IAA is Looking for Prevention Volunteers & Talented Performers

 

InnerAct Alliance organizes one of the largest Red Ribbon Campaigns in the state of Florida each fall. The Annual Red Ribbon Run, presented by title sponsor Publix Super Markets, features a FREE Kids Fun Run for students in grades K-8 along with a Family Fun Run and World Tour vendor area to support prevention of substance abuse and bullying. The Red Ribbon Run brings together 10,000 run participants, volunteers, local business partners, and spectators to encourage individuals and families to achieve healthy lifestyle goals. 

The success of the Red Ribbon Run depends on th efforts of over 300 volunteers each year. We welcome volunteers of all ages to lend a helping hand on Saturday morning, October 25, 2025, at Lake Mirror in Lakeland, Florida. High school students may earn community service hours. College students, businesses, and other organizations are also encouraged to volunteer. Free breakfast, t-shirt, and snacks are provided.

Volunteer link to sign up: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0545A4AB2FA2FD0-58503052-redribbon#/

Share your talents! Local community individuals and groups are invited to showcase their unique talents in music, dance, and performance as part of the World Tour celebration of culture and traditions during this year's Red Ribbon Run festivities. Those interested may contact Angie Ellison, IAA executive director, at (863) 802-0777 for details.

Volunteer Year-Round! In addition to assisting at the Red Ribbon Run, volunteers are also needed throughout the year to assist the agency in preparing for substance abuse programs that impact the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, and those in need.

InnerAct Alliance, formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center, is a 501c3 nonprofit agency established in 1985 to reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances, along with involvement in other risky behaviors through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The agency, which is celebrating its 40th Ruby Anniversary this year, provides science-based education programs to nearly 15,000 students in 69 schools, along with outreach to over 100,000 citizens via informative presentations, a premier youth leadership program, teen-driven social norms marketing, and family-oriented awareness events each year. 

Contact IAA at (863) 802-0777 or visit the agency website for more information:

www.inneractalliance.org

Alcohol & Teens: What Does Teen Drinking Look Like Today?

 

Teens may be drinking less, but binge drinking and youth-targeted products still make alcohol a major risk for our youth. Our prevention partners at Partnership to End Addiction offer an impactful new resource for parents that can help them talk to their teen about alcohol to protect their health.

From social media influence and peer pressure to how alcohol affects the developing brain, a new 10-minute You Tube video shares facts and data showing what today's underage drinking actually looks like, the real risks of teen alcohol use, and what parents can do to prevent it. Learn why early alcohol exposure is dangerous, how binge drinking impacts teens, and steps that parents can take to encourage effective communication with their children to keep them informed, educated, and most of all, safe.

                                          For more resources and information

https://drugfree.org/alcohol-resource-center/

Week 2 of IAA’s Red Ribbon Challenges Begin Today!

 

Families can support prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign events and online Red Ribbon Challenges during October presented by InnerAct Alliance and our Red Ribbon Run title sponsor Publix Super Markets. 

The Red Ribbon Challenge features different health-oriented challenge activities each week for children to complete with family and friends. Sign up on IAA.org at: https://www.inneractalliance.org/red-ribbon-run-challenges.html

Red Ribbon Challenge Week 2 (October 6-12) sponsor, Polk Sheriff's Charities, Inc. encourages Kindness & Tolerance. We are encouraged to find ways to promote the positives and look beyond differences to appreciate the person. Suggested activities for this week include participating in a kindness circle, finding opportunities to do a random act of kindness, offering a helping hand at home or school, and registering to "Run the World" and participate in the Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 25, at Lake Mirror in Lakeland.

                            Students in grades K-8 register FREE before 10/25/25:

https://www.athlinks.com/event/inneract-alliance-red-ribbon-run-155599

Adults pay $5 to run in the Family Fun Run with their kids. 

See you at the Red Ribbon Run on October 25th!

Remember:  Kindness Starts with You!

A Great Day in Support of Substance Abuse Prevention

 

It was a great day and night at Il Forno Italian Restaurant (northside and southside) where owner Mick donated 10% of the day's receipts in support InnerAct Alliance's Ruby Anniversary and 40 years of educating and promoting substance abuse prevention in our community!

Red Ribbon Run Memories 🎀- during the course of a great event, we learned that 2 of the Il Forno servers participated in the Red Ribbon Run as they were growing up...and one of them even had our prevention instructor as a teacher of their fifth grade Prevention class in school - so cool! 🏅

Special Thanks to all of the InnerAct Alliance board members, friends, youth leaders and their families, staff, and many new friends who participated in the October 2nd special event to support prevention education and healthy choices! 💪

Last Project HOCO Shopping Days: Saturday Oct 4 & 11

 

Just a reminder that our final two Project HOCO Students Shopping Days are coming up this Saturday, October 4 and next Saturday, October 11, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, at the Project Prom Store at Lakeland Square Mall, 3800 U.S. Highway 98 North in Lakeland (across from Rack Room Shoes).

During the first two September Shopping dates, UthMpact teen volunteers provided over 200 homecoming ensembles at no cost to young women and men in Polk County. Students with a Polk County school ID can sign a pledge promising to make healthy and safe choices and receive their dresses or suits for free!

Community members can support the effort by donating gently used dresses, shoes, men's suits, and accessories. Especially needed are women's dresses in sizes XS (0-3) and Plus Sizes (18+) and men's dress pants (waist 30-36) and dress shirts (all sizes). Formal wear donations may be dropped off at the Project Prom Store on shopping dates or at the InnerAct Alliance office at 621 South Florida Ave., in Lakeland (8:30am-4:30pm weekdays).

For more info, call (863) 802-0777

Visit us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ProjectPromofPolk

Pizza! Pasta! Prevention! – Eat at Il Forno’s Today & Tonight

 

Pizza! 🍕 Pasta! 🍝 Prevention! 💪

TODAY's the day to InnerAct with Friends &
Eat Dinner as a Family to celebrate
InnerAct Alliance's 40th Ruby Anniversary
at Il Forno's Italian Restaurant - Northside & Southside

10% of lunch & dinner purchases
will be donated to InnerAct Alliance 
to support substance abuse prevention!

Eat Well & Support Prevention & Healthy Choices!

Nitrous Oxide Use Gaining Popularity Among Teens Again

 

Florida is cracking down on a dangerous trend that is gaining popularity again among teens - that is use of Nitrous Oxide also known as Laughing Gas or Whippets. People are now selling it for recreational use and that is illegal here in Florida. Teen use of nitrous oxide is being fueling by social media trends and easy access to products intended for culinary use.

Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas, often called laughing gas, that is used as a medical anesthetic and as a propellant in whipped cream chargers. Teens inhale the gas from pressurized containers, called whippets, or from balloons filled from large canisters. 

Some products like "Galaxy Gas" come in flavored packaging to appeal to young users. The gas produces a short, euphoric high, along with feelings of giddiness, laughter, and detachment. Because the effect is brief, users often inhale repeatedly to prolong the feeling.

Florida's Lt. Governor, Jay Collins, recently visited Orlando to announce an undercover operation that has resulted in 70 arrests. "People telling them how to abuse this, how to use this. We know what right looks like. We have to educate people and hold people accountable to stand and do the right thing, even when it's hard."

Public health officials and doctors have issued warnings about the significant long-term and short-term health risks, including severe neurological damage and even death, especially among young people.

Read more of the report on Fox 35 News in Orlando: 
https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/florida-cracks-down-nitrous-oxide-sales-amid-lawsuit-health-concerns