Our Mission
Our Goals
Project Ryan exists to make lifesaving naloxone free, accessible and stigma- free throughout Memphis and Shelby County. Through community-based vending machines, outreach and education we’re working to remove barriers and put naloxone where people are before they need it.
Reduce Stigma
Normalize carrying naloxone and help remove the shame and judgement surrounding overdose and addiction.
Increase Access
Put free naloxone where people are, making it easier to get when and where it’s needed.
Educate Our Community
Give people the knowledge and tools to recognize an overdose, respond quickly and potentially save a life.
Our Story
Save LIVES
Because every life saved is another chance for recovery, healing and a future.
Project Ryan started in July 2025 with a feeling I couldn’t shake: we have to do something.
As the anniversary of our brother Ryan’s death approached, I kept thinking about how many families were still experiencing the same devastating loss. Ryan died on July 25, 2018, and seven years later, people were still dying. I went to my sister, Cameron, with little more than an idea and a desire to help. She was immediately in.
We knew we couldn’t solve addiction, and we weren’t looking to reinvent the wheel. We looked at what was already working in other communities, and naloxone vending machines made sense: put lifesaving medication where people are and remove as many barriers as possible.
Memphis has one naloxone vending machine in service through the Shelby County Health Department, but for a city our size, we believe we need more machines, in more places, with greater access.
A vending machine won’t solve addiction. But making naloxone free, accessible and stigma-free is one practical thing we can do right now to give someone the chance to survive and find recovery.
That idea became Project Ryan: Reinventing Your Access to Narcan.
In just over a year, we’ve become a 501(c)(3), built community partnerships, expanded our outreach and education, and acquired our first full-size naloxone vending machine.
We’ve come a long way. And we’re just getting started.
Thank you for being here! Lucy & Cameron
Donate
Help Us Put Naloxone Where It’s Needed Most
Every donation helps Project Ryan expand free, stigma-free access to naloxone throughout our community.
Your support helps us stock naloxone, place and maintain vending machines, provide overdose-prevention education, and reach more people with lifesaving resources.
Every dollar helps us get closer to the next machine—and potentially the next life saved.
Project Ryan is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductable to the extent of the law.
Community Partners
