UNE College of Pharmacy students raise $5,000 for Operation Hope
Students from the College of Pharmacy’s Class of ’18 held their annual Halfway Charity Gala on April 1 at Mariner’s Church in Portland. All proceeds benefited Operation Hope, a new program run by the Scarborough Police Department that aids in the treatment and recovery of individuals suffering from heroin and opiate addiction.
The students raised $5,000 for the organization, making this the most successful College of Pharmacy charity gala to date.
Speaking about the fundraiser, Class President Sam Cushing (’18) said “we chose to benefit Operation HOPE knowing that the growing heroin and opiate addiction problem affects everyone.” Cushing added, “It is a frequent topic in the headlines and it's not something that just has an impact on those with addiction, it impacts the community as a whole."
Additionally, as future pharmacists, Cushing noted that and he his classmates will assume an active role in substance abuse prevention, education and assistance.
Scarborough Police Chief Robbie Moulton, a leader of Operation Hope, stated “we need to see Heroin and Opiate Addiction for what it is. It is a public disease. It is a public health issue.” He continued, “we signed up for this job to help people and that is what we are going to try and do."