Keeping Coquitlam shelter residents warm and dry this winter is the goal of an SFU student who is organizing a clothing drive.
Chloe Goodison, who started NaloxHome to provide information about overdose prevention, has now turned her attention to collecting warm weather clothing in all sizes for the 3030 Gordon Ave. shelter and transition housing in Coquitlam.
"It's something they told us was needed," explained Goodison.
The NaloxHome youth team consists of 20 young people, ages 18 to 25, who are learning about substance abuse and how to prevent overdoses, and are sharing their knowledge with high school students.
Goodison, who lives in Port Moody, was 16 when she saw her first overdose.
She was aboard a SkyTrain from Coquitlam to Port Moody when she spotted a young woman looking ill and confused. Suddenly, the woman collapsed onto her lap.
In shock, Goodison called 911. It was only later when she learned the woman had suffered an overdose.
She made it a priority to learn about the overdose crisis and started a training program for youth with the assistance of Fraser Health and School District 43.
"We are the only all-youth harm reduction promotion group that we know of in B.C. As we’ve all seen in the media, BC’s toxic drug crisis is only getting deadlier each month, which highlights the need for increased response. At NaloxHome, we believe this response starts with youth education."
Among the topics is how to get a Naloxone kit and how to use it.
In addition to providing seminars to 1,000 teens in School District 43, NaloxHome is hosting the coat drive from Nov. 18 to Jan. 31.
Those with coats, hats, gloves and other warm weather gear can email info@naloxhome.com, send a message via Instagram to @Nalohome or text 778-246-1602. Pick up will be Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m.
Information about webinars, including one on Nov. 24, can be found here.
