Hancock County proclaims September 2026 "Hancock County Goes Purple" for recovery awareness

The Hancock County Commission on June 30 approved a proclamation declaring September 2026 as "Hancock County Goes Purple" in recognition of National Recovery Month. Elizabeth Eckle, representing the Hope Dealer Project, read the proclamation and urged residents and community groups to participate in awareness and recovery-support activities.

"West Virginia goes purple is more than a campaign. It is a movement of awareness, prevention, recovery, healing, and hope that unites communities across our state during National Recovery Month," Elizabeth Eckle said while reading the proclamation. She said the initiative began in 2015 with the Hope Dealer Project and that in 2023 West Virginia became the first state to unite all 55 counties in a single recovery-awareness effort.

Commissioners moved to approve the proclamation and to make it a matter of record; the motion carried by voice vote. After the vote, commissioners invited the speakers forward for a photograph and discussed logistics for signing and delivering the official document.

Why it matters: The proclamation directs public attention at the county level to substance-use-disorder recovery, urging community partners—schools, churches, businesses, first responders and advocacy organizations—to display purple ribbons and host awareness activities during September. The county's recorded action makes the month a formal recognition on the commission's docket.

The commission took no additional legislative action tied to the proclamation at the meeting. The county clerk will retain the proclamation in the official record.