We are heading into September, which is Recovery Month, while vigils and remembrance events are still happening in many communities. It can be a strange emotional shift. We spend the end of August saying the names of people who died and standing beside others who know this heartache. Then September arrives and the focus turns to stories of recovery and hope. Of course we celebrate people in recovery. We know how hard they have worked and how much it means to the people who love them. Every person who finds recovery is someone’s child, parent, partner, sibling or friend. You may even be that person celebrating your own recovery. But if your person died, Recovery Month may bring up feelings you were not expecting. You can hear someone’s recovery story and be truly happy for them, while a little voice inside you asks, “Why couldn’t that have been my person?” I think many of us have had that thought, even if we have never said it out loud. It doesn’t mean we are bitter or that we don’t support recovery. We just wish the person we love had been given more time and another chance. We wonder who they would be today and what their life might look like. Some of our people had periods of recovery. Some tried many times. Some were helping others while still struggling themselves. None of that is erased because they died. Their lives were not failures and they should never be remembered only for the way they died. There is room in September to celebrate recovery and still miss the person who didn’t make it. Both can be true.
~Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
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NEW GROUP ALERT IPSWICH MA! JOIN NEW FACILITATOR ADRIENNE MINCZ THURSDAY 9/3/26 AT 6:00
Also happening in Ipswich and Topsfield, Living in the Color | Reframing Addiction Exhibit is LIVE at both Zumi's locations until September 6th. YOu can view the online submission here.
POLL REGARDING NEW 8-WEEK GROUP
If you are interested in attending an upcoming 8-week group in Braintree MA, please complete this poll. This will look different than our regular groups. This is a pilot program, is made possible from an opioid fund grant from The Town of Braintree.
10 YEAR CELEBRATION! OUR LARGEST FUNDRAISER IN YEARS! Please help keep our peer grief support free!
Tickets are close to sell out. 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 would love for you to be there!
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.
BID NOW!!!! 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!
Our Cape Cod groups brought the creativity with their lantern making! Using glitter, beads and beautiful tissue paper, they really made some beautiful pieces for our powerful IOAD butterfly release ceremony! Start thinking about the lanterns for next year and look to these as inspirations!
We came together in memory of those who have died at our Glowstick Ceremony and Lantern Walk. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this beautiful event. It was a powerful reminder that none of us walks through grief alone.
Tabling season is in full swing, this week we were at multiple vigils including, Needham, Quincy, Whitinsviile and the Brockton Area Vigil. We also took part in the third annual Overdose Day at WooSox which included a proclamation acknowledging 8/31/26 as IOAD in Worcester MA. Look for our tables at other events in the coming weeks and stop by and say hello.
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Tuesday, September 22nd, 6:30 - 8:00 pm Peer Support Community Partners’ psychoeducational workshop: Grief and Anger: How to Cope with a Natural Reaction to Loss. Many grieving people experience anger, toward circumstances, systems, other people, themselves, or even the person who died. Yet anger in grief is often misunderstood, judged, or difficult to talk about openly. You will explore why anger can emerge in grief, the many ways it may show up emotionally and physically, and compassionate ways to cope with and express these feelings. Learn more and register at bit.ly/grief-anger-workshop. 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. REGISTER.
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.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! HELP REMOVE THE MEMORIAL FLAGS
Help is needed to remove the flags: Braintree MA Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Braintree Town Hall 1 JFK Memorial Dr Braintree MA
Weymouth MA Friday, September 4, 2026 11:00 AM. Libby Field 92 Middle St Weymouth MA
Every hand helps. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org
A SAMPLE OF UPCOMING MEMORIALS & VIGILS AROUND MA
There are so many remembrance events happening in August & September. Like this South Yarmouth & Milton 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.
Milton MA is hosting an IOAD Butterfly Release ceremony on Sunday, September, 20th 10 am. Please join Kathi Sullivan and Robyn Houston-Bean at this event. Bring a framed picture of your person.
GRIEF & WORK RESEARCH STUDY
A doctoral student at University of Georgia asked that we pass this along. She is conducting a study on employees’ experiences of grief at work. They are seeking employed adults (18+) who have experienced a close death in the the last two years. Here is the link to participate. The Sun Will Rise has no association with this study.
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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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean