The mission of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, Inc. (A.S.A.P.) is to provide leadership, education and support in the Nantucket community for the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, addictions, substance abuse and related problems.
Nantucket Elementary School students celebrate October 2010 Red Ribbon Prevention Week
Contact: Linda Spery
Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (A.S.A.P.)
508-228-7892 or linda@sonnpr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 13, 2011
A.S.A.P. ANNOUNCES RED RIBBON WEEK PLANS FOR OCTOBER 24-30
NANTUCKET—The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (A.S.A.P.) invites the Nantucket community to take a visible stand against drugs by celebrating Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 24-30.
Red Ribbon Week is held annually across the country during the last week of October to raise awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs. Nantucket Red Ribbon Week celebration activities have been planned for Nantucket High School, Cyrus Peirce Middle School, Nantucket Elementary School, Nantucket New School and the Lighthouse School. Volunteer event organizers from each school have been working with A.S.A.P. board members and volunteers to plan a weeklong schedule of events involving students at all levels.
Red Ribbon Week on Nantucket will kick off on Monday, October 24 with Nantucket Elementary School students and teachers dressed in red to form a “human red ribbon” for a special photograph being taken by I & M photographer Jim Powers from atop a Nantucket Fire Department ladder truck. Also at Nantucket Elementary School, each student will decorate a grocery bag with messages about healthy lifestyles and Red Ribbon Week in their art classes. The grocery bags, donated by Stop and Shop, will be used by the local supermarket to bag groceries from October 24-30.
During the week, gift bags being assembled by A.S.A.P. will be given out to students at Nantucket Elementary School, Nantucket New School and Lighthouse School. Rounding out Red Ribbon Week, a Red Ribbon Skate Night will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Nantucket Ice, with complimentary skating courtesy of A.S.A.P. The Skate Night is being designed to be of special interest to middle school students at Cyrus Peirce School.
“Red Ribbon Week encourages our entire community to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles,” said A.S.A.P. Vice President Linda Spery. “The campaign brings together parents, schools, and businesses as we look for innovative ways to keep kids and communities drug free.”
The red ribbon symbolizes a continuing commitment to reducing the demand for illicit drugs in our communities. In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique S. "Kiki" Camarena was killed by drug traffickers. Shortly after Camarena's death, citizens from his hometown of Calexico, California, began wearing red ribbons to remember him and commemorate his sacrifice. Congress established Red Ribbon Week in 1988.
Persons, businesses and community organizations interested in volunteering for Red Ribbon Week can contact Tim Comings, Drug Free Communities (DFC) program coordinator at 508-228-2689 or tcomings@fcsnantucket.org.
