‘Empty Shoe Project’ event to remember lives lost to addiction in Delaware

NEW CASTLE, Del. – Delawareans who’ve lost loved ones due to the impact of addiction now have a way to remember them and raise awareness with an event that is seeking participants statewide.

Dawn Sheehan, more commonly known as ‘Ma-Van’, is the executive director of Hope on Deck, a Delaware-based non-profit organization that’s dedicated to erasing the stigma surrounding substance abuse disorder through outreach and compassion.

Hope on Deck was founded back in 2018 by Sheehan’s late son, Earle Van, who was in recovery and had dedicated his life to outreach missions, interventions, and public speaking events to help those struggling with substance abuse disorders.

Tragically, Earle lost his life in December 2023 following a relapse. He is remembered as a courageous individual who helped thousands of people, and his passing serves as a poignant reminder of the unrelenting grip of addiction.

Following her son’s passing, Sheehan was even more so emboldened to make a difference and help families impacted by addiction.

“We want to help the parents, and other loved-ones, and let them know they’re not by themselves,” Sheehan explained. “This is a disease that affects everybody. It affects the rich, the poor, the black, the white, every religion, it holds everybody hostage once that addiction takes place.”

That’s why, through Hope on Deck, Sheehan hopes to make a real, positive difference in the lives of Delawareans who are dealing with the grip of addiction. One of the way’s they do that is through a remembrance event called ‘The Empty Shoe Project.’

The event serves as an annual tribute to loved ones lost to substance use disorder. The Empty Shoe Project is a powerful display of remembrance and awareness, featuring over 500 signs and paired shoes that represent the lives touched by addiction.

Each sign bears the name, story, and memory of an individual who has passed away due to substance use disorder.

“This year, we’ll be displaying 527 pairs of shoes along with those pictures,” Sheehan said. “It’s a huge visual impact, and what we’re hoping to do is erase the stigma of addiction and to just memorialize these souls that we’ve lost.”

All of the shoes will be donated to organizations in need following the event.

While the actual event will take place in New Castle County, Hope on Deck is encouraging Delawareans from all across the state to participate.

“The need is great,” Sheehan said of Sussex County. “New Castle County has a lot more advocates and people up here, so we’re really working our way down there.”

The actual event with the displays will take place at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 10 at Aetna Hook and Ladder, located at 410 Ogletown Rd., Newark, DE 19711.

Organizers want to emphasize that when they say ‘impacted by addiction,’ that includes not only overdoses but also deaths caused by medical complications related to addiction, alcoholism, accidents, and homicides.

There is still time to participate. Anyone who wishes to order a sign and have their loved one remembered can do so by emailing: heather@jennygems.com – include a photo of your loved one, a 3 to 5 sentence bio, and the date they were born and the date that they died. Signs cost $25.00.

Visit hopeondeck.org for more information.