A harm reduction dispensing machine is being set up at the Sackville United Church in a partnership with Ensemble Moncton.
The non-profit organization unveiled its own machine at its downtown Moncton office in December and wanted to put a second one in a more rural area.
Sackville United Church minister Rev. Lloyd Bruce says given the prevalence of opioid use in the region, the congregation decided it was the right thing to do.
“Folks began to put it together and said ‘yes’ this is a meaningful way for the church to be supportive to folks on the edge of society.”
Bruce says the plan came together with help from a local pharmacy technician, Ashley Legere.
She had previously worked with intravenous drug users and saw a need for harm reduction supplies in the town.
The dispensing machine will have harm reduction items such as needles, syringes, naloxone kits, condoms and hygiene products.
Bruce says the machine will be located in an old entrance of the church which will be separated from the rest of the sanctuary.
Bruce notes how he collaborated with Ensemble Moncton executive director Debby Warren before as a minister of the former Wesley Memorial United Church on a project involving sex workers in Moncton.
Ensemble Moncton is also covering the costs of the Sackville location thanks to federal COVID emergency funding.