Four-county Overdose Awareness Day event set for Aug. 29 at Somerset Patriots ballpark
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — Prosecutors’ offices in Hunterdon, Somerset, Union and Warren counties will join forces for the sixth annual Overdose Awareness Day event Saturday, Aug. 29, at TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots.
The event is organized through the counties’ Operation Helping Hand initiatives and is being held in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, observed annually on Aug. 31. The observance seeks to raise awareness about overdose prevention, promote harm reduction and remember those who have died from substance use disorder.
This year’s event also marks the 25th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day. The 2026 theme, “25 Years On. Still Needed.”, recognizes progress made in raising awareness, educating communities and saving lives while emphasizing the continued need for overdose prevention and support.
“Overdose Awareness Day is an opportunity to remember those we have lost, support those in recovery, and remind anyone struggling with substance use disorder that they are not alone. Through Operation Helping Hand, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to connecting individuals and families with the support, treatment, and recovery resources they need. We are proud to once again partner with the Somerset Patriots for this meaningful event, bringing our community together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and inspire hope for those affected by addiction,” said John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor.
“The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is honored to stand alongside our partners at the Somerset Patriots Overdose Awareness Day event. This night serves as a meaningful tribute to the lives tragically cut short by overdose, while reinforcing our devotion to building a community grounded in empathy, healing, and hope. By leveraging our Operation Helping Hand program and fostering deep partnerships across law enforcement, healthcare providers, and local advocates, we remain steadfast in removing barriers to recovery and connecting those in need with life-saving support.” said William A. Daniel, Union County Prosecutor.
Jessica L. Cardone, Warren County Prosecutor, stated, “Now in its sixth year, this evening continues to grow, inspire and bring our communities together to support individuals and families affected by substance use disorder. Our Warren County Operation Helping Hand team is honored and grateful to continue partnering with our neighboring counties and the Somerset Patriots. Each year, this game reinforces an important message: support makes a difference, recovery is possible, and no one has to face addiction alone.”
“Twenty-five years after the first International Overdose Awareness Day, significant progress has been made, but the need for prevention, education, harm reduction, and compassionate support remains. Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that behind every statistic is an individual, a family, and a community impacted by substance use disorder. Through Operation Helping Hand and our continued partnerships with neighboring counties and community organizations, we remain committed to reducing stigma, connecting people with lifesaving resources, and supporting individuals on their path to recovery. Recovery is possible, and we want those who are struggling—and the people who care about them—to know that help, hope, and support are available,” said Renée M. Robeson, Hunterdon County Prosecutor.
Community organizations involved in planning the event include Community in Crisis of Bernardsville, Parent to Parent Addiction Services Inc. of Washington, Prevention Links of Roselle and Prevention Resources of Flemington.
Naloxone kits will be distributed during the event through a partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The kits will be available to people at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose and those who may be in a position to administer naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose.
A 50/50 raffle will also be held to benefit Prevention Links, a Union County-based nonprofit organization.
“The Somerset Patriots are extremely proud to be able to host such an important event at the ballpark and to partner up with our local law enforcement agencies to help spread the message of how to prevent opioid overdose,” said Somerset Patriots Vice President of Operations Bryan Iwicki. “Opioid overdose touches so many people’s lives in so many different ways. I think almost everyone knows someone who has suffered from addiction in some way, and being able to educate people on how to get help and educating others on how they can help their friends and family is so important.”
Operation Helping Hand was established by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in 2016 as an initiative connecting people struggling with substance use disorder to treatment and recovery services through partnerships among prosecutors, law enforcement and community providers. The program expanded statewide and became operational in all 21 New Jersey counties in 2019.
Funding for Operation Helping Hand is provided through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety’s Office of the Attorney General and administered by the Office of Alternative and Community Responses.
Residents seeking addiction or recovery services can contact their county’s Operation Helping Hand program. Somerset County residents can call 908-393-8888 or email ohh@SomersetCountyNJ.gov; Union County residents can call the 24-hour hotline at 885-825-3275; Warren County residents can contact Parent to CARES of Warren County at 908-835-1800; and Hunterdon County residents can call 908-788-1129.
