MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. -- A life saving program that started in Manatee County is moving across the Bay Area with the help of one woman. Karen McGinnis was first introduced to Michael Dunn the creator of Your Life Matters while watching a story on Spectrum Bay News 9 about a month ago.
- Hillsborough County to implement new life saving program
- Your Life Matters started in Manatee County
- Program creates cards with county drug centers
"I was just so in awe as I'm watching this and I'm thinking why are we not doing that in Hillsborough County? Why are we not doing that state to state?" McGinnis said.
The Your Life Matters program was created by Dunn after Manatee County became the epicenter of the opioid epidemic in 2015. Dunn, a firefighter with Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue, started printing out cards with treatment centers across the county that he would give to people when they woke up from overdosing. McGinnis says a card like that could have potentially helped her.
"You know for a couple of decades there I was in and out of treatment centers. I lost a very good husband as a result of my disease. You know I went from Park Avenue to park bench and now everywhere in between," she said.
After more than 20 years in and out of treatment, the birth of her son motivated McGinnis to finally get clean. McGinnis is now almost 3 years sober and even works at The Healthcare Connection of Tampa Bay working to help others get sober.
"It's now my time to go back, now that I have survived and I'm alive and I'm sitting here talking with you today. It's now my opportunity for God to guide me and show me how to help other people," McGinnis said.
Which is why she is so passionate about the Your Life Matters program expansion. The outline for the new Hillsbourough County card has 8 private and public treatment centers and all of the organizations say they are already on board.
"I think it's a great idea. Why hasn't it been done before," Todd Quick with Salvation Army Tampa said.
McGinnis and Dunn are currently in the process of securing funding. They ask anyone who wants to help out, whether it's funding, passing out the cards, or printing them, to feel free and reach out.
With 70,000 cards already passed out in Manatee county Mcginnis knows this program makes a difference.
"I know there's going to be a lot of lives saved as a result of this," she said.
For more information on the program, click here.