At street fairs across Long Island, Carole Trottere transforms her personal tragedy into a powerful mission through the Purple Rock Project.

After losing her only child, Alex, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018, Trottere invites others to create memorial rocks for loved ones lost to drug overdoses, fostering moments of connection and healing.

Teaming up with Officer Jason Byron, who provides Narcan training at her side, she educates communities about fentanyl dangers and available resources, turning her pain into purpose while reducing the stigma of addiction.

The Purple Rock Project goes beyond the fairs, culminating in a poignant ritual where Trottere and others place these memorial rocks under a tree at The Gabriel’s Giving Tree Memorial and Recovery Garden at Suffolk County Environmental Center at the Scully Estate, in Islip.

Each rock, inscribed with a name, serves as a lasting tribute and a reminder that no one is forgotten.

Through her work, Carole not only honors her son but also offers solace to others, creating a ripple effect of awareness and compassion in the fight against the overdose crisis.