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End Overdose is made possible by hundreds of volunteers working tirelessly across the country. Some of them are training attendees at national festivals on how to respond to an overdose, while others are packing naloxone kits in our office well into the evening hours. We want to shine a light on the people whose efforts make our resources free and accessible to all, so we’re excited to share our March Volunteer of the Month: Jessica Heller!
Director of Operations Maddie Ward says, “Since founding the NYU chapter, Jessica has developed impactful connections throughout the city, working to increase naloxone accessibility for her peers as well as the greater NYC population. Her passion for helping others is immense, and her deep commitment to providing judgement-free support and education inspires everyone she meets.”
End Overdose: Can you tell us about yourself and your story?
Jessica Heller: I’m a second year masters student at NYU’s Silver School of Social Work with a specialization in substance use and co-occurring disorders. During my time in undergrad at University of Maryland, I became set on working in substance use treatment. I saw first hand the impact that substance use can have on a person and the people around them, and I wanted to be a part of the support for those in that situation. With my graduation coming up in May, I hope to be able to continue to support End Overdose, and continue to work around substance use resources and treatment. Because no one else has to die.
EO: What inspired you to volunteer for End Overdose?
JH: I’ve followed End Overdose on Instagram for years now. As an EDM lover myself, I was instantly drawn to the organization and its work in the community. Outside of that, I’ve seen the importance of overdose prevention first hand, both in my personal life and at my work in substance use clinics. One day I saw End Overdose post that they were accepting new chapter applications, and I quickly learned that they didn’t have any New York City chapters yet. I knew that this was a community that could really use this type of organization, and was able to make it happen thanks to my incredible team.
EO: What’s your favorite memory of volunteering with End Overdose?
JH: My favorite End Overdose memory is definitely during our Charity Rock Concert in Fall 2024 with Vigil Records and Paperweight Management. It was a huge success, and we trained over 150 people in one night. But, the best part of that night was that one of the founders of Vigil Records offered to shave his head if we raised $500 for End Overdose. We ended up raising over $1,100. And I got to participate in shaving his beautiful hair off live on stage in front of 200 people. It was incredible and a dream come true honestly.