DanversCARES Announces 8th Annual ‘Light The Night Purple’

DanversCARES, a dynamic community partnership that supports youth and families in making healthy decisions, announces the 8th annual Light The Night Purple. The walk and community gathering, which raises awareness of opiate and other substance use disorders and encourages hope, help, and recovery, will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at the Peabody Institute Library in Danvers.

‘This is an important community event that we are very happy to host again,” said David Thomson of DanversCARES. “This event is designed for people to come together to support those in recovery and show there is hope for a healthier future.”

“Recovery Centers of America is proud to once again be the presenting sponsor of the Light The Night Purple again this year,” said Eli Naparstek, Chief Executive Officer of Recovery Centers of America at Danvers. “We work daily with people battling the disease of addiction and understand how important it is for them to feel that there is support from their family, friends, and the community.”

The event starts at 6:00pm with community resources and brief welcoming remarks. The one-mile walk will begin at 6:30pm. When walkers return, they will enjoy a performance by the Danvers High School acapella group, Vocal Alliance, and hear from Psumi Howard, a Recovery Support Specialist at Recovery Centers of America in Danvers. Having been in recovery for a year, Howard brings with her a message of hope to others who may have struggled or who are still struggling with the disease of addiction. A member of the clergy will provide closing remarks followed by the lighting of luminaries. The first 150 people will receive a free t-shirt. Cherry Farm Creamery is donating 100 pre-packed ice cream cups and Texas Roadhouse will give away apple juice.

DanversCARES invites residents and businesses to support Light The Night Purple on May 15th. In addition to attending the event, some of the ways you can show your support include:

● Wearing purple or a purple ribbon (the color of recovery)

● Tie a purple ribbon around your lamppost, mailbox, door, or window

● Display a Light The Night Purple poster in your window (available upon request)

● Change one or more of your exterior lights to purple

In addition to Recovery Centers of America, other sponsors of Light The Night Purple include Beth Israel, Lahey Health, Northeast Regional Ambulance, North Shore Bank, Winchester Savings Bank, Danvers Community Access Television (DCAT), Eliot Community Human Services, Kiwanis, Maple Street Church, Office of the Essex County District Attorney, St. John’s Prep, and Texas Roadhouse of Danvers. For more information visit www.Danverscares.org.

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