Tribune Staff Reports
Jackson County is turning red.
From school initiatives to community events, National Red Ribbon Week will be recognized in a variety of ways.
The largest drug prevention campaign in the nation kicks off Tuesday and runs through Oct. 31.
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Red Ribbon Week has long been celebrated in the school systems throughout the county, but the message of the importance of drug-free conversations hasn’t always made it home.
This year, with the support of a grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson County, tips have been created to share with parents. Each school system has its own themed days developed, and countywide, there will be banners for each school.
Jackson County United Way has worked with all outlying public schools — Brownstown, Crothersville and Medora — to provide banners, pinwheels, talking points and rack cards about drug-free living.
“We knew from listening to the community over the last two years what county residents hope for: A healthy place to live where residents are alive. We didn’t expect overwhelming support with a drug-free living message,” said Tonja Couch, executive director of Jackson County United Way.
During the United Way community conversations in 2017, Erika Lee, a 4-H Junior Leader, said Red Ribbon Week should be supported by the whole community showing that adults are behind it.
Because of that valuable idea, Couch said there was an opportunity to boost the community’s awareness and encourage everyone to share a message of drug-free living.
In applying for a grant through the Community Foundation, the United Way said, “During Red Ribbon Week, we want to see residents throughout the county come together to keep children, families and communities safe, healthy and drug-free.”
Dan Davis, president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation, said the purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to share information, engage in activities, educate and reduce risk in the community.
“Through the foundation’s funding of this project, we know United Way is working on ways for families to learn more about setting rules and communicating with their children,” he said. “Also, they are focused on building community awareness and increasing community engagement to share the drug-free living message throughout the county.”
In 2017, the United Way saw 28 community organizations team up to share the message countywide. This year, it has grown.
“One of the beautiful things about sharing Erika’s comment, it was a call to action,” Couch said. “I was excited when I saw the community come together in ways I wouldn’t have imagined, especially the partnership with Seymour Main Street, which has grown this year to include Seymour and Trinity high school art students.”
On Tuesday, around 60 students from both schools painted Red Ribbon Week messages on windows of more than 20 downtown Seymour businesses.
“I hope with all of the red ribbons downtown and around the community, people will see them and take the time to talk with their kids and families about living a drug-free life,” said Becky Schepman, executive director of Seymour Main Street. “Our strongest influencers most times are family members, and kids seeing that we don’t just talk about a drug-free life in school but also at home benefits everyone.”
Other ways the United Way is working on anti-drug-use attitudes include the table tent talking points at Dine United locations and with all public schools distributing daily talking points for parents.
For the fifth year, Jackson County restaurants are pledging a percentage of sales to the annual campaign. This year, locations have table tents about how to talk to kids about drug use and signs and symptoms to look for.
Dine United events were earlier this week at Brewskies Grub & Pub and The Pines. Others scheduled soon include Townhouse Cafe, Monday; The Brooklyn Pizza Co., Tuesday; Mi Casa Mexican Restaurante, Wednesday; Pizza Palace, Thursday; Chillicen, Friday, and Cortland Diner, Oct. 29.
“By having these on the tables at locations like Townhouse Cafe and Chillicen, we are encouraging families that are enjoying a meal out to have a serious conversation about how important it is to live a drug-free life,” Couch said.
All of this work is done in collaboration with the Jackson County Drug-Free Council and Public Awareness Action Team.
“My goal for the next generation of citizens of Jackson County is for each person to maximize their potential,” said AmyMarie Travis, president of the Jackson County Drug-Free Council and judge of Jackson Superior Court I.
“Our young people, who are the emerging leaders for this community, cannot maximize their potential when they are laden with the negative effects of addiction,” she said. “By working together to share the message and hope of Red Ribbon Week, we can raise each other up and maximize the potential of this community.”
The Jackson County Public Library also is focused on community interests like Red Ribbon Week. Next week, people can stop by the library and pick up a red ribbon to wear.
“The library is grateful to Judy Smith memorial donors who helped us purchase over $1,300 in addiction and recovery materials for the collection in Seymour, Crothersville and Medora as well as paperbacks for the Jackson County Jail,” said Julia Aker, director of the Jackson County Public Library.
“We hope that community members who need access to them will take advantage of these free resources on the shelves in the library, on OverDrive through the e-Indiana Digital Consortium and through hoopladigital,” she said.