RUN BIG at Polk County’s Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K & Kids Fun Run Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the Lake Mirror Promenade

RUN BIG at Polk County’s Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the Lake Mirror Promenade

Our community’s Red Ribbon tradition continues with Polk County’s Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 12, 2016 in support of bullying and substance abuse prevention. The Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Fun Run, presented by Title Sponsor Publix Super Markets, Inc., InnerAct Alliance, and event partner MidFlorida Credit Union, is a Family Weekend where parents can compete in the Half Marathon or 5K, and K-8 students can participate in the Kids Fun Run. Early registration is encouraged at www.RedRibbonHalf.com. Start time for the Half Marathon is 6:30 a.m., and the 5K begins at 7:00 a.m. Check-in will begin at 5:30 a.m. for the Half Marathon and 6:30 a.m. for the 5K. 

A Kids Fun Run for K-8 students begins at 8:00 a.m., with check-in at 7:00 a.m. at the Lake Mirror Auditorium. The Fun Run is FREE for those who pre-register before November 1^st ($5 fee after 11/1/16) and includes a commemorative Run t-shirt and free refreshments. The Kids Run will start and finish at Lake Mirror Promenade, 121 S. Lake Ave., and follow a route around Lake Mirror. Awards will be given for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place runners in gender categories, and to the top 3 elementary schools and top middle school with the largest percentage of participating students, based on school census. This year, the private school with the highest percentage of participation will also receive a trophy.

NEW THIS YEAR: We are excited to announce some great new additions to the Red Ribbon Fun for 2016! First, we are pleased to collaborate with The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce for their new BIG EVENT: A Family Celebration of Lakeland, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. on November 12^th at the historic Lake Mirror Promenade. The BIG EVENT will feature live music, food, a kids’ fun zone, Business Expo, Makers’ and Artisan’s Row and more! 

Another great addition is an opportunity for kids and adults to fundraise to prevent Bullying, Drug Abuse, and assist with Youth Leadership Development! The more money you raise, the better your chances to win BIG PRIZES such as Free Gear! Free Parties! Free Bikes! Details will be outlined on the event website at www.RedRibbonHalf.com. Lastly, our Half Marathon race course has been updated to pass through some of Lakeland’s most beautiful neighborhoods and our community’s new Peterson Park! Preview our amazing new race course on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries 

"The Red Ribbon Run is going BIG this year," promises InnerAct Alliance's Executive Director, Angie Ellison. "Our goal is to promote healthy family living which reduces the likelihood of substance abuse, bullying, violence and other risky behaviors. Participate in a BIG way by sponsoring, running, or volunteering on our event website
at www.redribbonhalf.com or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries."

RUN BIG in the Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run

Fall 2016 Prescription Drug Take Back Event Nets 1,588 lbs. of Medications

Fall 2016 Prescription Drug Take Back Event Nets 1,588 lbs. of Medications

Polk County, FL - StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on October 22, 2016 for citizens to turn in expired or unwanted human and pet medication.

An estimated 1,588 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. 9 drop-off sites that participated in the Fall Medication Take Back included Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Hamilton Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department.

The latest event brings the total for collections held in Polk County to nearly 10,000 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals dating back to 2010. All medications were safely disposed of via incineration. 

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s six permanent drop sites at the Police Department locations in: Auburndale (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City (35400 Hwy 27, weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (100 Smith Avenue, weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-5). To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dispose of medication in the toilet.  

StandUP Polk is a community coalition working together to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy including strategies to prevent youth substance abuse. For more information, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 22, 2016

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 22, 2016

Polk County, FL – StandUP Polk, local law enforcement agencies, and event partners GiveWell Community Foundation and Polk County Waste & Recycling, are proud to join The Drug Enforcement Administration and its national and community partners for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 22, 2016, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, for citizens to dispose of unwanted and expired medications in a safe manner.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medication. Many Americans may not be aware that medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Studies show that many are obtained from the home medicine cabinet of family and friends. In addition, many people do not know how to properly dispose of unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Our community’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will include the following locations in Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications, including over the counter medications, vitamins, and other medication in liquid and solid form, for safe and proper disposal. Medications should be placed in a clear, air-tight plastic bag.  Drop-off locations from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm are:

Auburndale Police Department – 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL
Bartow Police Department – 450 North Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL
Davenport Police Department- 16 Bay Street West, Davenport, FL
Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL
Lakeland Police Department – 219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL
Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 N. Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL
Lake Hamilton Police Department – 100 Smith Avenue, Lake Hamilton, FL
Lake Wales Police Department - 133 E. Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, FL
Winter Haven Police Department – 125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven, FL

Medications may also be taken to the county’s permanent drop site locations at the Police Department locations in Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lakeland and Winter Haven. Medications may 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 disposing in the trash. To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dump medications into the toilet.

