Mary McKinney says one year ago she decided the community needed a place to come together and grieve over drug overdose deaths, so she put up a mailbox outside of Homestead Recovery in Boone.

What You Need To Know

  • Purple cupboards are being put up to help people struggling with substance abuse

  • Mary McKinney of the group End Overdose in Watauga County started setting up the purple boxes

  • They contain information along with Narcan and fentanyl test strips

It's a place people could leave a note about a loved one who died. McKinney, the founder of End Overdose in Watauga County, has taken it one step further and started putting up cupboards that contain grief resources and life-saving items.

"It's something like a little free pantry for harm reduction, grief support, recovery and support," McKinney said.

The cupboards are painted purple. She says things like Narcan, which is used to reverse opioid ovedoses, can help those experiencing a drug crisis.

"Fentanyl is a huge problem," McKinney said.

She's making these boxes for her two daughters, who are both in recovery, and wants others to know they are not alone.

"Remembering countless sleepless nights, just dread and still holding onto hope and praying," McKinney said.

A box has been placed in front of High Country Community Health with Narcan and fentanyl test strips so drug users can know what they are taking.

McKinney says everyone should be equipped with Narcan and be able to save a life.

"We would save a lot of lives. Just like people are trained how to do CPR, people have that simple training. This is much simpler to do," she said.