As time passes, new people come into our lives who never knew the person who died. That can be hard. Someone may know you well but never understand this huge part of your life. They never heard your person’s voice or saw the way they walked into a room. They only know what you choose to tell them. Sometimes sharing stories feels good. Sometimes trying to explain who they were hurts too much. You may not want to talk about them at all. There is no right way to handle it. You can share when it feels right and keep things to yourself when it doesn’t. The people we meet later may not have known them, but they can still come to know something about them through us.
~Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! HELP US PREPARE FOR IOAD
BOSTON, BRAINTREE & WEYMOUTH MA
Volunteers needed in Braintree Wednesday, August 19, 2025 at 5:00 pm at Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Drive, Braintree, MA.
AND in Weymouth Friday, August 21, 2026 11:00 am at Libby Field 92 Middle St Weymouth MA. We need help install 978 purple remembrance flags along the fence outside Braintree Town Hall and across from Weymouth Town Hall. Each flag represents a Massachusetts resident who died due to overdose in 2025. We'll be zip-tying the flags to the fence… all materials are provided.
Help is also needed to respectfully take down the display. Removal in Braintree MA Wednesday, September 2 at 5:00 PM. And in Weymouth MA Friday, September 9/4/26 at 11:00 am. These flags reflect the most recent overdose from the state. Bring a friend and be part of this meaningful tribute. Every hand helps. No sign up, just arrive at requested time. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org
BOSTON Sign up to volunteer to plant memorial flags on the Boston Common.
Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! DOWNLOAD THE TEAMUP APP CALENDAR ON YOUR PHONE. Click here for how to join app! The teamup calendar automatically updates to your timezone.
Please check the calendar before you drive to an in-person group…last-minute changes can happen. If it is not listed on the monthly calendar, it is cancelled for that date.
If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.
MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK
The new MEN’S GROUP meeting starts this week.
10 YEAR CELEBRATION! OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER IN YEARS! Please help keep our peer grief support free!
Buy your tickets now! On October 3, 2026 we'll gather for a very special evening as we celebrate 10 years of The Sun Will Rise Foundation, recognize Cheryl Juaire's incredible contributions as she retires and look ahead to this new chapter together as Team Sharing & The Sun Will Rise merge. We hope you'll join us.
Sponsor, Donate or Add a Tribute in Memory of Your Person. There are many meaningful ways to be part of this special evening. Become a sponsor, make a donation or place a tribute in our program in memory of someone you love. Your support helps ensure that people bereaved due to substance use-related causes never have to grieve alone.
ANNOUNCING LOW DIGIT PLATE AUCTION! Bid on a Low-Number Overdose Awareness Plate Our online auction for Massachusetts Overdose Awareness plates 1–99 is now open! These plates have not been available to the public until now! Bid on a meaningful number while supporting TSWR’s free peer grief support for people bereaved due to substance use-related causes. And yes, if you already have a higher digit plate and want to bid on one of these you are eligible! Most plates start at a $500 bid. Certain single digit numbers are higher. Auction closes 10/3/26!
HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED AT TSWR RECENTLY!
We held our 5th lantern-making event at A New Way Recovery Each lantern made with love and care. These lanterns will shine during our International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk on August 27. The last in-person workshop is taking place in Braintree MA this week. If you can’t make it join us at our virtual workshop, details below.
Director, Leslie Lagos brought the workshop to the South Shore Recovery Alliance monthly meeting!
Natalie Patricio tabled for us at Gilly’s House Summerfest! It’s great meeting so many members of the community and letting them know about our peer grief support!
The August Grief Retreat for parents was a great success. They laughed, they cried, they got to share their stories. These retreats were wonderful way to kick off our merger with Team Sharing!
We joined organizations from across the state at the RIZE Massachusetts Mosaic Design Lab to share ideas and help shape better support for children and families impacted by substance use. It was a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and consider what we can build together.
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
NEW IN-PERSON WORKSHOP in Braintree MA ADDED! Create a memorial lantern in memory or honor of someone you care about as we prepare for the Braintree/Weymouth MA International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Ceremony at Pond Meadow Park on 8/27/26. Each lantern created during these workshops can be carried or displayed during our IOAD Lantern Walk & Glow Stick Ceremony, where we will come together as a community to remember those who have died due to substance use related causes and support one another in hope and healing. Questions? robyn@thesunwillrise.org
New workshop added!
8/19/26 6:30 pm Braintree Town Hall Braintree MA REGISTER HERE
8/20/26 6:30 pm ET Virtual. List of materials that you will need.
August 25th 6:30 - 8:00 pm ET Peer Support Community Partners’ August psychoeducational workshop Finding Supportive Community While Grieving. Explore the many ways support can look while grieving, including peer support groups, one-on-one connection, professional counseling, community spaces, online support, and everyday relationship-building. REGISTER HERE 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. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free. Contact Laura@@peersupportcommunitypartners.com
International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk & Glowstick Remembrance Thursday August 27th, 2026 6:00 pm ET Braintree MA Join The Sun Will Rise Foundation, the Town of Braintree, The Braintree Community Partnership, the Town of Weymouth and the Weymouth Prevention Alliance as we come together to honor International Overdose Awareness Day. This evening is an opportunity to remember those who have died due to substance use-related causes while standing alongside others who understand the lasting impact of these deaths. We will gather at Pond Meadow Park for a remembrance ceremony where participants will be invited to take part in our glow stick ceremony. This is a meaningful ceremony that honors the lives of those we carry in our hearts and reminds us that their light continues to shine. Stay for just the ceremony or walk with us, carrying our own handmade illuminated memorial lanterns, around Pond Meadow. Together we remember. Register here. Make a lantern to carry at one of our workshops! There will not be a separate Braintree butterfly release this year or a Weymouth vigil. Questions? Contact robyn@thesunwillrise.org
WOOSOX IOAD EVENT/GAME Saturday, August 29th, from 2:00-4:00 pm Polar Park Worcester MA. Resource tables from SADOD, The Sun Will Rise, Learn to Cope, Everyday Miracles, End Overdose Boston, City of Worcester Health and Human Services, the YMCA, and more will be available outside at 2:00 pm, then move to the inside concourse during the game. Speakers will share personal stories between 2-3:15, followed by a butterfly release. The on-field ceremony, where loved ones will be honored, will take place around 3:30 - 3:45 pm. Doors open at 2:30 pm. Come together with the community to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remember that they lived. $5 from each ticket purchased through this LINK will be donated to The Sun Will Rise Foundation. Order your tickets today!!
A SAMPLE OF UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA
There are so many remembrance events happening this month. Like this Easthampton MA one. If you have a flyer you would like to share for your event, email it to robyn@thesunwillrise.org.
SADOD has a IOAD event locator on their page for events in MA. If you are hosting an event and would like to add it to the locator, complete this form.
For other states and international events search here.
FROM MILTON MA ART CENTER
Healing Through Art Wednesdays, Sept. 23rd – Dec. 9th, 2026, 9:30–11:30 AM Free weekly art classes where you can relax, connect with others, and create something meaningful. Priority enrollment for Milton MA residents during the first four weeks of registration. Following that period, any remaining openings will be available to residents of surrounding communities. Sign up here.
HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND
Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.
Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!
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Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!
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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean