Together We Can CHQ invites residents, businesses, organizations, schools and community leaders throughout Chautauqua County to participate in Chautauqua County Overdose Awareness Week, taking place August 24-31. This countywide initiative promotes hope, healing, remembrance, recovery, education, and community connection while encouraging meaningful conversations about substance use and mental health. Throughout the week, the community is invited to participate in themed Spirit Week activities, attend local events, and stand together in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day on Monday, August 31st.
Together We Can CHQ is a community-driven overdose awareness coalition dedicated to fostering hope, healing, connection, and compassion. Through its Be the Light Initiatives, the coalition works to fight stigma, support recovery, honor lives, and strengthen the community through education, advocacy, harm reduction, and meaningful connection.
While the coalition's work is rooted in Chautauqua County, every Overdose Awareness Week initiative is officially registered through the International Overdose Awareness Day Campaign, connecting local efforts to the world’s largest annual campaign dedicated to preventing overdose, reducing stigma, honoring lives lost, and supporting individuals and families affected by substance use.
Several community buildings will be participating by "Keeping the Light On," illuminating their buildings purple to recognize this observance. Community members are encouraged to participate by wearing the daily themes, visiting buildings illuminated in purple, taking photos with coworkers, friends, family members, classrooms, or organizations, and sharing them on Facebook and Instagram while tagging Together We Can CHQ.
The list of participants in "Keeping the Light On" are the Village of Mayville Clerk's Office, Jamestown City Hall, Dunkirk City Hall, and Dunkirk Police Department.
Events include:
- Monday, August 24th -- Challenge the Stigma: Wear recovery or mental health apparel.
- Tuesday, August 25th -- Peace Out to Accidental Overdose: Wear tie-dye.
- Wednesday, August 26th -- Band Together: Wear your favorite band or concert T-shirt.
- Thursday, August 27th: Glow for Awareness: Wear neon or bright colors.
- Friday, August 28th: Be the Light: Wear purple or your Together We Can CHQ shirt and join the coalition for a community event.
- Saturday, August 29th: Let's Team Together: Wear your favorite sports team apparel or jersey.
- Sunday, August 30th: International Overdose Awareness Day: Wear purple, honor those we have lost, celebrate recovery, and join communities around the world in raising awareness and inspiring hope.
The signature event of Overdose Awareness Week is the 3rd Annual Be the Light: Anyone Can Save a Life, taking place on Saturday, August 29th from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Lower Pavilion of Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk. Unlike a traditional awareness event, Be the Light combines education, prevention, remembrance, family activities, and community connection into one evening designed to reduce stigma, build hope, and bring lifesaving resources directly to the people who need them.
For additional information, sponsorship opportunities, volunteer opportunities, coalition membership, or media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Larson at (716) 248-8678 or e-mail [email protected].
