WHAT: Red Ribbon WeekWHEN: Oct. 21 – 31
WHERE: Collier County
SUMMARY: CCSO is teaming up with Drug Free Collier to promote healthy and drug-free lifestyles during Red Ribbon Week 2009.
“Red Ribbon Week provides our community the opportunity to unite against teen drug use and abuse, and to show our community will stand united against drugs,” said CCSO Cmdr. Beth Jones.
All CCSO patrol cars will display a Red Ribbon magnet and elementary school students will be encouraged to pledge a drug-free lifestyle by signing their name on the CCSO Pledge Car.
Red Ribbon Week in Collier County will include several events and activities:
New this year is the Candle Light Vigil in front of the Collier County Courthouse from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29. CCSO and Drug Free Collier will host the event to recognize drug use and abuse to be a problem with all ages. Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk will attend the vigil and speak on the issue. The vigil is in coordination with the National Overdose Prevention Education (or NOPE taskforce).
Also new this year is three hours of free access to Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, 15000 Livingston Road, North Naples, for all Collier County high school students on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free swimming will also be offered the same evening at the Immokalee Sports Complex, 505 Escambia Street, Immokalee, from 6 to 9 p.m.
For the eighth year in a row, CCSO deputies will participate in the “Reality Journey,” a dramatic re-enactment of an underage drinking party that leads to a fatal drunken driving crash. Reality Journey will be presented at Barron Collier High School, East Naples Middle School and Palmetto Ridge High School during Red Ribbon Week..
The Pledge Car, along with McGruff the Crime Dog and CCSO deputies, will join Lely Elementary School staff and students during the school’s Red Ribbon Walk on Friday, Oct. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to wear red and walk along the Red Pathway from Physician’s Regional Medical Center to Edison College.
The Pledge Car will also participate in the Swamp Buggy Parade on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m.
Fifth-grade D.A.R.E. students in Collier County are also encouraged to participate in an anti-drug art and poster contest. The posters will be judged by Neighborhood Watch members and 10 winners will be announced at their November meeting.
Click here to view a video about Red Ribbon Week.
