Along with many other Counties on the Eastern Shore, Dorchester is Going Purple again for the month of September. The goal of the program is to increase awareness of opioid addiction across all facets of the County’s population, from school aged students to retirees set to enjoy their golden years. This is important as addiction has no age, race, geographical, social, educational, or financial status boundaries. Everyone is at risk for being affected by the opioid epidemic, either by struggling directly with an addiction, being the loved one of someone struggling or being the employer of someone struggling.
The 2020 program was kicked off this week as the Dorchester Goes Purple (DGP) Committee delivered purple face masks to local law enforcement. The purple masks were hand-made by the Face Mask Brigade: Linda Starling, Theresa McFadden, Cynthia Love, Marti Phillips-Patrick, Anne McAnulty, Fran Collins, Cheryl Campbell, Merrill Schuetz, Erna Benjamin, and Jane Flowers. This group of women not only made masks for the purple cause but have made thousands for folks in the County and around the Country. Their work will help our law enforcement teams show support for the effort to raise awareness of the problem.
In addition to the Purple Masks the following are other activities for the month:
- There will be 2 one-hour live broadcasts.First will be on Sept 2 at 7 pm and another one on Sept 30.State’s Attorney Bill Jones will be the host for both programs. The programs will be recorded and shared via web and on social media.
- WHCP is capturing additional recordings of real-life stories to add to the ones recorded last year. Links to those recordings can be found on the Dorchester Goes Purple web site and on WHCP’s web site.
- Message of the day will again be shared via Facebook, on the web site and can be found on banners throughout the County.
- A postcard will be mailed to every residence in Dorchester County to share the web site and to create awareness of the program and problem.
- DGP committee will do presentations for any business or organization that would like to learn more.
- Businesses and residents are again asked to add purple lights, purple ribbons, or any other purple objects to their properties for the month as a show of support for prevention and wellness efforts.
You can find more information about DGP and other activities for the month on www.DorchesterGoesPurple.org and on the Dorchester Goes Purple Facebook page.
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