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End Overdose: Why was Olive selected as the January 2025 Volunteer of the Month?
Maddie Ward: Olive puts a smile on the face of anyone who interacts with her. Her passion for helping others is clear in any conversation you have with her, and it is impossible not to feel energized after speaking to her. Since starting her volunteer work with End Overdose, Olive has fully committed herself to developing innovative ideas and programs that uplift members of her community. I am always so excited to hear Olive's ideas, and End Overdose could not ask for a better volunteer.
End Overdose: Can you tell us about yourself and your story?
Olive Younts: I’m from Atlanta and have lived here my entire life! I love music, and I decided to take a 180 on my life years ago, to be able to work in the music industry. I didn’t care where I worked, I just wanted to be involved. I started working security at a few venues, and over time, I’ve had the opportunity to explore various roles, from event promotions to coordinating. As I’ve progressed, I eventually joined End Overdose as a volunteer and that experience truly transformed everything for me. It’s allowed me to connect with my community on a much deeper level and continue my work with a purpose.
End Overdose: What inspired you to volunteer for End Overdose?
Olive Younts: I decided to volunteer with End Overdose after seeing firsthand how opioid overdose was affecting my community. After years of working in crowd safety, I realized there was a lack of awareness and preparation around drug use, with many people engaging with substances they didn’t fully understand. I started looking for resources to help educate and prepare those around me, and discovered End Overdose. When I heard there was a chapter opening in Atlanta, I knew I had to get involved. Since joining, my focus has been ensuring that everyone in our community knows about our presence and understands the importance of harm reduction. We’re still working hard to expand our impact here, and it’s been amazing to witness the positive reception of our mission.
End Overdose: What’s your favorite memory of volunteering with End Overdose?
Olive Younts: Working with End Overdose has been so fun! I think my favorite memory was when we hosted a candlelight vigil for those we’ve lost over overdose. This event really connected our community and turned into an amazing celebration of life with a ton of smiles and fun right before the holidays. This event connected those we’ve lost, but also made us extremely present in seeing our community and impact at work. This was also our first End Overdose Atlanta stand-alone event, and to see our team work together for the first time was incredible.
