A Sagamok Anishnawbek mother, about an hour and a half west of Sudbury, shares her story after losing her daughter to a drug overdose four years ago.

Charlene Sterling Owl is coming to Sudbury on Sunday to honor her daughter by distributing food, clothing and essentials to the homeless and to help overcome the stigma surrounding substance abuse issues.

Charlene Sterling Owl, left, and her sister Cheryl Sterling will distribute food, clothing, essentials and treats to people without shelter or substance abuse problems in downtown Sudbury on Sunday. It gives back in memory of Charisse April Owl, who died of an overdose four years ago. (Alana Everson/CTV News)

Sterling Owl packs essentials and specialty items donated by community members. She distributes them to the vulnerable this Sunday afternoon in the parking lot opposite the Samaritcentrum.

It will be four years to the day she lost her daughter, Charisse April Owl, to an overdose.

“She overdosed on November 24th, 2020. That morning changed my life forever,” Sterling Owl said.

“The toxicology report said she had overdosed on pure fentanyl.”

She said helping people without shelter and substance abuse problems is her way of giving back.

“It’s just taking care of others and helping others who may not have support and who may not have family,” Sterling Owl said.

“I know a lot of people who have family members (who) have turned their backs on the family struggling with addiction and maybe it’s because they don’t understand or they’re not educated. That’s why I say it’s very important to educate yourself.”

A memorial in the family yard honors Charisse, who was the mother of four children.

Sterling Owl hopes events she holds, the memorial and a sign in the community will help educate people about overdoses, addiction and eliminate stigmas.

“My daughter has a lot of underlying trauma and she never dealt with it and so that was one way she coped,” she said.

“I just think that when you educate yourself, you have a better understanding of addiction and how to come to … struggle with addiction.”

Sterling Owl has held many community events to give back and educate people about addiction and said she plans to continue those efforts.