Ventura church to honor fentanyl overdose victims with memorial wall in May
Despite his best efforts to stay sober, Joel Maldonado died of a fentanyl overdose in November 2022.
He joined Victory Outreach, Ventura's drug outreach program, in 2018 and graduated a few months later. Although he continued to struggle with addiction, he was able to work and live his life.
He had friends, family and faith, but his fight wasn’t enough to stand against the powerful opiate that has killed hundreds of Ventura County residents in recent years.
“I don’t want to see anyone hurt the way we hurt after being impacted by fentanyl,” said Connie Lopez, Maldonado’s friend.
Victory Outreach will be hosting a fentanyl awareness and candlelight vigil May 24 at the church's Oxnard campus at 3001 S. Rose Ave. near Channel Islands High School. It begins at 5:30 p.m.
A 20-foot long memorial wall will feature the names, ages and pictures of about 200 Ventura County residents who lost their lives to fentanyl and drug addiction in the last two years, said Dianna Gomez, a church spokesperson.
Last year, Ventura County tallied 178 fentanyl overdose deaths, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office. There were 181 in 2022.
Next month's event aims to comfort families who have lost loved ones to addiction, said Gomez, who has been sober 2007 after suffering from addiction for 20 years. It’ll also show there is help for those currently afflicted by fentanyl and other drugs.
Staff with Ventura County Behavioral Health and other organizations will be on scene directing those in need to available resources.
Victory Outreach, which is part of a worldwide ministry, also has a drug outreach program that seeks out those on drugs and living on the streets to offer them a place to get clean. The church is located off Johnson Drive in a former movie theater.
“We go to the darkest areas of the city you can think of, and they’re on fentanyl,” Gomez said.
Noli Boad was homeless when he entered the program in 2016 after using drugs for just over 10 years. He said his mother urged him to get sober and helped him find the church. He entered the men’s home in Lompoc and was shocked by the structure his life suddenly had.
He remembers waking up every day at 5 a.m., praying, going to church and reading his Bible. About five months later, he graduated the program and began a new life. He attended Bible college and now oversees the church’s men’s rehabilitation home.
He said he’s had no relapses.
“This wall means a lot to me because I've had a lot of friends and family pass away as a result of fentanyl abuse,” Boad said.
Those who would like to feature a loved one on the wall or learn more about the outreach program can call 805-854-4088 or email info@vovta.com.
Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura church builds fentanyl overdose memorial wall for Oxnard vigil
