ASK receives Jefferson Village donation

The Jefferson Owners Corporation of Jefferson Village presented the Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) with a generous donation on March 20 during the community’s monthly breakfast. 

Liz Talbert, Executive Director of ASK, attended the event and shared information and resources about ASK and its fiscally sponsored initiative, Drug Crisis in Our Backyard. 

Also participating were Lillian Neuman, Director of Community Outreach at St. Vincent’s Westchester, and Kathy Reynolds, Team Lead for the Family Support Navigator Program at CoveCare Center. Together, the presenters provided important information about available services, reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorder, and supporting positive mental health. 

Neuman also led a Naloxone training, during which 35 community members received Naloxone kits. 

Naloxone is a prescription medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids in the nervous system for 30 to 90 minutes, providing valuable time for emergency medical intervention. The training helped attendees better understand the dangers of opioid addiction, the growing impact of fentanyl, and what to do if they suspect someone is experiencing an overdose. 

ASK is a coalition representing all sectors of the community and working together to provide a safety net that supports healthy lifestyles for youth and families. Its mission is to connect the community to important resources that promote youth mental health, substance use prevention, treatment and recovery, and opportunities for thoughtful service. 

As the fiscal sponsor for Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, ASK also supports the organization’s mission to raise awareness about the abuse of prescription and illegal drugs in the community, help people understand that substance misuse is a chronic disease, and assist individuals and families struggling with the effects of substance use in a loved one. 

“This much-needed donation will help strengthen the connection between our community and potentially lifesaving resources, while ensuring that important Drug Crisis in Our Backyard programs can continue,” said Talbert. 

“A special thank you to Anne O’Neill for helping to organize our visit on March 20, as well as to all of the thoughtful donors and everyone who attended and received important training and tools,” Talbert added. “It truly takes a village, and we are so grateful to have caring community members like you standing with us.” 

For more information about supporting ASK or hosting a Naloxone training, please contact Liz Talbert at liz@allianceforsafekids.org. 

Article courtesy of Alliance for Safe Kids