Pierce County residents passing by the courthouse in Blackshear have undoubtedly noticed a cluster of purple pinwheels on the corner of Main St. and Highway 84, which is very intentional.
The eye-catching display is designed to draw attention to some very serious issues.
The pinwheels are placed by Trust Partnership, a cooperative effort of the Pierce Family Connection, Brantley Family Connection and the Ware Children’s Initiative in partnership with the Department of Public Health (DPH).
The sign behind the pinwheels states that in 2023 there were 71 reported overdoses in the tri-county area. Eleven of those overdoses resulted in death. Eighteen of the reported overdoses were in Pierce County, which seems like a small percentage until the relative smaller size of Pierce in comparison to Ware and Brantley is taken into account.
“And those are just the reported overdoses,” says Stephanie Bell, Executive Director of Pierce Family Connection and a key member of the Trust Partnership. Bell stresses that not all overdoses are reported, which means the numbers could be understating the ongoing seriousness of the issue.
Bell explained that just as the Trust Partnership has combined the efforts of agencies in three different counties, they also combine their approach to addressing multiple issues in those counties. A proclamation issued by the Pierce County Commission has made the first week of September “Know Your Worth” week, and the entire month is both National Suicide Prevention Month and National Opioid Overdose Prevention and Awareness Month. All of these issues are central to the partnership’s mission.
The Trust Partnership seeks to regain and reaffirm the communities’ trust in law enforcement, behavioral health and their local governments.
Formed due in part to a sharp increase in overdoses and deaths by overdose during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trust Partnership began thanks to three founders: DPH Chronic Disease Prevention Manager Ambie Bess, Ware Children’s Initiative Executive Director Gail Seifert and the aforementioned Stephanie Bell. Bess had lost a family member to an overdose during the pandemic, which prompted her to call Seifert and Bell, stating, “We have to do something.”
The motto of the organization that began with Bess’s phone call is “Trust in us”. Bell says, ”That means trust in us to help and be there for you. Trust and believe that recovery is possible.”
The ultimate goal is helping those struggling with addiction to trust and believe in themselves, know their own worth and believe recovery is possible. Several successes have already been celebrated, and many with “lived experience” now help others recover from addiction.
If you would like to donate time or resources to help the Trust Partnership, please text 912-230-7835 or email [email protected].
Displaying the framed proclamation making the first week of Sept. “Know Your Worth” week are (l-r) Grant Manager Emily Allen, First District County Commissioner Harold Rozier, co-founder Stephanie Bell, County Manager Raphel Maddox, Peer Support Specialist Sarah Jumper and co-founder Ambi Bess.
Noah Prince and Luke Bell, sons of Trust member Stephanie Bell, helped set up the sparkling, spinning display with a very sobering message for the tri-county area.
