Fentanyl Awareness free public concert in Portland Maine's beautiful Deering Oaks Park
Echo report by Aysia Reed for Maine WGME-TV in Portland Maine
PORTLAND, ME (WGME) - An afternoon filled with live music, connections, and awareness on how to potentially save someone’s life. The program was co-sponsored by the City of Portland with the Rotary Club of Portland, Maine, to raise awareness about the Fentanyl Crisis.
Community members packed the event, all with one goal: to show support. Ron Springel being one of them.
“Really allowing people to understand that they don’t have to live in isolation with their addiction,” said Springel, a community member. “They can come out and get the help that they need.”
Portland Rotary Club Members and the Department of Health and Human Services put on Sunday’s event at Deering Oaks Park to raise awareness about the fentanyl crisis in the state.
“Our main purpose here today is to save one life,” said event organizer Tom Ranello. “If we can save one life, we did what we needed to do. And we’re hoping that we can help people to better understand what goes on with fentanyl.”
Ranello says he hopes the information at the event will educate folks on the matter and how they can help.
Booths were set up with Narcan, guidance on how to get help, and resources to reach out to.
One of those booths is the Portland Recovery Community Center.
“We offer multiple paths to recovery,” said Laura Chritton with the Portland Recovery Community Center. “Wherever someone might be on their path to recovery. Whether they’re not sure, or they’ve been in recovery for years, wherever they might be, they’re welcome to come.”
According to Maine.gov, 77% of deaths due to drugs were caused by fentanyl in 2021.
Some attending the event have had loved ones struggling with addiction and are at the concert to show support.
“One of my friends of mine had an overdose, her son, out in Seattle right in their apartment,” said William Higgins. “Luckily, they had naloxone there and were able to save her son’s life.”
“I’m a nurse and so I wanted to come, both to learn more, and how I can help the families I work with,” said nurse Sydney McMillen.
And this message was echoed throughout the event: the opposite of addiction is connection.
PORTLAND, ME (WGME) - An afternoon filled with live music, connections, and awareness on how to potentially save someone’s life. The program was co-sponsored by the City of Portland with the Rotary Club of Portland, Maine, to raise awareness about the Fentanyl Crisis.
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| Afternoon concert in Deering Oaks Park helps bring awareness to fentanyl crisis |
Community members packed the event, all with one goal: to show support. Ron Springel being one of them.
 |
| Deering Oaks Park in Portland Mine the location for the Sunday, May 7, 2023, Fentanyl Awareness Concert with the Don Campbell Band. |
“Really allowing people to understand that they don’t have to live in isolation with their addiction,” said Springel, a community member. “They can come out and get the help that they need.”
Portland Rotary Club Members and the Department of Health and Human Services put on Sunday’s event at Deering Oaks Park to raise awareness about the fentanyl crisis in the state.
“Our main purpose here today is to save one life,” said event organizer Tom Ranello. “If we can save one life, we did what we needed to do. And we’re hoping that we can help people to better understand what goes on with fentanyl.”
 |
| Rotary Club of Portland Maine with (center) Don Campbell, the award-winning singer and songwriter who performed live with the Don Campbell Band in Deering Oaks Park on May 7, 2023. |
Ranello says he hopes the information at the event will educate folks on the matter and how they can help.
Booths were set up with Narcan, guidance on how to get help, and resources to reach out to.
 |
| Surprise guest who attended the May 7, 2023 live concert in Deering Oaks Park was Maine Senator Angus King and his wife Mary Herman. From left pictures Juliana L'Heureux (aka- Maine Writer) with Senator Angus King, President of the Rotary Club of Portland Maine Bruce Jones and Mary Herman. |
One of those booths is the Portland Recovery Community Center.
“We offer multiple paths to recovery,” said Laura Chritton with the Portland Recovery Community Center. “Wherever someone might be on their path to recovery. Whether they’re not sure, or they’ve been in recovery for years, wherever they might be, they’re welcome to come.”
 |
| Award-winning Singer-Songwriter Don Campbell performed with the Don Campbell Band at Deering Oaks Park in a public concert to raise awarenessa bout the Fentanyl Crisis. |
According to Maine.gov, 77% of deaths due to drugs were caused by fentanyl in 2021.
Some attending the event have had loved ones struggling with addiction and are at the concert to show support.
 |
| Rotary Club of Portland "Rotarians at Work" (left) Paul Tully and Portland Rotary Club President Bruce Jones. |
“One of my friends of mine had an overdose, her son, out in Seattle right in their apartment,” said William Higgins. “Luckily, they had naloxone there and were able to save her son’s life.”
 |
| Rotary Club of Portland Maine (left) Past President Laura Young, Past President Bowen Depke, and Rotarians Roxane Cole and Zach Newell. |
“I’m a nurse and so I wanted to come, both to learn more, and how I can help the families I work with,” said nurse Sydney McMillen.
And this message was echoed throughout the event: the opposite of addiction is connection.
The Salvation Army provided free refreshments to the audience and accepted small donations.
Labels: addiction, Don Campbell, Portland Recovery Community Center, Rotary Club of Portland Maine, Salvation Army, Senator Angus King
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 8:21 AM
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