2019 Project Prom Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening Saturday, February 23, 2019

2019 Project Prom Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Saturday, February 23, 2019

Polk County, FL – It’s almost Prom Time but for some teens the expense of this social event could make attending prom out of reach. InnerAct Alliance and youth coalition, UthMpact, are proud to present the 7^th year of the Project Prom effort to provide formal wear and accessories to deserving high school students and educate youth and parents in our community about the risky behaviors that may occur during prom and graduation time. Students with a Polk County School ID can sign a Project Prom Pledge to celebrate being drug-free and receive dresses and suits for FREE!

A special Project Prom Store Ribbon Cutting will be held this Saturday, February 23, 2019, at 9:30 am, at Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U.S. 98 North, in Lakeland (in the old Sears wing). The first of four 2019 Student Shopping Days for Project Prom will begin immediately after when the doors open at 10:00 am. Additional shopping days are scheduled for Saturday, March 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays March 23 and April 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm., at the Project Prom store.

Community members are also asked to support this effort by donating gently used dresses, shoes, men’s suits, ties, and other accessories. Formal wear donations may be dropped off on the shopping dates at the Project Prom Store or at the InnerAct Alliance office on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

UthMpact’s goal is promote a fun and safe Prom Night. For more information, please contact Samantha Barwig, UthMpact Coordinator, at (863) 802-0777.

UthMpact Coordinates 2019 Project Prom Shopping Days

UthMpact Coordinates 2019 Project Prom Shopping Days

It’s almost Prom Time but for some teens the expense of this social event could make attending prom out of reach. InnerAct Alliance and youth coalition, UthMpact, are proud to present the 7^th year of the Project Prom effort to provide formal wear and accessories to deserving high school students and educate youth and parents in our community about the risky behaviors that may occur during prom and graduation time. Students with a Polk County School ID can sign a Project Prom Pledge to celebrate being drug-free and receive dresses and suits for FREE!

2019 Student Shopping Days for Project Prom are scheduled for Saturdays February 23 and March 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays March 23 and April 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm., at the Project Prom store in Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U.S. Highway 98N, in Lakeland (in the Sears wing).

Community members are also asked to support this effort by donating gently used dresses, shoes, men’s suits, ties, and other accessories. Formal wear donations may be dropped off on the shopping dates at the Project Prom Store or at the InnerAct Alliance office on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

UthMpact’s goal is promote a fun and safe Prom Night. For more information, please contact Samantha Barwig, UthMpact Coordinator, at (863) 802-0777.

Donations Needed for 2019 Project Prom!

2019 Project Prom Shopping Days!

Happy Holidays!

E-Cigarettes and Vaping: Risky Business

E-Cigarettes and Vaping: Risky Business

While use of alcohol and tobacco products has decreased, e-cigarettes and vaping have increased in popularity as a way of “smoking” that American youth often perceive as harmless. One in three high school seniors have reported using a vape or e-cigarette in the past year in the annual poll of 45,000 students from 380 public and private secondary schools conducted by the University of Michigan for the 2018 Monitoring the Future Survey.

E-cigarettes range in size, flavor, and ingredients. Traditional e-cigarettes have a distinct cigarette taste. Vapes are small, refillable devices that heat flavored liquid into a vapor or mist. Devices used for vaping can be larger like a refillable lighter or fountain pen, or smaller and more discreet like a thumb drive. Most vape juices do not contain nicotine, but they can contain substances like THC, the chemical found in marijuana.  

Many types of substances can be put into a JUUL or e-cigarette. E-juice may contain different combinations and levels of nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, water and various flavorings. While tobacco in e-cigarettes may not expose users to the same level of chemicals found in regular cigarettes, there are still many potentially cancer-causing chemicals in e-juice flavoring and tiny particles that can reach deep into the lungs. Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes. Some teen vapers report having bleeding gums and are developing what is now known as a “vaper’s cough.” Long-term health effects from frequent use of these types of chemicals are not yet known.

What is known is that e-cigarette and vape manufacturers specifically target youth with a wide variety of sugary vape liquids that include fruity, candy, and breakfast cereal flavors. Varieties named Skittles and Honey Nut Cereal make vaping appealing to young people and help create the illusion that the flavored substances used in vapes are less harmful - a fact confirmed in the Monitoring the Future Survey, which reported that children and teens believe that what they are vaping is “just flavoring.”

This is where the danger comes in. Because e-cigarettes, vapes, and the chemicals in flavorings used in them have not yet been widely studied, there are still many unanswered questions about the potential effects on the heart, lungs and immune system. Further research is needed to identify potential hazards associated with inhaling flavoring agents. Parents need to talk to their teens about the facts to let them know that the safest, healthiest choice is not to start using at all!

UthMpact Members Assist as Santa’s Elves

UthMpact Members Assist as Santa’s Elves

UthMpact members, Peyton Santo and Senaida Avalos, from Ft. Meade High School assisted in a Santa’s Workshop Holiday event on Saturday, December 8^th, at Crystal Lake Elementary School, and helped children make cute reindeer from candy canes. InnerAct Alliance and UthMpact were happy to be part of the free family event presented by Family Fundamentals and United Way Success By Six. In addition to making candy cane reindeer, children enjoyed photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Holiday story time, and kids under 6 received a free story book from Santa!