Steps of Hope saves lives in Poweshiek County

Residents of Poweshiek County experiencing an opioid drug overdose now have a lifesaving ray of hope at their fingertips, thanks to the efforts of the grassroots Bondurant-based organization, Steps of Hope Iowa.

The organization, founded by Ann Breeding in 2021, recently placed two repurposed newspaper boxes filled with free naloxone (narcan), a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, in Poweshiek County.

Boxes were placed Nov. 21 on the south side of the Poweshiek County Courthouse near the entrance door and at the Brooklyn Public Library. Steps of Hope plans to place a alnoxone box in Grinnell when it has secured a suitable and accessible location.

The Steps of Hope community outreach has placed 29 naloxone boxes across the state of Iowa and plans to place at least one box in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. The medication is available 24-7 to the public free of charge and with no questions asked.

Breeding, her husband, Ray, librarian Josh Gerard and Brooke Holder, public health manager with UnityPoint-Grinnell gave a presentation about Steps of Hope and the naloxone boxes at Brooklyn Library.

In Montezuma, Breeding was joined by her husband, Holder, County Auditor Missy Eilander and County Supervisors Jeff Tindle, Diana Dawley and Jason Roudabush.

Steps of Hope Iowa was founded as a direct result of the loss of Breeding’s son, Daniel, to an overdose Nov. 1, 2020.

“My son asked me, before he died, if I ever considered doing some sort of outreach to help people because I genuinely love people,” recalled Breeding.

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“We were going to do this together, but I needed him to be healthy. He was in recovery for more than six months. Then I lost him.”

When her son died, Breeding said she poured her heart out to others.

“I have nothing but love to give,” said Breeding. “My son let me see the world through a different set of eyes. People need love, and love can move mountains.”

Breeding said she had conversations with friends of her son. She met with them. She told them they were loved. She connected with families and she connected families with resources.

“Then as his (Daniel’s) birthday approached, I cried out to God, and he responded with ‘walk,’” said Breeding. “People showed up. It did something inside my heart that words cannot explain. The journey is broken and beautiful.”

Breeding held the first Overdose Awareness Walk May 20, 2021 in Ankeny. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation for the State of Iowa to recognize Aug. 31 that year as Overdose Awareness Day.

“The second year, I prayed, and the words ‘Steps of Hope’ were placed on my heart just as bold as the word walk,” said Breeding. “That is exactly where I was in my journey at that time, desperate for hope.”

The second annual walk was named Steps of Hope Overdose Awareness Walk and was held in 2022. Walks were also held in 2023 and 2024 to raise awareness.

“That is how this all began,” said Breeding. “Steps of Hope Iowa is a community that locks arms and takes steps to advocate for hope and bring change.”

According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control, 350 people died in Iowa in 2019 as a result of overdose. In 2020, the number was 419.

According to data, 470 died in 2021 and 469 in 2022. In 2023, the number of deaths as a result of an overdose was 449.

According to Axios.com, the most recent CDC data, ending in April, predicts a 1% increase in overdose deaths in Iowa, from 449 in 2023 to 454 this year.

Breeding said that in 2022, according to the CDC, 64.7% of drug overdose deaths had at least one potential opportunity of intervention. In 43.2% of overdose deaths that year, there a bystander was present.

“This is why everyone should carry naloxone,” said Breeding. “These are preventable deaths. Every overdose is a son or daughter.”

Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, targeting the central and respiratory systems. It works by binding to opioid receptors, blocking effects of opioids like heroin and morphine.

Commonly administered via injection or nasal spray, naloxone acts quickly and is essential in emergencies.

Breeding said Steps of Hope is not part of a larger outreach. It is a mom on a mission, pouring pain into purpose.

She said a family that attends her church reached out and said they saw how God was impacting the community through Steps of Hope and they wanted to help.

“They covered the cost to have Steps of Hope Iowa become a 501c3 nonprofit, and they paid for a professional website company to build the website,” said Breeding, who continues to work a full-time job and fund much of her outreach work.

“It’s incredibly bittersweet.”

This year, Steps of Hope Iowa received two grants — a Community Betterment grant from Prairie Meadows to help accelerate the naloxone box project throughout the state, and a Polk County Opioid Settlement grant.

“Steps of Hope is an 80-hour-a-week job that I do not get paid for monetarily,” said Breeding. “However, to hear of lives being saved does more for me than any amount of money ever could.

“I’ll never put a price on a soul. They matter. They are worth it.”

In 2023 and 2024, Breeding spoke at the Drug Enforcement Administration Regional Family Summits in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, Camp Dodge and Omaha, which covers a five states — Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska.

“I shared our process and resources with many,” said Breeding. “Social media has been an incredible tool to show everyone what we are doing and how it can be done in their area as well.”

“The network that I am now a part of is incredible,” added Breeding. “Whatever it takes to save a life, that is my theory. I’ve had many folks reach out about how we are doing things.

“I always share every detail so that others can do this in their states as well. There are many families that have charitable foundations, nonprofits and other organizations that are trying to make a difference in this epidemic as well.

“The ripple effect is happening, and it is beautiful to see. I know that there are boxes placed in South Dakota and North Dakota. Minnesota is currently kicking off efforts to get boxes in communities as well.”

The Steps of Hope Iowa Facebook group attracted the attention of Holder at UnityPoint Public Health in Grinnell. Holder reached out to Breeding.

“After sharing the process with her, we worked together to make it happen,” said Breeding. “After sharing the details with her, boxes were ordered and placement was scheduled.

“I am excited to bring the naloxone boxes to our communities as they are a lifesaving resource,” said Holder. “I have met so many amazing people along the way, and I am excited to bring education and awareness to help prevent overdoses and save more lives.”

Breeding purchases the newspaper boxes from a company that refurbishes them and ships them to her home.

Breeding said she recently received a message from someone who had attended a community event and heard her speak.

“She came to the Steps of Hope table and got a couple narcan kits from me,” said Breeding.

“She gave one to her friend, who unexpectedly found her child unconscious on the bathroom floor when she arrived home that evening. After administering the naloxone, her child is alive today.”

Anyone interested in helping fund the Steps of Hope Iowa outreach can donate at stepsofhopeiowa.org, or through Venmo @StepsofHopeIowa, through Cash App $StepsofHopeIowa or via PayPal at stepsofhopewalk@gmail.com.

“It’s a team effort and I am grateful for the entire Steps of Hope Iowa community, which I consider family,” noted Breeding. “It’s all about saving lives, and I am grateful for each person's role in this journey.”

Breeding said the shame and stigma of drug abuse must stop. She said it is what hinders many families from getting the help they need.

“Lean in and love people where they are,” Breeding said. “Nobody walks alone. Everybody is somebody’s someone.

“Never say not my child. Everyone has a story. Every story is different. There is no cookie cutter solution to any of this. It is in every state, every city, every neighborhood and in every tax bracket.

“Addiction does not discriminate. Everyone is a first responder. Together, we will make a difference.”