Save a Life Day 2026 will take place on September 24, 2026.

Save a Life Day will always be on the fourth Thursday of September each year.

Every state in the United States is invited to participate, along with Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories.

Save a Life Day is a national movement, and communities everywhere are welcome.

We host monthly planning calls to help organizers prepare for Save a Life Day.

The calls take place on the third Thursday of each month at 2 PM ET.

You can:

• Join using the Zoom link provided

• Review meeting notes here: https://bit.ly/savealifedaynotes

• Add the call to your Google Calendar using the calendar link

These calls are a great place to ask questions, share ideas, and connect with organizers across the country.

The coordinating team provides guidance and support to help you plan successful events.

Organizers receive:

• Monthly planning calls

• An organizing guide and timeline

• Marketing and promotional materials

• Event artwork and design resources

• Ongoing communication and mentorship

• A care package of anti-stigma materials

This year, SOAR WV is also working with Healing Appalachia and the Matthew Perry Foundation to support 13 harm reduction mini-grants for the 13 Appalachian states.

After Save a Life Day, organizers submit their distribution tallies and photos and we put together a re-cap and national total.

If you ever need support, you can contact our Save a Life Day Coordinator Caroline Wilson at freenaloxoneday@gmail.com.

County Organizers serve as the main point of contact between the Save a Life Day coordinating team and their county.

They help:

• Register local events

• Coordinate volunteers

• Distribute care package contents

• Ensure events have access to naloxone

• Support local outreach and media

• Report back distribution numbers & photos

A county may host one event or many events depending on local capacity.

County Organizers often work with Event Organizers (or Site Leaders), who host individual event sites. Event organizers may take part in recruiting their own volunteers, promotion, and supporting their event with supplies and naloxone, or may rely on their County Organizer for some of these tasks.

County Organizers also appear on the Save a Life Day website, which allows others in the community to reach out and collaborate.

We provide several resources to help you begin, found under the Resources tab.

Our “10 Steps to Prep for Save a Life Day” guide walks organizers through the process of planning an event.

The Organizing Timeline also outlines when to start each step so you can prepare smoothly throughout the year.

These resources are designed to make organizing accessible for both new and experienced leaders.

The best event is the one that works for your community.

Many organizers host tabling events at high-traffic locations, such as:

• Gas stations

• Libraries

• Bus stops

• College campuses

• Hospitals or health centers

• Drop-in centers

Some counties also host larger gatherings such as resource fairs, community events, or public awareness activities.

Other organizers form outreach teams, distributing naloxone and supplies directly to neighborhoods, businesses, motels, or rural areas.

We’ve even seen communities organize motorcycle rides, concerts, and parades.

You are the expert on your community!

We recommend that people and organizations that are already distributing naloxone take the lead on county organizing.

Most states have a statewide naloxone distribution program – this is the place to start! 

If you’re looking to get some extra naloxone for Save a Life Day, you can try partnering with:

• Local harm reduction organizations

• Your local health department

• Other county organizers in your state

While the Save a Life Day coordinating team does not directly supply naloxone outside of West Virginia, we’re always happy to help you troubleshoot options.

We also recommend these low-cost naloxone distributors:

• Remedy Alliance 

• Direct Relief 

We hope to, but can only do so with the proper funding. Please check out the Sponsorship Page to find out how to contribute!

For 2026, we will be able to distribute other naloxone accessibility tools, as well as 13 harm reduction mini-grants across Appalachia.