Red Ribbon Week becomes a monthlong celebration of drug-free youth in Dubois County

What if Red Ribbon Week wasn’t just a week, but an entire month of celebrating young people who choose to live drug and alcohol- free?

That’s the idea behind Dubois County CARES’ October campaign, which is bringing schools, families, libraries and local businesses together to promote healthy choices and recognize the everyday heroes who help inspire them to live substance-free.

Red Ribbon Week began in 1988 to honor Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was killed in 1985 while investigating drug trafficking. Today, the nationwide campaign takes place during the last week of October to raise awareness about substance-use prevention.

This year’s theme, “Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free,” fits perfectly with CARES’ monthlong activities.

“We love this theme, and we’re asking students to think about those everyday, substance-free heroes who surround them each day,” Hilary Duncan, Executive Director at CARES said. “Teachers and school resource officers are sure to get a shout-out, but what about parents and even older siblings? It will be fun to see whom students identify.”

Those heroes can be found throughout the community, in classrooms, at home, on playing fields and wherever adults and older students encourage young people to make healthy choices.

In Dubois County, the Red Ribbon Week celebration got an early start and a couple of sober tailgate parties already have taken place. Still to come are in-school activities, coloring contests in collaboration with public libraries, and partnerships with community businesses to promote Red Ribbon Week. In addition to celebrating healthy, drug-free choices, CARES is using Red Ribbon Week as an opportunity to raise funds to support its greatest needs.

"This week, we’re inviting our community to be heroes for our youth by giving to CARES. We are incredibly grateful to generous donors who have pledged to match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $6,000. This means your gift goes twice as far in helping us meet the needs of our community. We are excited for the impact we can make together,” said Duncan.

To make a donation, visit duboiscountycares.org or mail a check to 505 W 5th St in Jasper, IN.

There is plenty of good news to celebrate. According to the most recent Indiana Youth Survey, released last month, 97% of Dubois County students in grades 6 through 12 reported never using cigarettes or marijuana. Additionally, 93% reported never vaping, and 86% said they had never used alcohol.

These encouraging results reflect the collective efforts of schools, families, community partners, and youth-focused organizations like Dubois County CARES. CARES works to empower young people through leadership development, healthy decision-making, and opportunities to make a difference in their schools and communities.

For students like CARES Club Youth Leader Maleah Dearing, those opportunities have made a lasting impact.

"CARES has given me opportunities to grow as a leader, use my voice, and make a difference in my school and community. Through the programs and support they've provided, I've gained confidence, built meaningful connections, and learned how important it is to make healthy choices," said Dearing.

To learn more about Dubois County CARES, visit duboiscountycares.org

Signs Up! greets students throughout the county

CARES conducted Signs Up! at all of the middle schools and junior and senior high schools in the county during August. About 30 volunteers plus three staff members participated.

Signs Up! is part of the You’ve Got This! initiative that CARES conducts to remind adolescents that they are capable and resilient, and that a variety of support exists to help them. This school year the program is focused on seventh-graders.

Across the board, from grade six through 12, and for several years running, Dubois County students report that they don’t feel noticed or appreciated by community members. “We hope activities like this one help students realize that community members see them and care about them,” CARES Executive Director Hilary Duncan commented.

Here are some glimpses of the Signs Up! activity.

Southridge High School Principal Greg Gogel and Assistant Principal Greg Werner had upbeat music playing through the outdoor speakers as youth walked toward the building on the first day of school. High-schoolers and middle-schoolers were welcomed back with high-fives and encouraging words.

School Resource Officer Andy Hammack, Huntingburg Mayor Neil Elkins and his wife, Susan, and a couple of downtown merchants joined in on the fun, greeting students and cheering them on. Senior William Dubon, a CARES Youth Leadership Team member, stopped by for a hug and smile from Program Director Candy Neal. 

 “Which one of you is Doug?” asked the approaching Northeast Dubois senior who had been sent on the search by a friend. Doug Stephenson handed his sign off to fellow volunteer and CARES board member John Siebert beside him and went to take a photo of the group of senior girls gathered for Senior Sunrise. The girls offered the sign-holders their remaining doughnuts. The senior boys, not to be outdone, offered the last of their grilled bacon.

A junior high student saw her former religion teacher, Clara Fromme, among the volunteers at the bus drop-off and wanted to hold a sign too. Fromme snapped a photo of the girl, flanked by friends, sharing the message, “You Matter.” Volunteer Luckie Hopf grabbed her granddaughter Coralynn Poppe in a hug. Coralynn, a junior, also is a member of the youth leadership team.

When board member Nancy Eckerle reported to Jasper High School at a little after 7 a.m., she brought with her a school bell used by her husband’s grandmother – known as Rose Fink before getting married and becoming Rose Eckerle – when she taught school in the early 1900s. Nancy rang the bell frequently during the 45 minutes that she wished the students a great school year. Choir and AP psychology teacher Emma Mundy passed by and shared that a student gave her a cowbell one year to keep order, but she’s never had to use it.

“She had told her mom (my) class was loud, and I’m not very loud,” Emma shared later. “So her mom got it (for me).”

At Jasper Middle School, the rain stopped a little before 7 a.m., and city librarians Christine Howard and Venita Lucchi, Tiffanie Arthur and Ashley Lueken were on hand with Candy.

The first buses arrived at 7:10. Most of the students on the buses looked tired and bored, and the majority were quiet. Some students stopped to read the signs, and one said he had come up because he thought it was a protest. He and several others thanked the sign-holders for being there.

Ashley’s stepdaughter, eighth-grader Ali, joined the group after getting off her bus; she held a sign and greeted many of the students by name.

When a sign-holder remarked that it was going to be a great day, one student mumbled, “I doubt it.”

“Just wait and see!” Candy countered.

When the school day got under way at 8 a.m., the volunteers stuck the encouraging signs in the ground at both entrances of the school to continue wishing students well for a few weeks into the school year.

On the day volunteers visited Forest Park Junior-Senior High School, students were still pulling into the parking lot behind the school as 8 o’clock drew nearer and nearer. The volunteers became nervous for the students.

Do they have to be in their classroom at 8? one asked.

Yes, answered guidance counselor Audrey Fleck who stood with the group.

A bell rang. Several students were still walking across Vienna Drive between the parking lot and the school. The volunteers commented to each other about the students’ nonchalance before wishing the students a great school year.

Can they go straight to their classroom after entering the building? another volunteer asked hopefully.

Probably not, Audrey said, as this school year all phones have to be stashed in lockers before first period.

By the time the last student got to the door, it had automatically locked for the day. Fleck had to unlock it for him.

The volunteers lamented that he would have to report to the office for his tardiness.