InnerAct Alliance Wishes You A Safe & Happy Holiday Season!

InnerAct Alliance Wishes You
A Safe & Happy Holiday Season! 

InnerAct Alliance and our partners in the Coalition for a Drug Free Polk, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, would like to thank all of our generous supporters and wish you a safe and happy holiday season! This busy time of year it’s more important than ever to reconnect as a family. Instead of overpriced presents, give the gift of time to your children. Remember that YOU are still the number one influence in your children’s lives. Play games or plan a fun family outing for everyone to enjoy together. Bake cookies or go for a ride in the car to view the neighborhood decorations and light displays. When you attend parties, let your kids know that even though adults may drink alcohol, under no circumstances are they allowed to drink. If your child is going to a holiday party, call ahead to make sure that the event will be alcohol and drug free. Keep the season merry and bright by giving your children the gift of time, positive influence, and communication. It is guaranteed to be the gift most remembered long after all of the brightly colored gifts and packages are opened and the holidays are a distant past!

Family InnerActions Prevention’s First Steps

 

Family InnerActions Prevention’s First Steps

InnerAct Alliance proudly offers a program called Family InnerActions for families with infants and toddlers to come together in a friendly, supportive environment to enjoy adult conversation, learn and bond with their youngsters, and watch them play and grow.  The group meets at tba Church, located at 1815 County Road 540A in Lakeland, and shares information from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s Building Blocks Program.

Play time for 18 month to 3 year olds is held on Tuesday mornings from 10-11:30 am. The newborn to 18 months age group meets on Friday mornings from 10-11:30 am. Admission is FREE and pre-registration is not required. Participants need only to bring a blanket and toys to play with. If you have more than one child and the oldest is 2 or older, please join us on Tuesday mornings.

The group planned a fun Christmas Craft for the kids at the December 16th event. The kid made "foot reindeer" and everyone had a great time!

Some of our Friday group participants took a play time break to pose for quick photo!

Quotes from our wonderful Family InnerActions participants:

"My favorite part of Family InnerActions is talking to
and learning from the other moms (parents)." - Jenn

"We enjoy talking with other moms (parents) and sharing advice. 
Kaitlyn loves a safe, fun environment to crawl and play." - Dena

Community Assistance Needed to Continue Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off Days

Community Assistance Needed to Continue Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off Days 

For the past several years, StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies have partnered with The Drug Enforcement Administration for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days in the spring and fall for citizens to dispose of expired unwanted prescription drugs. Prescription medication collections held since 2010 in Polk County have resulted in 6,483 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals safely disposed of via incineration.

Unfortunately, the DEA has recently announced that they have discontinued the National Take-Back Days. Because this issue is so vital in helping to keep Polk County safe, StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies have been meeting to brainstorm ways to continue this important effort to get powerful medications out of residents’ medicine cabinets and provide an environmentally safe means of disposal.

Your help is needed to assist us in raising much-needed funding for the incineration of medications collected at the permanent drop boxes located in the lobbies of 5 local law enforcement agencies in our county. 

In the past, the cost for incineration of collected medications was provided by DEA on take-back days.  Without the resources of the DEA now, Polk County does not have the option or funds for transportation or incineration.  Please contact Juli Davis, StandUP Polk Coordinator, at (863) 802-0777 or by email at: juli.davis@inneractalliance.org if you have a contact who may be interested in funding this important community project!

PROJECT PROM GALA & FASHION SHOW - FEBRUARY 13, 2015

SAVE THE DATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Location: The Magnolia Building in Lakeland
 Tickets:  $10 pre-order; $15 at the door

UthMpact is excited to announce its new Gala & Fashion Show, a night for Polk County Teens to come together to donate prom attire and enjoy a night of fashion shows and great music. 

To purchase tickets or donate formal wear, please call (863) 802-0777 or contact Emily Plank, UthMpact Coalition Coordinator, by email at emily.plank@inneractalliance.org

Visit our new website at:  http://www.projectprompolk.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPromofPolk

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ProjectPromPolk

Donations of Formal Wear and Accessories Needed for 2015 Project Prom

2015 PROJECT PROM

Our UthMpact student leaders started an effort called Project Prom in 2013 to provide formal wear and accessories to deserving high school students who might not otherwise be able to afford the expenses of Prom Night. UthMpact's goal is to promote a fun and safe prom night and all students will be asked to sign a Prom Pledge to choose wisely and commit to refrain from alcohol, drugs, and risky behaviors.

In the first year of this worthwhile program, over 100 prom dresses were given away to young ladies. In 2014, UthMpact continued the momentum and expanded Project Prom to include donation of gently used men’s suits and formal wear for teenage boys.

Now coming into the 2015 prom season, UthMpact is excited to announce its new Gala & Fashion Show, a night for Polk County Teens to come together to donate prom attire and enjoy a night of fashion shows and great music. 

               

We are asking for assistance from our local community to make this project a success.  Please donate gently used prom dresses, shoes, men’s suits, ties, and formal wear to Project Prom. Donations may be dropped off at the InnerAct Alliance office, located at 621 South Florida Avenue, in Lakeland.  Please call (863) 802-077 for more information.

2014-2015 UthMpact Leadership Class IV Activities

UthMpact Leadership Class IV Education Day
October 2014

Students from Polk County high schools have been nominated by school principals and community members to participate in the UthMpact Leadership Class IV for 2014-2015. This unique program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, UthMpact Coalition, and key business and community partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills. 

UthMpact Leaders participated in Education Leadership Day in October and enjoyed an inside look at some of the finest educational institutions in our area. The day started off at the Polk County School Board in Bartow, before stops at two beautiful campuses at Southeastern College and Florida Southern College. At both schools, the teens enjoyed campus tours. The final Education Leadership Day stop was for a tour of the newest campus in our county, Florida Polytechnic. It was an exciting and informative day for our UthMpact leaders!

Thank You to Our 2014 Red Ribbon Campaign Sponsors

Thank You to Our
2014 Red Ribbon Campaign Sponsors

InnerAct Alliance would like to recognize and thank our generous sponsorship partners for their support and contributions to make Polk County’s 2^nd Annual Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Run a success!