08/21/2026
6th ANNUAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY EVENT
with the SOMERSET PATRIOTS
SOMERVILLE, N.J. – The Prosecutors’ Offices of Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties are proud to announce the 6th Annual Overdose Awareness Day, which will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at TD Bank Ballpark, home of the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
International Overdose Awareness Day is observed annually on August 31 to raise awareness of overdose prevention, promote harm reduction strategies, and honor the lives of those lost to substance use disorder. In recognition of this important observance, the Operation Helping Hand (OHH) initiatives of Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties have once again joined together to support individuals in recovery, remember those who have died from overdose, and demonstrate their shared commitment to addressing the ongoing impact of substance use disorder. Through this collaborative effort, the four County Prosecutors’ Offices seek to reduce the stigma associated with addiction, encourage meaningful conversations, and connect individuals and families with resources that foster hope, recovery, and healing.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day. The 2026 theme, “25 Years On. Still Needed.”, recognizes the significant progress made over the past quarter century in raising awareness, educating communities, and saving lives, while underscoring the continued need for overdose prevention, harm reduction, and compassionate support for those affected by substance use disorder.
“Overdose Awareness Day is an opportunity to remember those we have lost, support those in recovery, and remind anyone struggling with substance use disorder that they are not alone. Through Operation Helping Hand, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office remains committed to connecting individuals and families with the support, treatment, and recovery resources they need. We are proud to once again partner with the Somerset Patriots for this meaningful event, bringing our community together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and inspire hope for those affected by addiction,” said John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor.
“The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is honored to stand alongside our partners at the Somerset Patriots Overdose Awareness Day event. This night serves as a meaningful tribute to the lives tragically cut short by overdose, while reinforcing our devotion to building a community grounded in empathy, healing, and hope. By leveraging our Operation Helping Hand program and fostering deep partnerships across law enforcement, healthcare providers, and local advocates, we remain steadfast in removing barriers to recovery and connecting those in need with life-saving support.” said William A. Daniel, Union County Prosecutor.
Jessica L. Cardone, Warren County Prosecutor, stated, “Now in its sixth year, this evening continues to grow, inspire and bring our communities together to support individuals and families affected by substance use disorder. Our Warren County Operation Helping Hand team is honored and grateful to continue partnering with our neighboring counties and the Somerset Patriots. Each year, this game reinforces an important message: support makes a difference, recovery is possible, and no one has to face addiction alone.”
“Twenty-five years after the first International Overdose Awareness Day, significant progress has been made, but the need for prevention, education, harm reduction, and compassionate support remains. Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that behind every statistic is an individual, a family, and a community impacted by substance use disorder. Through Operation Helping Hand and our continued partnerships with neighboring counties and community organizations, we remain committed to reducing stigma, connecting people with lifesaving resources, and supporting individuals on their path to recovery. Recovery is possible, and we want those who are struggling—and the people who care about them—to know that help, hope, and support are available,” said Renée M. Robeson, Hunterdon County Prosecutor.
“The Somerset Patriots are extremely proud to be able to host such an important event at the ballpark and to partner up with our local law enforcement agencies to help spread the message of how to prevent opioid overdose,” said Somerset Patriots Vice President of Operations Bryan Iwicki. “Opioid overdose touches so many people’s lives in so many different ways. I think almost everyone knows someone who has suffered from addiction in some way, and being able to educate people on how to get help and educating others on how they can help their friends and family is so important.”
Local community partners, including Community in Crisis (Bernardsville), Parent to Parent Addiction Services Inc. (Washington), Prevention Links (Roselle), and Prevention Resources (Flemington), collaborated in planning the event.
On game day, Naloxone kits will be distributed through a partnership with the New Jersey State Department of Human Services. The kits are available to those in the community who are at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose and/or to those in the position to administer the opioid antidote to a person experiencing an opioid overdose.
There will be a 50/50 raffle to benefit Prevention Links, a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Union County.
The Somerset Patriots are the New York Yankees' Double-A Affiliate and develop today’s top minor league talent into the pinstriped superstars of tomorrow for MLB’s winningest team. The Patriots are the reigning Eastern League Champions and play their home games at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, where fans of all ages and levels of baseball fandom get to enjoy the unique experience that is minor league baseball. To learn more, visit somersetpatriots.com.
Funding for Operation Helping Hand (OHH) is provided through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and administered by the Office of Alternative and Community Responses (OACR).
Established in 2016 by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Operation Helping Hand is a prosecutor-led initiative that connects individuals struggling with substance use disorder to treatment and recovery services through partnerships with law enforcement and community providers. Following its success, the program expanded to additional counties in 2018 and became operational in all 21 New Jersey counties in 2019 through state funding.
Today, OHH uses both traditional arrest-based referrals and proactive, non-arrest outreach strategies to connect individuals at risk of overdose with treatment and recovery services, helping to reduce barriers to care and improve access to lifesaving resources.
Somerset County residents: Prosecutor McDonald and Chief Meredith McKay request that anyone seeking addiction services contact OHH by calling (908) 393-8888, visiting the Somerset County OHH website at www.bit.ly/somersetohh or emailing [email protected] to be connected to services.
Union County residents: Prosecutor Daniel and Acting Chief Joe Vendas request that anyone seeking addiction services call the OHH 24/7/365 hotline at (885) 825-3275.
Warren County residents: Prosecutor Cardone and Chief Brenton Warne urge those in need to contact Parent to CARES of Warren County via (908) 835-1800 to be linked directly to services.
Hunterdon County residents: Prosecutor Robeson and Acting Chief Paul Approvato urge those in need of recovery services to contact OHH by calling (908) 788-1129 or visiting the Hunterdon County OHH website at https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/341/Operation-Helping-Hand to be connected to services.
