PUNK ROCK SAVES LIVES
Positivity. Unity. Nurture. Kindness.
PUNK is all about the community.
Punk Rock Saves Lives acts as a catalyst at events, focusing on health and wellness, human rights, and equality within our community.
I was introduced to this organization many years ago at a concert in Atlanta. It wasn’t until recently at Furnace Fest I decided now is the time to get involved! Currently I am waiting to find out how I can be a volunteer for this powerful nonprofit. I wanted to write this blog post to help raise awareness and hopefully inspire others to action. We all have the power to make a difference and what better way than to do it through music and community? Keep reading to learn more!
From the Punk Rock Saves Lives website:
MISSION: “Punk Rock Saves Lives (PRSL) focuses on the lives of the communities in which we live, serve, and play. Using the power of music, PRSL strives to produce positive outcomes at shows, festivals, and events. We believe Punk Rock not only saves lives but also seeks to improve the communities and neighborhoods we live in by promoting positive messages of change.”
WHO WE ARE: “Punk Rock Saves Lives is a catalyst at events for the Punk Rock Community to start focusing on Health Concerns, Equal Rights, Human Rights, and more. One of the keystones of the music community, especially Punk rock, is the ethos of taking care of one another. By championing this ethos through various campaigns hand-chosen by the artists, we can elevate their messages of hope, activism, and change to effect positive change and drive awareness.”
Here are a few programs offered by the nonprofit:
Mental Health Initiative
PRSL's mental health initiative is to help end the stigma of mental health by providing a community of like minded individuals needing support day to day. Our program includes an online FB community, a mental health blog, and multiple peer to peer support groups (grief, sobriety, chronic illness, domestic abuse survivors, and more.)
Bone Marrow Registration
We sign people up for the national bone marrow registry
Harm Reduction Program
We give out harm reduction supplies like ear plugs, condoms, tampons, fent test strips, tranq test strips, narcan, naloxone, and more…
On their website you can also find their blog where they cover a wide array of topics surrounding mental health and community and they also have a store with some killer merch!!! Proceeds for sales go towards funding the charity. Here is a direct link to the merch store! They had other items at Furnace Fest including a Ska Saves Lives shirt, which I got and a killer trucker hat! You may have to check out your local chapters to find additional merch options…
Photo from PRSL Facebook
Look for them at your next concert or music festival!
Here are two testimonials from current Volunteers!
JESSA: Two years (and two days) ago I lost one of my best friends to suicide. He and his family had tried for months on end to get him mental health help, but because he was an addict no one would help. They all said "not until you're sober". I was ANGRY. I still am really. Angry at "the system" that had failed him. Angry at the lack of resources in Alabama for addiction and mental health resources. Angry that he felt that was his only choice.
Now I had heard of Punk Rock Saves Lives thanks to Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup. Earlier this year I got to see their kindness first hand when Rob took the time to help a complete stranger (me) who was upset. He gave me a safe place to be after my first experience with asking for ADA accommodations went terribly. The next night I wanted to show my gratitude to them and unofficially volunteered with them the entire show.
I realized something then, my anger though still there had an outlet. I could make a difference and hopefully help someone else not go through the pain I did, and still do, go through. So that's exactly what I did. I started my own chapter in my area and dove headfirst into helping my community. Every event heals my soul just a little bit more. Every conversation I have with a stranger gives me a little more faith in society. The kindness and love in the Punk scene is so beautiful and I'm glad I'm able to be a part of it.
ANTHONY: 5 minutes. I was asked why I joined Punk Rock Saves Lives, 5 minutes is my answer. To many in my life have been taken by miscalculations, so many more by cancer. I do it for all that exist only in memory now. 5 minutes, what I would give to have 5 more. If through my work with PRSL even one person is given 5 more minutes, to say I love you, to read to a child, to hug their person, to laugh, to love. Even one, it makes it all worth it to me. To have someone walk up to you and shake your hand saying thank you for saving my life. To sit with someone who just needs to be heard. To be a good human. You asked why, I ask why are you not? The people, places, music, laughter, and tears, everyone I have had the opportunity to work with are some of the most amazing humans you will ever meet.