Previous medication collections held in Polk County since 2010 have resulted in over 6,500 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals safely disposed of via incineration.  For more information on the local Prescription Drug Take-Back event, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.

UthMpact Coordinates 2016 Project Hoco Shopping Days Saturdays, September 17 & 24, 2016

UthMpact Coordinates 2016 Project Hoco Shopping Days
Saturdays, September 17 & 24, 2016

Polk County, FL – With Fall football games in full swing that means it’s time to celebrate Homecoming! For the past several years, teen leaders from UthMpact have successfully coordinated Project Prom to provide formal wear to deserving high school students, and now, UthMpact is proud to present the second year of Project Hoco to offer free dresses and suits to teens who promise to make smart, healthy, and safe decisions on the night of homecoming.

Student Shopping Days for Project Hoco will be held this Saturday, September 17 and next Saturday, September 24, from 10:00 a.m.  to 4:00 p.m., at the InnerAct Alliance office located at 621 South Florida Avenue, in Lakeland. Students with a Polk County School ID can sign a Project Hoco Pledge to celebrate drug-free and receive their dresses and suits for FREE!

Community members are also asked to support this effort by donating gently used dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry, men’s suits, ties, and other accessories. Formal wear donations may be dropped off at the InnerAct Alliance office on either of the shopping dates or on weekdays from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

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

InnerAct Alliance supports National Eat with your Family Day Monday, September 26, 2016

CASA Family Day is a national movement to celebrate parental engagement

 as an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free.

Monday, September 26, 2016

To celebrate Family Day, we ask you to post your #myfamilyselfie photos on social media.

It’s Simple to Participate!

Gather your family for dinner at home or at a restaurant

Snap a picture or video of everyone enjoying spending time together

Share the image on social media using hashtag #myfamilyselfie on Family Day, September 26, 2016

Tag two friends and challenge them to share their own #myfamilyselfie photos!

Begin with posting your #myfamilyselfie on www.CasaFamilyDay.org and take the Parent Pledge to become a Family Day STAR!

Locally, help support the Red Ribbon Campaign by participating as a family at the Red Ribbon Half Marathon, 5K and sign your kids up for the FREE Kids’ Fun Run on Saturday, November 12, 2016. More information is available at www.RedRibbonHalf.com

Post Today on InnerAct Alliance’s Facebook page and be
Entered in a Drawing for FREE Red Ribbon 5K registration!

For more information, please visit www.InnerActAlliance.org or call (863) 802-0777

INNERACT ALLIANCE AWARDED DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT

INNERACT ALLIANCE AWARDED DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT

Polk County, FL – InnerAct Alliance is the proud recipient of a 2016-2017 Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) Grant in the amount of $125,000 by the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA). The grant provides community coalitions needed support to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, has worked diligently since 1985 to reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances along with involvement in other risky behaviors while supporting positive healthy decisions through: Community Awareness and Support; Prevention Education; Economic Impact; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency serves as the fiscal agent for the StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions to help educate about the dangers of substance abuse and bring about positive change for Polk County.

“We are honored to be named as a recipient of the DFC grant for our community!” said Angie Ellison, executive director. “StandUP Polk, UthMpact, and InnerAct Alliance are blessed with the support of an active group of concerned citizens, community leaders, parents, youth, educators, health care, business professionals, law enforcement, and local media dedicated to prevention initiatives for reducing substance abuse. The funding over a period of five years will allow our coalition efforts to continue to grow and expand to strengthen our community.”

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is a collaborative effort between the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). ONDCP issues grant awards to community coalitions through an interagency agreement with SAMHSA. According to the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, the purpose of DFC funding is to address two major goals: 1) establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, public and private non-profit agencies, and Federal, state, local and tribal governments to support the efforts of community coalitions, and 2) reduce substance use among youth and, over time, among adults.

For additional information on StandUP Polk, UthMpact, and InnerAct Alliance’s prevention programs and services in the community, please contact InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.