Foundation for Roanoke Valley awards $70,000 grant to fight opioid epidemic

ROANOKE, Va. – The Foundation for Roanoke Valley awarded $70,000 to help the Prevention Council fight the opioid epidemic.

The grant comes from the foundation's Parsley Fund. It will help launch the Urgent Love Initiative. The nonprofit grassroots initiative will extend across 26 counties in southwestern Virginia. It's focused on increasing awareness and community collaboration between the medical community, law enforcement agencies and local businesses. 

"As the largest funder in the valley, we felt it was our duty to address this problem," said Michelle Eberly, program officer for the Foundation for Roanoke Valley.

"Those families, those addicted -- this is going to get them the help they need immediately. I think this is huge," said Janine Underwood, executive director of the Bradley Free Clinic.

According to the Roanoke County Police Department, both Roanoke County and Roanoke city have seen double the amount of fatal overdoses in 2017, compared to last year.

To learn more about the newly launched Urgent Love Initiative, click here.
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