First Annual SOSA Overdose Awareness Car Show

The First Annual SOSA Overdose Awareness Car Show was a great success! This year was especially meaningful as 2026 marks 25 years of global remembrance, community action, and awareness efforts to end overdose. The car show gave our community an opportunity to come together, remember those impacted by overdose, share resources, and continue working to end the stigma around substance use and recovery. 

The SOSA Consortium is a group of local organizations working together to address substance use and overdose prevention in Santa Cruz County. SOSA focuses on reducing stigma, increasing awareness, connecting people to resources, and supporting prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in our community. 

Despite the heat, community members came out to support the event. We had over 70 cars participate, including cars from Nogales, Tucson, Green Valley, Sahuarita, and surrounding communities. 

We were grateful to have the support of several car clubs, groups, organizations, and independent car owners who helped make the event possible. Participants included TruckAZ, New Town Car Club, Untouchable Lows, Buick Group, Tucson Turbo Buick, Firme Memories, 7 Pecados, Knight Riders, The Stimming Co., Turbo Ghost, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, UNKXN Racing, Toxica 4x4, and many independent car owners who came out to show their support. 

Several local organizations also joined us to provide information, resources, and support to the community. Among the participating organizations were Mariposa Community Health Center, VEN Centers, HOPE, Inc., Catholic Community Services, Santa Cruz County Health Department, Circles of Peace, CODAC, Radio Manantial, and Rio Rico Fire. 

The event also included Goros Tacos and K in Bakes, who were selling food and sweet treats on-site for everyone to enjoy throughout the day. 

Pima JTED students helped staff SEAHEC’s resource table and provided information on Narcan, local resources, signs and symptoms of an overdose, and ways to help end stigma. Throughout the event, the students became more comfortable engaging with community members and were able to provide information and resources to more than 70 people. 

One of the biggest successes of the event was having two individuals reach out for help and get connected to treatment to begin their recovery journey. This showed us how important it is to continue bringing resources directly into the community and creating a space where people feel comfortable asking for help. 

Thank you to all of the car clubs, independent car owners, organizations, vendors, students, and community members who helped make our first car show a success. We also want to thank the Marine Corps Reserve for their help and support throughout the event. 

A special thank you to the Oasis Theater for allowing us to hold the car show at their location and for supporting this important community event. The support and collaboration from everyone involved helped make the day possible, and we are already looking forward to planning the Second Annual SOSA Overdose Awareness Car Show!