Steps of Hope giving hope and saving lives in Poweshiek County

​       Joining Ann Breeding and her husband, Ray, back right, join Poweshiek County officials at the Naloxone box donation at the Courthouse in Montezuma on Thursday, Nov. 21. Pictured are, from left, Poweshiek County Supervisor Jeff Tindle, Supervisor Jason Roudabush, Brooke Holder, Unity Point Public Health Manager in Grinnell; Missy Eilander, Poweshiek County Auditor and Diana Dawley, Poweshiek County Supervisor. The Breedings along with Holder had earlier placed a Naloxone box at the Brooklyn Public Library. A third Naloxone box is slated to be placed in Grinnell.

 By J.O. Parker
 
    Residents of Poweshiek County experiencing a drug overdose now have a life-saving ray of hope at their fingertips, thanks to the efforts of the grassroots Bondurant-based organization, Steps of Hope Iowa.
     The organization, which was founded by Ann Breeding in 2021, recently placed two repurposed newspaper boxes in Poweshiek County filled with free Naloxone (Narcan), a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
     Boxes were placed on the southside of the Poweshiek County Courthouse near the entrance door and at the Brooklyn Public Library, both on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 21. Plans are to place a Naloxone box in Grinnell once a suitable and accessible location has been secured.
      The Steps of Hope community outreach has currently placed 29 Naloxone boxes across the state of Iowa with plans to place at least one box in all 99 Iowa counties. The medication is available 24-7 to the public free of charge and with no questions asked.
       The Brooklyn Library presentation included Breeding, her husband, Ray, librarian Josh Gerard and Brooke Holder, public health manager with Unity Point Grinnell. In Montezuma, joining Breeding was her husband, Ray, Holder, county auditor, Missy Eilander, and county supervisors, Jeff Tindle, Diana Dawley and Jason Roudabush. 
     “Steps of Hope Iowa” was founded as a direct result of the tragic loss of Breeding’s son, Daniel, to an overdose on Nov. 1, 2020.
     “My son asked me, before he died, if I ever considered doing some sort of outreach to help people because I genuinely love people,” recalled Breeding. “We were going to do this together, but I needed him to be healthy. He was in recovery for more than six months, then I lost him.”
        When her son died, Breeding said she poured her heart out to others.
       “I have nothing but love to give,” said Breeding. “My son let me see the world through a different set of eyes. People need love and love can move mountains.”
       Breeding said she had conversations with friends of her son. She met with them. She told them they were loved. She connected with families and she connected families with resources.
    “Then as his (Daniel’s) birthday approached, I cried out to God and he responded with “walk,” said Breeding. “People showed up. It did something inside my heart that words cannot explain. The journey is broken and beautiful.”
        Breeding held the first Overdose Awareness Walk on May 20, 2021 in Ankeny. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation for the state of Iowa that year to recognize Aug. 31, as Overdose Awareness Day.
       “The second year, I prayed and the words “Steps of Hope” were placed on my heart just as bold as the word walk,” said Breeding. “That is exactly where I was in my journey at that time, desperate for Hope.”
      The second annual walk was named “Steps of Hope” Overdose Awareness Walk and was held in 2022. Walks were also held in 2023 and 2024 to raise awareness.
        “That is how this all began,” said Breeding. “Steps of Hope Iowa is a community that locks arms and takes steps to advocate for hope and bring change.”
State of Iowa overdose data
      According to the most recent CDC data, in 2019 in Iowa, 350 people died as a result of an overdose. In 2020, the number was 419. It was 470 in 2021 and 469 in 2022. In 2023, the number of deaths as a result of an overdose were 449.
      According to Axios.com - The most recent CDC data, ending in April, predicts a one percent increase in overdose deaths in Iowa, from 449 in 2023 to 454 this year. 
     Breeding said in 2022, according to the CDC, 64.7 percent of drug overdose deaths had  at least one potential opportunity of intervention. It was noted that in 43.2 percent of overdose deaths that year, there was a potential bystander present.
     “This is why everyone should carry naloxone,” said Breeding. “These are preventable deaths. Every overdose is a son or daughter.”
      According to www.stepsofhopeiowa.org, Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, targeting the central and respiratory systems. It works by binding to opioid receptors, blocking effects of opioids like heroin and morphine. Commonly administered via injection or nasal spray, Naloxone acts quickly and is essential in emergencies.
          Breeding said Steps of Hope is not part of a larger outreach, it is a mom on a mission, pouring pain into purpose.
