Monongalia County proclaims September 2025 as 'Mon County Goes Purple' for recovery awareness

The Monongalia County Commission on July 30 adopted a proclamation naming September 2025 as Mon County Goes Purple, a local campaign aligned with National Recovery Month aimed at raising awareness of substance use disorders and supporting recovery services.

Rhonda Van Kirk, an ambassador and state resource director for West Virginia Goes Purple, read the proclamation and cited the group's founder, Tara Mason, and the Hope Dealer Project. The proclamation encourages community activities such as wearing purple, lighting structures purple, tying ribbons and organizing awareness events. Van Kirk said the proclamation is "more than symbolic" and framed it as a statement of solidarity for recovery, urging the county to support prevention and treatment efforts.

Commissioners approved the proclamation by voice vote; the county indicated it would explore lighting county facilities in purple for a limited period and coordinate public awareness activities.