Families, children who have lost loved ones, parents to opioid epidemic gather for Thanksgiving

AKRON – Dozens of families who have lost loved ones to overdoses gathered in Akron Wednesday night to celebrate Thanksgiving early.

Many of the attendees were children.

“It destroys families completely,” said Taylor Bornstein. “Making a difference for someone else is the biggest way to push through it.”

Bornstein helped organize the event, which was hosted by Hope United.

“These kids have lost parents, some have lost brothers and sisters,” said Brenda Cameron Ryan.

Ryan is now both a grandmother and mother to her seven-year-old grandson. She became his caregiver after her daughter, her grandson’s mother, died of an overdose.

“We’re always focusing on the epidemic and not thinking about the kids left behind in all this,” said Ryan.

Event organizers said similar events will be held in the coming months.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-summit/families-children-who-have-lost-loved-one-parents-to-opioid-epidemic-gather-for-thanksgiving