It was September of 2019 when Mark and Tara DeBelts lost their 22-year-old son Riley.
“Riley was just charismatic, happy child, would do anything for anybody,” Mark DeBelts said.
The family was shocked to find out Riley had died of fentanyl poisoning.
“That’s what was so difficult for us. We were not aware of him using any kind of substances,” Mark DeBelts said.
The DeBelts later got connected with Emily’s Hope, joining the nonprofit’s support group and becoming volunteers.
They’ll be among the hundreds of people in attendance of the Emily’s Art Show and Auction Saturday night, a fundraiser to support the nonprofit’s mission.
“A big chunk of the money that we will raise at this particular event will go towards our Emily’s Hope treatment scholarships at the Avera Addiction Care Center, and to date, we’ve given them more than half a million dollars and helped 300 people go through treatment,” Emily’s Hope Founder Angela Kennecke said.
The money will also support other programs such as education and prevention.
While the event is sold out, people at home can bid on nearly 140 silent auction items, including a quilt made by Riley’s grandmother.
The large quilt features a colorful butterfly.
“The butterfly has always just seemed hopeful. We do a lot of hiking at Great Bear as a family, and when we do we always notice the butterflies out there, and we talk about them, and that’s an area that Riley worked and that’s where he snowboarded,” Riley’s Grandmother Barb Shenk said.