Four county prosecutors’ offices to host 5th annual Overdose Awareness Day at Somerset Patriots game
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) – The Prosecutors’ Offices of Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties will host the 5th Annual Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday, Aug. 23, at TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.
International Opioid Overdose Awareness Day, observed annually on Aug. 31, is a global campaign to end drug overdoses through prevention and harm reduction strategies. This year’s local event is a collaborative effort of the counties’ Operation Helping Hand (OHH) programs to support recovery, honor lives lost to substance use disorder, and connect attendees with critical resources.
The program will feature two ceremonial first pitches — one by a person in long-term recovery, symbolizing resilience and hope, and another by a family honoring a loved one lost to substance use disorder, serving as a poignant reminder of the crisis’s impact.
“Another year to again recognize the important work that Operation Helping Hand performs in supporting those who struggle with addiction. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has a very active OHH program, and we look forward to the 5th Annual Overdose Awareness Day with the Somerset Patriots. It is a wonderful opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation to all of those providing the valuable resources needed to successfully recover from addiction,” said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said, “The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is proud to participate in the 5th Annual Overdose Awareness Day event at the Somerset Patriots baseball game. This powerful evening is a time to remember the loved ones we’ve lost to overdose and renew our commitment to fighting for a future where addiction is met with compassion and support, not judgment. Through the Operation Helping Hand initiative, with the strong collaboration between law enforcement, treatment providers, and the community, we are breaking down the stigma and offering a lifeline to those who are struggling.”
“We honor those we have lost by giving hope to those still with us. Operation Helping Hand provides hope through awareness, education, support, and access to recovery resources. Our teams meet individuals where they are on their journey — with patience and compassion. We do this because every life is worth saving,” said Acting Warren County Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone.
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson added, “The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office is proud to take part in this year’s OHH Overdose Awareness Baseball Game. Together, driven by hope, we stand united to honor those we have lost, support those who are struggling, and work toward a future free from the pain of overdose.”
Somerset Patriots Vice President of Operations Bryan Iwicki said the team is “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. 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.”
Community organizations including Community in Crisis, Parent to Parent Addiction Services Inc., Prevention Links, and Prevention Resources partnered in planning the event. Naloxone kits will be distributed in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and a 50/50 raffle will benefit Community in Crisis.
The Somerset Patriots are the reigning Eastern League Champions, and play their home games in Bridgewater, N.J. The event is funded in part through the State of New Jersey’s Department of Law & Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of Alternative and Community Responses, which coordinates OHH programs statewide.
