Blair Co. organization displays 'Black Balloons' in honor of loved ones lost to addiction

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — The founders of Families United for Change were out Friday morning placing black ribbons along Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg, at the Circle of Hope, in Tuckahoe Park, in Altoona, and downtown Altoona.

The purpose of the black bows is to raise awareness for drug addiction and to honor those that have been lost to the disease.

They also have a tag containing facts about Narcan, and how community members can go about obtaining this life saving drug.

Families United for Change is doing this in lieu of releasing black balloons on the upcoming National Black Balloon Day.

The founder of the organization says that she fights this battle to honor her son, who lost his battle to drug addiction in September of 2018.

“For me, there isn’t a day in my life that I don’t think about Shawn. And I definitely want to help other people not feel what we are left to feel for the rest of our lives. I know in my heart that Shawn would love everything that I am doing in his honor and in the honor of all of those that we lost,” says Marianne Sinisi, the organization's founder.

Sinisi encourages anyone who feels inclined to display a black ballon on Tuesday, March 6th, to honor the lives lost to drug addiction.

For more information on Narcan, or about how Families United for Change can help, you can visit their website.

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