Taking it to the streets: Anti-drug message takes center stage Oct. 23-31

ROCHESTER - The Rochester Police Department will be wearing Red Ribbon pins and have magnetized Red Ribbons on all patrol cars Oct. 23-31 as a show of support for a weeklong campaign in the city targeting drug abuse.

The campaign is called "Red Ribbon Week," an initiative of the National Family Partnership, and is designed to maximize the resources of youth, parent, and community organizations taking a visible stand against drugs, according to Bridging the Gaps, Rochester's Substance Misuse Prevention Coalition.

Both Rochester Middle School and Spaulding High School will have week-long Red Ribbon Prevention Awareness activities, including lunchtime banner signings and trivia contests (students take a Pledge to be drug- free), prevention-themed Dress-Up days (like hat day "Put a Cap on Drugs" and pajama day "Dreaming of a Drug-Free Community").

The school week culminates in both school populations gathering, along with faculty and support staff, all wearing Red, for an aerial school photograph.

Another anti-drug event that week will be ZOMBIES - "Don't Do Drugs!" that occurs on Friday evening, Oct. 27, and will comprise Middle School Youth-2-Youth participants marching in the Zombie Parade! Members worked with their advisers to design prevention-themed Zombie shirts. Volunteers will be helping the students with costume and makeup at the Rochester Police Department prior to that event.