What a powerful experience Hdaac provided Holliston on Wednesday evening.  It was the opening of an art exhibit that will be in the Library’s Travel room (to the right when you enter the front doors) now through the end of January 2020.  At least that is what the invitation said.

Indeed, there are pieces of art on display.  If ‘A picture is worth a thousand words,’ these works of art are worth volumes of wisdom and insight.

Melissa Stacy, the current chair of Hdaac, welcomed everyone – and it was a full house – packed with citizens of all ages.  She presented three themes for the evening’s program: hope, substance addiction/abuse and mental health go hand-in-hand, and substance addiction/abuse happens in Holliston.

The committee assembled a program that combined personal experiences with an interfaith prayer service. 

Representative Carolyn Dykema, a strong supporter of Hdaac, led off with her perspective that this program and Hdaac’s work more broadly as ‘a grassroots effort in Holliston to combat the Opioid epidemic.’  She, like so many in today’s society, has experience with people who struggle with substance addiction/abuse.

The group was invited to participate in a moment of silence to reflect on Carolyn’s comments and the impact of substance addiction / abuse in our lives.  Then Rev. Mark Peterson from Christ the King Lutheran Church led a responsive prayer.

• “Leader: We gather together;
• All: Reminded of our human frailty which causes us to stumble.
• Leader: We gather together;
• All: To reflect upon the people in our midst and in the world suffering from their pain and addiction.
• Leader: We gather together;
• All: To be comforted with peace, restored with hope, and renewed with love. Amen”

With this as a foundation, Kathryn Pierce shared her personal experience.  Kathryn is Holliston’s Principal Assessor.  On Wednesday evening she spoke as Tristan’s mother.  Tristan died in 2013 of a drug overdose.  She shared all that her family had done to bring Tristan back from addiction.  Kathryn also shared her learnings from this tragic loss: it can happen to anyone, do all you can to prevent and support others, and do this because of love. 

Kathryn’s mission is to spread the word about addiction, and she has joined the Opioid Art Project of Natick as a form of ‘traveling tribute’ to Tristan.  Kathryn’s picture is part of the exhibit on display.  Each picture has a story which can be heard has illustrated below.

Following Kathryn’s powerful message, members of the clergy led a series of prayers:  Prayers for the preciousness of life; for grandparents and mothers who fill in for lost parents; for strength for fathers and first responders; for partners that they may ‘unbury hope’; for brothers to shoulder the weight from lost siblings; for educators and coaches; for friends; and for those in recovery that they enjoy the gift of life.  Rev. Peterson was joined by Rev. Bonnie Steinroeder, Rev. Carl Chudy, Rev. Nathan Detering, and Deacon John Barry leading these inspirational prayers.

Melissa invited all to view the art, talk with Hdaac members and clergy, enjoy refreshments, and explore the resource table.

There was visible support from the Town of Holliston: Select Board member Tina Hein, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brad Jackson, Police Chief Matt Stone, Y&FS Director Jackie Winer, and Hdaac member HPD LT George Leurini.

Hdaac (Holliston Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition) meetings are open to the public.  You can reach the Coalition to find out more information via: Facebook@HDAACORG, email – hdaacoalition@gmail.com, or call/text 774.421.9268.