FIFTH-GRADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN RED RIBBON RALLIES ON MAY 2 & 9, 2013

Nearly 6,000 fifth grade students have been invited by InnerAct Alliance to attend Red Ribbon Rallies in May to encourage the choice of a positive lifestyle without the use of drugs. Events will take place on Thursday, May 2, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at The Lakeland Center, and on Thursday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. at the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The anti-drug rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Guest speaker is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Community leaders will also be on hand to encourage the choice of a positive, healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.

Fifth grade students have been challenged to create original essays, poems, and posters that convey topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Contest winners will be recognized during the rallies with cash prizes of $100, $50, and $25 awarded to overall first place winners in each contest category. 

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rallies on May 2 and 9, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.  

2012-2013 UthMpact Leadership Program Graduation April 18, 2013

2012-2013 UthMpact Leadership Program Graduation
April 18, 2013

UthMpact will host its graduation for the Second Class of High School Student Leaders who have successfully completed the 2012-2013 UthMpact Leadership Program on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at 6:00 pm at the Jim Miles Professional Development Building in Lakeland.

Congratulations to the following UthMpact Leaders: Shannon Abraham, Demisha Allen, Scott Benton, Jennifer Chantharasinh, Ryan Claussen, Coni Davis, Emily Everett, Hannah Fitzhugh, Rachel Fredrick, Mercedes Henderson, Destiny Houston, Crimson Johnson, Chandler Jones, Kritzia Lopez,  Walker May, Taylor McKown, Lucy Muller, Delaney Noris, Mallori Odom, Wildaly Ramos, Ashley Reynolds, Davion Riley, Samuel Rivera, Stephen Shipley, Nicole Sottilaro, Sara Jayne Sutton, Alex Villanueva, Samantha Weathersby, and Cody You.

The UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, UthMpact Coalition, and key business partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills. The student participants were all nominated by their high school principals or community members. Teens travel throughout the county to meet with community leaders and experience the inner workings of local government, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. 

Candidates to participate in the 2013-2014 UthMpact Leadership Class III Program will be chosen soon, based on demonstrated scholastic and community leadership experience. 

For more information, please contact Timothy Percell, UthMpact Coalition Coordinator, at (863) 802-0777, or you may contact him via e-mail at: timothy.percell@inneractalliance.org. Find UthMpact on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UthMpact and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/uthmpact.

Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off - Saturday, April 27, 2013

StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national partners for the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for citizens to dispose of unwanted/unused prescription drugs.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

Our community’s Spring Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off will include 7 locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications for safe and proper disposal. Medications should be placed in a clear plastic bag. 

Drop-off locations on April 27^th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm are:

Auburndale Police Department – 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL
Bartow Police Department – 450 North Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL
Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL
Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 North Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL
Lake Wales Police Department - 133 East Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL
Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL   
Winter Haven Police Department – 125 North Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL

Previous prescription medication collections held in Polk County have resulted in nearly 3,000 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals, which were safely disposed of via incineration. 

For folks unable to attend on April 27^th, medications may also be taken to the county’s permanent drop sites: Auburndale Police Dept. (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City Police Dept. (35400 Hwy 27, 24hrs/7days); Lake Alfred Police Dept. (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lakeland Police Dept. (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); or Winter Haven Police Dept. (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-6). 

Medications may also be safely disposed of at home by dissolving them in water, mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter, pouring into a zip lock bag, and putting them in the trash. To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dump any medications into the toilet.  

For more information on the local Pill Drop event or locations, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.