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Cast Away Street Ministries will honor individuals fighting addiction and those who have lost their lives to it this Saturday at its Hope Over Dope event.

“It’s a balloon and a lantern release,” said ministry member Tammy Goldy. “The balloon release is for addicts that are recovered and who are recovering. The lantern release is for addicts that have lost their lives to the battle of addiction and for the ones that are still in the battle of addiction.”

The first-time event is scheduled to last from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Clark County Courthouse. There will be food, prizes, live music, and speakers from all over Kentucky.

Through her work with the Clark County Coroner, Goldy said that there are “so many overdose deaths” in the county, and the ministry wanted to show that there is hope.

“We thought it would be a good idea to go in and show the good that is still going on in recovery,” she said.

Goldy battled addiction for 15 years and has been sober for three. She said she knows the importance of seeing that other people are willing to walk with you during the recovery period.

“It is really important because for myself in my recovery, it took me seeing people from the community of Clark County that was in the same position I was in making it out to give me that hope that I could make it out too,” she said.

Togetherness is the point of Hope Over Dope.

“We just want to get together in fellowship and have a good time, and show unity in our community and unity through the body of Christ,” Goldy said.

The ministry is a year old and works with Redeeming Church of God in Winchester.

“We got out into the community to let people know they are not forgotten,” Goldy said. “We take in food, hygiene and clothing.

We take in resources if people are wanting to go out to go into treatment and get help with addiction.”

For more information about the ministry, visit its Facebook page Cast Away Street Ministries.