Town of Islip Honors Recovery Awareness Month

ISLIP, NY — The Town of Islip kicked off Recovery Awareness Month by "going purple" with a series of events at Islip Town Hall in early September.

On Wednesday, the town hosted its 6th annual Islip Goes Purple with a color fun run around town hall and lit the cupola purple to raise awareness of mental health, substance abuse disorder, addiction and overdose awareness.

"Islip Goes Purple symbolizes our continued commitment to stand together united in memory of the lives lost, those in recovery, those struggling and the families throughout the Town of Islip and across Long Island impacted by mental illness, struggling with mental health, and those affected by a substance use disorder and it does not discriminate, it can affect anyone, regardless of economic or social status," said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, who town board members and elected officials joined.

Islip officials plan to continue the purple theme throughout the month as New York State Overdose Awareness Day is approaching soon on Thursday, September 19. Carpenter said that the town has asked the school partners to wear purple on that day.

In addition, Islip schools will display Islip Goes Purple flags on their campuses, she said.

"These tragedies don’t happen to other people, they happen to people like us. All of us have been touched in some way, by loss due to overdose or suicide. We’re making strides, but we have more work to do," Carpenter said.