Schools observe Red Ribbon Week

GAINESVILLE - The Drug Free Coalition of Hall County was in the thick of things this week as schools in Gainesville and Hall County observed Red Ribbon Week.

The agency provided free Red Ribbon Week supplies to both school systems.

"In a time when district budgets are greatly reduced, it is our belief, that by providing these supplies the individual schools will be able to more effectively conduct Red Ribbon Week activities," executive director JP Banks said.

The local theme this year is "Face it… don't fake it with drugs."

Banks said that this week 16,251 elementary school children have each received Red Ribbon stickers - one for each of the five days of the campaign; 7,228 middle school students each received a 17-ounce plastic stadium cup. These items and posters provided to each of the 42 area public schools feature the local theme and the Coalition's website: www.faceitpeople.org.

Red Ribbon Week is not a prevention or early intervention program. It is an awareness campaign observed annually the last full week in October. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a "unified and visible commitment" toward the creation of a drug free America.

"There are many creative ideas in the county schools that will celebrate our students being drug free" said Carol Ann Ligon with Hall County Safe and Drug Free Schools. "Many area schools are pledging to be drug free by participating in a Spirit Week; at some schools students will be wearing hats to Put a lid on drugs! Other schools will Team up against drugs by wearing their favorite team attire. The national wear red and pledge to be drug free day is Wednesday, October 28th. This is an exciting week to remind our students that Drug Free is the Key."