        She said a family that attends her church reached out and said they saw how God was impacting the community through Steps of Hope and they wanted to help.
       “They covered the cost to have Steps of Hope Iowa become a 501c3 non-profit and they paid for a professional website company to build the website,” said Breeding, who continues to work a full-time job and fund much of her outreach work. “It’s incredibly bittersweet.”
      And this year, Steps of Hope Iowa was blessed to be the recipient of two grants – a Community Betterment grant from Prairie Meadows to help accelerate the Naloxone Box Project through the state. The organization also received a Polk County Opioid Settlement grant, which has been a great help to the mission of the organization.
         “Steps of Hope is an 80 hour a week job, that I do not get paid for monetarily,” said Breeding. “However, to hear of lives being saved does more for me than any amount of money ever could. I’ll never put a price on a soul. They matter. They are worth it.”
     In 2023 and 2024, Breeding was given the opportunity to speak at the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Regional Family Summits in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Camp Dodge and Omaha, which covers a five state (Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska) radius.
        “I shared our process and resources with many,” said Breeding. “Social media has been an incredible tool to show everyone what we are doing and how it can be done in their area as well.”
        “The network that I am now a part of is incredible,” added Breeding. “Whatever it takes to save a life, that is my theory. I’ve had many folks reach out about how we are doing things. I always share every detail so that others can do this in their states as well. There are many families that have charitable foundations, nonprofits and other organizations that are trying to make a difference in this epidemic as well. The ripple effect is happening and it is beautiful to see. I know that there are boxes placed in South Dakota and North Dakota. Minnesota is currently kicking off efforts to get boxes in communities as well.”
       It was through the Steps of Hope Iowa Facebook group that attracted the attention of Holder at Unity Point Public Health in Grinnell, who then reached out to Breeding.
        “After sharing the process with her, we worked together to make it happen,” said Breeding. “After sharing the details with her, boxes were ordered and placement was scheduled.”
      “I am excited to bring the Naloxone boxes to our communities as they are a lifesaving resource,” said Holder. “I have met so many amazing people along the way and I am excited to bring education and awareness to help prevent overdoses and save more lives.”
        Breeding purchases the newspaper boxes from a company that refurbishes them and ships them to her home.
       When asked to share a story about someone’s life being saved as a result of Naloxone, Breeding said she recently received a message from someone who had attended a community event and heard her speak.
       “She came to the Steps of Hope table and got a couple Narcan kits from me,” said Breeding. “She gave one to her friend, who unexpectedly found her child unconscious on the bathroom floor when she arrived home that evening.  After administering the Naloxone, her child is alive today.”
How to get involved or donate
        If interested in helping fund the Steps of Hope Iowa outreach, donations can be made via the Steps of Hope website www.stepsofhopeiowa.org or through Venmo @StepsofHopeIowa or cash app $StepsofHopeIowa or PayPal at [email protected]
       “It’s a team effort and I am grateful for the entire Steps of Hope Iowa community, which I consider family,” noted Breeding. “It’s all about saving lives and I am grateful for each person's role in this journey.”
Breeding said the shame and stigma of drug abuse must stop. She said it is what hinders many families from getting the help they need.
       “Lean in and love people where they are,” she said. “Nobody walks alone. Everybody is somebody’s someone. Never say not my child. Everyone has a story. Every story is different. There is no cookie cutter solution to any of this. It is in every state, every city, every neighborhood and in every tax bracket. Addiction does not discriminate. Everyone is a first responder. Together, we will make a difference.”

​        Steps of Hope is a Bondurant-based outreach that provides Naloxone free of charge to those suffering from an overdose. Steps of Hope was founded in 2021 by Ann and Ray Breeding after their son, Daniel, died from overdose. There are 29 Steps of Hope boxes across Iowa with two boxes in Poweshiek County. One is located on the south side of the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma and the one pictured is located outside of the Brooklyn Public Library. A third Naloxone box is slated to be placed in Grinnell.