CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Donations of time and money are needed for a new joint effort from a list of West Virginia’s nonprofit organizations to try take the number of drug overdose deaths in the Mountain State down to zero.
It’s called “9,000 to None,” referencing the more than 9,000 West Virginians who have died from drug overdoses since 2001.
Signed on initially for what could eventually be a statewide effort are Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, Kanawha County Communities that Care, the YMCA and the partners with the West Virginia Year of the Child.
“We’re all in it together and our sole focus will our children,” said organizer Sara McDowell. “This is about combining resources.”
The goal is a “proactive collaboration” to curb teen substance abuse along with generational drug use by pairing kids with positive role models and getting them involved in organized activities with financial and travel support.
“When you have the highest number of children in foster children in a state our size with an aging population, you have to focus on prevention,” McDowell said.
Young people, she said, need to feel like they’re part of their communities, not burdens on their communities.
“9,000 to None” takes its cues from a similar, successful program in Iceland.
For West Virginia, those involved will be trying to raise $900,000 and recruit 9,000 mentors via 9000tonone.org.
“We’re getting calls from the around the state. We hope to make this a statewide initiative and get nonprofits working together,” McDowell said.
“We’re all in our own little spheres and we have our missions. Those are great. These are wonderful organizations but, ultimately, our shared mission is to ensure the future of West Virginia is strong.”
“9,000 to None” launched earlier this month.