One candle lights another during a vigil for local overdose victims Saturday, Aug. 13, in downtown Rockingham. Photos by William R. Toler – Richmond Observer
ROCKINGHAM – The names and photos of 34 people lost to drug addiction were distributed on two banners Saturday at the second annual Steve’s Wings Overdose Awareness Rally.
The overdose victims were between 21 and 58 years old.
According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Richmond County had the highest overdose rate in the state in 2021, with a total of 57 deaths in 2020 and 2021.
Family members of several of those featured on the banner attended the event in the parking lot outside the Richmond County Judicial Center.
Steve’s Wings was founded about two years ago by Melissa Schoonover and is named after her father, Steve Odom, who died of an overdose in early 2020.
The Richmond County Department of Social Services and Sandhills Behavioral Care had booths set up, with volunteers handing out drug addiction literature. DSS had examples of harm reduction kits, which include pamphlets and a dose of naloxone.
On the lighter side, there were Players Jump and Play bounce houses and a sinking cabin.
Several former addicts up and down the East Coast shared their respective testimonies of how far they’ve sunk and how far they’ve come.
The event ended with a candlelight vigil while a video played with descriptions of those featured on the banner.
The RO will have more on the concentration in the coming days.
See photos from the event below.
One candle lights another during a vigil for local overdose victims Saturday, Aug. 13, in downtown Rockingham. Photos by William R. Toler – Richmond Observer
