Cathy's Place of Charlotte County

08/31/2025

We Remember in Hope — International Overdose Awareness Day

Today, Cathy’s Place of Charlotte County holds a space in our hearts for the angels we’ve lost to overdose—a profound reminder of the lives and stories behind the statistics. We honor their memory by standing together, shining a light on recovery, and fostering healing without stigma.

Did you know…
• From May 2021 to May 2022, Florida lost 7,942 lives to drug overdoses—that’s nearly 22 lives per day and one person every eight minutes .
• During the pandemic, overdose deaths increased by 42%, from 5,019 in 2019 to 7,137 in 2020, pushing the overdose rate from 25.5 to 35 per 100,000 people .
• Thankfully, recent data shows a 10% reduction in Florida’s age-adjusted overdose rate—from 35.2 in 2022 to 31.7 per 100,000 in 2023—a hopeful sign that our efforts to expand naloxone access are saving lives .

Lifesaving Impact of Naloxone:
• As of March 31, 2025, over 1.8 million free naloxone kits have been distributed across Florida, and nearly 87,400 individuals have been trained in recognizing and responding to overdose .
• Naloxone has already saved over 62,400 lives through Department of Children & Families’ distribution efforts .

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At Cathy’s Place, we are committed to honoring those we’ve lost by fueling awareness, supporting recovery, and dismantling stigma. On this day of remembrance, we celebrate the resilience of our community—and continue our mission to ensure that no one walks this path alone.

With Gratitude & Hope,
Cathy’s Place of Charlotte County 🌻

08/30/2025

🌻 Cathy’s Place of Charlotte County is overflowing with gratitude today! 💛 We are so thankful for our incredible sponsors and every member of our community who came together to make this event such a beautiful success. Your support, love, and dedication help us continue breaking stigma, raising awareness, and walking this path of hope together. 💜

Together, we are stronger. Together, we make a difference. 🌟

🌻

08/24/2025

🌻 One week from today! Join us for the Overdose Awareness 5K & 1 Mile Remembrance Walk 💜. Together, we’ll honor lives lost, support those still struggling, and stand united for hope and healing. There’s still time to register—be a part of this meaningful day with us. 🕊️

http://runsignup.com/OADAY5K

🤸🤸🤸ONE WEEK TO RACE DAY🤸🤸🤸🌟🎉 Buckle up, because Cathy's Place of Charlotte County & Drug Free Charlotte County are OVER THE MOON 🌖 excited for the Overdose Awareness 5K/1 Mile Remembrance Walk! 🙌🤸🎉🌟🌻💜 And me too!!!🤸
http://runsignup.com/OADAY5K

Here’s the scoop:

🚗 Early Packet Pick-Up
🗓️ Thursday, August 28
🕔 5 PM to 7 PM
📍 Tommy’s Express Car Wash, 19010 Murdock Cir, Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Swing by to grab your packet, T-shirt & bib, and drive through for a FREE car wash with your bib in hand. If you can’t make it to early packet pick-up, no worries—you can grab it on race day!

🎈 Race Day Schedule
⏰ 6:15 AM – Gear up with packet pick-up
⏰ 7:00 AM – Opening prayer, followed by welcomes speeches, introductions and shout-outs to our amazing sponsors! 🙌
🎶 Our anthem will be belted out by a local Hero, honoring our shared spirit!

🚀 Boom! Let the race begin as the 5K kicks off at 7:30 AM sharp! And for every participant crossing the finish line, there’s FREE Narcan—empowering our community with crucial safety!💪

🎵 DJ Thumper will keep the energy high all through the morning, making sure you never miss a beat!

🎁 Get ready for jaw-dropping raffles and a heartwarming open mic—don’t be shy, come share your story and inspire others!

🏆 After the 5K, it's awards time and epic RAFFLES!

🚶‍♀️ Then, prepare for a deeply moving Remembrance Walk, the heart of our event, as we beautifully honor the Incredible Angels who inspire us by reading their names aloud, enveloping the day in love and reverence❣️🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜

So lace up those sneakers and get ready to make a difference! It’s not just a walk; it's a celebration of Resilience, Remembrance, and Hope. Let’s light up the day with unity, love, and dazzle the world together! 💜🌻

08/18/2025

Cathy’s Place 🌻 is walking to honor lives lost and to bring hope to our community. 💜

08/15/2025

🚨 Volunteers Needed! 🚨
We’re gearing up for the Overdose Awareness 5K & Remembrance Walk 🏃‍♀️🌻 and we need our community heroes to help make it happen!

We’re looking for awesome folks to assist with setup and cleanup on event day. 🛠️🧹
📍 When: Saturday August 30th
Race starts at 7:30 AM — Volunteers arrive at 6:00 AM sharp for assignments.

📍 Where: South County Regional Park
670 Cooper St, Punta Gorda FL 33950

📍 Why: Because YOU can help us support our runners, honor lives lost, and fight the stigma surrounding overdose.

Bring your early morning energy, a smile, and maybe a little coffee 😉☕
💌 Contact us today to sign up! Let’s make this event unforgettable together!

08/01/2025

Cathy’s Place 🌻 is honored and excited to participate in Overdose Awareness event! This day is more than just remembrance — it’s a powerful opportunity to fight stigma, educate our community, and stand together in hope and healing. 💜✨

We believe that through compassion, connection, and honest conversations, we can change the narrative around substance use and save lives.

Join us as we walk in love, honor those we’ve lost, and support those still fighting. 🕊️

07/29/2025

Cathy’s Place 🌻 is so grateful for the opportunity to help facilitate such an important cause. We’re honored to be part of raising awareness, remembering lives lost, and fighting the stigma surrounding overdose. Thank you to everyone helping make this event possible! 💜

🎉 Stop the presses! We made the newspaper! 🗞️ Yep, you read that right—our Overdose Awareness 5K/1 Mile Remembrance Walk is officially newsworthy! 🤸🌻💜

A special shoutout to Daniel Finton, writer for the Daily Sun, for putting us out there, and to Carolyn Kneller, our amazing photographer from last year, who has offered her time and support to us again this year! We’re extremely thankful to both of you for your kind, loving hearts! ❣️

Don’t miss out! Sign up now and save some cash before prices go up on August 1! 💸
Check out the details here: https://runsignup.com/OADAY5K

Let’s pound the pavement and show our support! 🌟💖 🙌

05/09/2025

🌻 Cathy’s Place had the honor of attending the Annual Awards Breakfast this morning!

We are filled with gratitude as we celebrated the incredible community leaders who dedicate their time and efforts to prevention. Their hard work and commitment inspire us all!

Together, we can continue to make a positive impact! 💙 ’sPlace

04/13/2025

Thank you, Kimmies Recovery Zone, for inviting Cathy’s Place of Charlotte County to the Spring Fest! It was a wonderful day filled with positivity and collaboration as numerous organizations came together to unite for our community. Together, we can make a difference! 💖