Next weekend’s Overdose Awareness Event will bring food and music to McLane Park, as well as community and support for those who have lost loved ones to addiction. The Goodluck family of Poplar Bluff is organizing the celebration in honor of their son and brother Laramie Goodluck. It begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.
“There are a bunch of overdose awareness events every year, and a lot are most focused on the addicted, how they suffer. We wanted to focus on the survivors, the other side of addiction,” said Breanne Shepherd, Goodluck’s older sister.
During the event, the family will place a memorial plaque by a willow tree in McLane Park, which was grown from a branch placed on Goodluck’s casket.
Attendees will enjoy live music from Chris Furlong and Heath White, followed by DJ Kellz, a rock painting station and food from MJ’s Family BBQ food truck. Addiction resources and ministries including ChristWay Ministries, Crossroads Ministries, Shepherd’s Fold and 180 Ministries will be present.
T-shirts designed by Shepherd will be sold. All profits from shirt sales and a portion of food truck profits, as well as donations collected during the event, will be divided between ChristWay Ministries and Crossroads Ministries. Shepherd described the recipients as “near and dear” to the family’s hearts.
In addition to honoring lost loved ones, Shepherd hopes attendees who have lost friends or family to overdoses will walk away from the event knowing they have a community to lean on.
“Our main outcome is to let people know they’re not alone. Support is out there,” she said.
McLane Park is located north of Poplar Bluff on Highway W.