Our Journey through COVID-19
On Friday March 13
th
we left our office in Taunton not knowing when we would return. We took what we thought we would need while working remotely. Like many other programs around Massachusetts we had to figure out how to sustain the support our families would need during this unprecedented time. Safety for our team and our families was and remains the highest priority.
I couldn’t be prouder of our team, our trained facilitators and our members. In an amazingly short period of time we came together and learned how to hold our support meetings via ZOOM for 25 chapters, including our Florida chapter online.
Here we are on week 16 as I write this message. Although nothing can replace in person meetings, I have to say that the ZOOM meetings are amazing. We combined meetings together and it’s been a great experience. People meeting other people from all over the state. If you are in Western Mass, you can visit a ZOOM meeting with the North Shore folks or visit a meeting with Florida and Cambridge families and vice versa. Many who have never been able to get to meetings are joining including people from other states. We have still been able to train and get Narcan to families that need it by delivering it while keeping a safe social distance. We held two very successful webinars for family members with the Attorney General’s Office to answer questions on the Purdue Pharma claims process. We have had a wealth of guest speakers because there is no travel involved.
As of today, we are not sure when it will be safe for in person meetings or when people will feel safe and comfortable again in large groups. We continue to follow the direction of the Commonwealth.
I would also like to take this opportunity to send our condolences to all our families who have lost a loved one to overdose and to families who have lost a loved one to COVID 19. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please stay safe and healthy,
Joanne Peterson
Executive Director
