Lyons Township Corral Hosts Local Nonprofit Fundraiser

An estimated 120 people die every day from preventable overdose; it is now the leading cause of death over car accidents. Sadly, the Chicago metropolitan area is sitting in the very hub of it all. Wake the Nation is a drug awareness and education advocacy organization committed to bringing drug awareness to the forefront of discussion through various forums and events throughout Illinois. Our mission is to create mass awareness of the abundance of Heroin and other controlled substances infesting our communities, educate and provide support to the family and friends of addiction victims, and encourage those with an addiction, their loved ones, and the rest of the nation to pursue positive re-enforcement from our government. Being that many of the board members of Wake the Nation have graduated from Lyons Township this cause hits very close to home for them because since graduation there have been over a dozen classmates of theirs who have passed away from drug overdoses.

Currently, Wake the Nation will be hosting a fundraiser at the LT Corral on May 30th after the LaGrange Pet Parade, which we will also be in. The Clothes Swap will be from 12:00-4:30 at the Corral. What this fundraiser consists of is a generous amount of community members who have donated a substantial amount of clothes to this event, as well as the local dry cleaners who have supplied us with their left over clothes that have been sitting for quite some time. At the door of the event, you can either bring a bag full of clothes to donate, and leave with a bag, for a cost of $10 OR you could not bring any clothing items, pay $15 and leave with a bag, which we will provide. All the clothes at the end of the day are going to a local charity call Sack Lunch Sunday. The organization provides bagged lunches and clothing items to the homeless in the city, so the leftover clothing will be going directly into the hands of those in need. It is more than appropriate to be hosting an event at the very school the ladies of the board once walked the hall in, in honor of those we have passed, and to continue to fight for those who are currently suffering.

One of the other ways that we serve the community is through our Naloxone trainings. You may have heard about naloxone, or Narcan, as it has been feature fairly regularly on various news stations and other media outlets. We have trained everyone from lay people, to local police departments, to the United States Department of Justice. Naloxone is the opiate overdose antidote, in other words it can reverse an overdose almost instantly once it is injected intramuscularly. As we know through the media there is an increasingly dangerous heroin epidemic that is killing people of all races, genders, and ages throughout the nation. The stigma which surrounds addiction is among many of the problems that creates a barrier for people to seek advice or help. The mere discussion of the issue can do so much for the awareness factor of this cause, that is one thing that Wake the Nation prides itself on, that is to continue the discussion of this matter, whether it be big or small.

Unfortunately, it’s not just heroin that is responsible for this rampant issue. Prescription opioids, found in most households are at the core of this issue, but luckily can also be reversed with Naloxone. These training sessions are one way we are able to reach the community to not only equip them with knowledge, but providing them with the tools to reduce harm and save lives. At these trainings, we are able to educate attendees on the growing epidemic, offer assistance and support, and provide them with a plethora of resources. At the end of the day, it is important that we all raise our voices and wake the nation.

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