

There are so many events happening this week. Here are a few more of the flyers. Please check the locators above to find more near you.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING AT AN IOAD, SUMMER OR RECOVERY MONTH RELATED EVENT?

Please email robyn@thesunwillrise.org if you would like to volunteer to host a table at an IOAD or other summer event to represent The Sun Will Rise. Your role would be to set up the table with materials provided by us, attend to the table and support attendees by providing materials and answer questions about our resources/meetings/events. A sign up sheet would be available for those that may want to talk further to a Peer Grief Support Specialist after the event and a sign up sheet would be available for those who would like to join our mailing list. We will provide a handout and/or a mini session to answer any questions you may have to feel prepared to do the tabling. We will add locations as requests come in.

Locations that still currently need volunteers are:

Holbrook Cares Candlelight Vigil Holbrook MA 8/31/24 5:00 pm

Wrentham Day Wrentham MA 9/7/24 9:00 am

Flag placement for IOAD 08/29/24 7:30 am Boston Common, Boston MA. On Thursday 8/29 there will be 22,125 purple flags planted on the lawn at Liberty Mall in remembrance of the 20,000 lives lost to overdose in Massachusetts between 2012-2022. An additional 2,125 flags will represent that many overdose deaths in our state during 2023. If you'd like to volunteer to assist with flag planting the morning of August 29th, please complete this form https://forms.gle/92TTiQAMx1TeYzcbA. There is also an opportunity on the form to submit names if you are unable to attend but would someone remembered by name with a sticker on one of the flags.

Thanks to all who came to Braintree MA to put up the 2125 purple flags that represent the estimated number of Massachusetts residents who died due to overdose in 2023 in preparation of our IOAD event on 8/30/24. We will also need assistance for removal on 9/5/24 at 5:00 pm.

INTO LIGHT

Many of our group members will have their loved one featured at this exhibit that opens this Tuesday, August 27 and ends November 8, in the The Beard and Weil Galleries at Wheaton College, 26 E. Main Street, Norton, MA.

All are invited to attend the reception and/or view the exhibit during the gallery hours:

1–5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday + Saturday

1–8 p.m. Thursday
10–5 p.m. Sunday
The galleries are closed Monday and during college breaks. There is no admission.

Read more about the INTO LIGHT Project. For anyone out of state, check their website for upcoming exhibits in your area.

THIS WEEK’S MEETING INFORMATION

Monday - Christian Faith Based Hope After Loss- IN-PERSON MARLBOROUGH, MA 8/26/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET. Cheryl Juaire facilitating. Greater Grace Christian Fellowship, 187 Pleasant St Marlborough, MA. For anyone 18+ of the Christian faith who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use. There is a special sign-up process for this group to ensure a supportive and understanding environment for all participants.

_____________________
Monday - ZOOM 8/26/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Don Lipstein facilitating.
For anyone 18+ who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84716470892
Meeting ID: 847 1647 0892 or
One tap mobile 16469313860

___________________
Tuesday - IN-PERSON, BRIDGEWATER, MA 8/27/24 6:30-8:00 pm ET. Judy Kelly facilitating.
Trinity Episcopal Church 91 Main St Bridgewater MA
For anyone 18+ who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

_______________
Tuesday - MEN’S ONLY - ZOOM 8/27/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET. Dave Swindell and Gary Carter facilitating.
For men 18+ who have experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96961980647?pwd=cFVTMHR3VE9COGc3UGdIZHo4TWVaZz09#success
Meeting ID: 969 6198 0647
Password: 300626 or
One tap mobile 16465588656

____________________
Tuesday - PARTNER & SPOUSE - ZOOM 8/27/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET.
Kar-Kate Parenteau facilitating.
For anyone 18 + who has experienced the death of a partner, spouse or significant other due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86578435343?pwd=avNFpCQpiLGCsKRKFEsexJj7E87gM5.1 Meeting ID: 865 7843 5343
Passcode: 287422 or
One tap mobile: 13052241968

______________________
HYBRID - LEARNING TO COPE WITH GRIEF MEETING - IN-PERSON & ZOOM, GLOUCESTER, MA Tuesday - 8/27/24 7:00-8:00 pm ET.
Colleen and Gordon Bullard facilitating
CORE Peer Recovery and Resource Center 11 - 15 Parker Street, Gloucester, MA
For anyone 18 + who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83349371338?pwd=RXM5RnRINGJKL21HTFhiSVYyR1NCdz09
Meeting ID: 833 4937 1338
Passcode: 560270

______________
Wednesday - PEOPLE IN RECOVERY - ZOOM 8/28/24 6:00-7:30 pm ET.
Jill Shanahan facilitating/Leslie Lagos co-facilitating.
For anyone 18+ who identifies as being in recovery from any substance or alcohol who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82183952041
Meeting ID: 821 8395 2041 or
One tap mobile 16469313860

_____________________

Thursday - ZOOM 8/29/24 7:00-8:30 pm ET.
Janice Kaplan facilitating.
For anyone 18+ who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83416395852?pwd=A1DTwuRWjGxGWlUaC9svHMK3bEotrx.1
Meeting ID: 834 1639 5852
Passcode: 194567
One tap mobile 13017158592