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Overdose Awareness Day vigil

Date: 31/08/2026
Time:
Location: Elm Street Plaza, Elm Street, Westfield, MA, USA
Public/Private: Public
Individual/Organisation: Organisation
Name of Organisation: City of Westfield
Contact: Hunter Pelkey
Event Contact:
Web:

The 2026 Westfield International Overdose Awareness Day vigil featured several key components aimed at remembrance, community support, and breaking the stigma surrounding substance use:

Official Proclamation: The City of Westfield issued an official proclamation formally declaring August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day to honor residents lost to addiction, specifically highlighting local losses.

Memory and Photo Boards: Organizers brought back “picture boards” where grieving family members, friends, and community attendees placed photos and wrote heartfelt messages to honor their loved ones.

Guest Speakers: Local community leaders, advocates, and health officials gave speeches sharing messages of reflection, collective healing, and the urgent need for expanded outreach.

Resource and Prevention Tables: Representatives from Tapestry Health and the Westfield Peer Recovery Center set up information tables. They provided immediate access to local support services, answered questions about addiction, and helped bridge the gap to harm-reduction tools.

Food and Music: The evening integrated live music and food to foster a welcoming, comforting environment for collective healing.

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