Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition continues community outreach

By Kathryn Menue

EDITOR

On Monday, July 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition (BCDPC) met to discuss further outreach in the community.

At the opening of the meeting, the coalition received positive news from Blaine United Methodist Church, who donated $450 to the BCDPC.

Blaine United Methodist Church Pastor Thomas Hay said that Blaine United raised the money for the coalition at their annual folk festival set on Sunday, June 26.

The BCDPC will use the money toward community outreach through social media, such as their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BCDPC/. The money will also go toward raising awareness for the coalition and its mission through town hall meetings, fundraisers, and community events.

At the July 11 meeting, the coalition discussed an upcoming event to help people recognize the signs of drug use and underage drinking in teenagers.

The BCDPC will have an interactive booth at the Boone County Fair from Tuesday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 14. The booth will be open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. each day, except for Sunday the coalition will be at the fair until 7 p.m.

The interactive display will be a “hidden in plain sight” mock up of a teenager’s bedroom where fair-goers can walk through the exhibit and try to find all of the indicators of a teenage drug user/underage drinker/smoker.

Volunteers from the coalition will be present to assist with the “hidden in plain sight” display and to answer any questions visitors may have about the BCDPC.

The Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition also discussed a fundraiser opportunity set for Saturday, Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The coalition will host a Flapjack Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant, located at 2126 Gateway Center Dr. in Belvidere. The Flapjack Fundraiser will help the BCDPC raise money for their organization, will help bring awareness of the drug/alcohol/smoking problems in Boone County, and will help community members see how they can get involved in the fight to end drug use and underage drinking in Boone County.

Tickets for the Flapjack Fundraiser will go on sale at the Boone County Fair.

The Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition will meet again on Monday, Aug. 1 to further discuss their future initiatives for the coalition. They will meet at the Boone County Health Department at 1204 Logan Ave. in Belvidere from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

About the Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition

The coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all who live or work in Boone County, by promoting a lifestyle free from the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

The mission of the Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition is to use a community approach to reduce and prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Their vision is to create a safe and healthy environment where youth feel empowered to make positive decisions concerning alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.

The BCDPC was established in 2013 as a product of a grant received by Rosecrance. The coalition is comprised of local law enforcement, government agencies, youth-serving organizations, businesses, churches, parents, youth, and many others.

For more information, please visit: http://bcdpc.weebly.com/about.html.