Politics & Government

Red Ribbon Week Launches Tuesday

The local and national effort to combat drug and alcohol abuse reaches out to teens, families and seniors.

Red Ribbon Week kicks off Tuesday in Parsippany and throughout the U.S.

In the township, Mayor James Barberio issued a proclamation last Tuesday marking the special week and hailing efforts by the Municipal Alliance Committee to bring attention to the problem of teen drug and alcohol abuse.

MAC is sponsoring two events for Red Ribbon Week:

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  • On Wednesday at 7 p.m., comedian, psychologist, motivational speaker and author . The free event takes place at Parsippany Hills High School.
  • Area residents ages 62 and above will be showcased in a MAC-sponsored art and poetry contest. Seniors were asked to contribute their artistic creations—paintings, drawings, poems, quilted works crafts, or other creative expressions—that demonstrate personal commitment against drug and alcohol abuse or interprets how drug and alcohol abuse impact Parsippany senior citizens. The deadline for submissions has passed, but the showcase will be held soon. (Patch will publish the date when it becomes available.)

There is also a nationwide contest as part of Red Ribbon Week to allow families to promote awareness in their neighborhoods and win a drug prevention grant for their schools. 

To participate:

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  1. Decorate your home, front door, mailbox, fence, etc. with this year's message: "The Best Me Is Drug-Free."
  2. Take a photo of the decorations and and upload the shot to www.redribbon.org/contest or to www.facebook.com/RedRibbonWeek. (You must be 18 and up to upload photos). The deadline is Nov. 2.
  3. Ask family and friends to vote for your entry between Nov. 2-16 at www.redribbon.org/vote.

What can you win? The grand prize is $1,000 for your school and a new iPad to have at home.

Ten winners will be chosen from across the country and announced at events at local schools in December.


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