Jacksonville Brewery Raises $3K for First Responder Mental Health

A Jacksonville Beach brewery is turning a tragedy into a lifeline for first responders struggling with mental health challenges.

INK Factory Brewing released its annual "G.O. Session" Hazy IPA, named for Garrett Opper, a Marine veteran and firefighter who died by suicide in 2022 after years of serving his community. Created by Opper's brother Corey alongside the brewery team, every beer sold funds mental health support for those who protect us.

Opper spent his life running toward danger. He completed three tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps, worked as a Driver/Engineer with St. Johns County Fire Rescue, and served 20 years as a lifeguard and lieutenant in Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach. But the battles he fought internally proved the hardest of all.

Four years after his death, the Jacksonville community is making sure his story saves lives. Law firm Farah & Farah jumped on board as the official sponsor, pledging to match community donations up to $3,000 throughout May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.

"Garrett Opper was the real deal," said Chuck Farah, senior partner at Farah & Farah. "No one who dedicates their life to service should ever have to walk through a dark time alone."

All proceeds benefit Here Tomorrow, a Neptune Beach nonprofit offering free mental health support and suicide prevention services specifically for first responders and military personnel. The campaign meets veterans and first responders where they are, not in clinical settings but over a beer with their community.

The brewery also launched a non-alcoholic option called G.O. Session Stoke Water and custom merchandise, ensuring everyone can participate regardless of whether they drink alcohol.

The Ripple Effect

The G.O. Session campaign does more than raise money. It creates conversations about mental health in communities where asking for help has traditionally been seen as weakness. By honoring Opper's memory in a brewery setting, surrounded by friends and neighbors, the initiative normalizes support-seeking behavior for people whose jobs require them to be strong for everyone else.

The Farah brothers see first responders as Jacksonville's most vulnerable population when it comes to invisible wounds. Their firm has long championed local causes, and this partnership reflects their belief that the people who show up for us deserve us showing up for them.

With days remaining in May, Jacksonville residents can still contribute by visiting INK Factory Brewing at 602 Shetter Ave. in Jacksonville Beach or donating directly to Here Tomorrow. QR codes at the brewery make giving simple, and every dollar donated this month gets matched, doubling the impact.

The campaign proves that communities can transform loss into action, one beer and one conversation at a time.