Get Involved!

Ideas on how to celebrate Red Ribbon Week:

Government

Wear red ribbons and distribute them to staff and employees.
Issue a proclamation declaring the last week of October “Red Ribbon Week” in your community (Sample_RRW_Proclamation).
Promote Red Ribbon Week in speeches and newsletters.
Display red ribbons, posters & banners on the interior and exterior surfaces of city and county buildings.
Appoint a representative to be on the community Red Ribbon planning committee.
Encourage police and fire departments to participate in Red Ribbon Week activities.
Contact the press to show your community support for Red Ribbon Week.
Include a Red Ribbon message in employee pay checks, in water bills, etc.

Law Enforcement

Wear red ribbons and distribute them to staff and officers.
Display red ribbons, posters & banners on the interior and exterior surfaces of the building.
Display red ribbons in a prominent place on all vehicles.
Help plan and participate in Red Ribbon Week activities.
Offer to speak at community programs on alcohol and drug issues.
Organize a special alcohol and drug seminar for the community.

Business

Wear red ribbons and distribute them to your employees, customers, schools, etc.
Display red ribbons and posters on the interior and exterior surfaces of your building.
Place a Red Ribbon message in your advertisements, newsletters, and monthly statements.
Sponsor a Red Ribbon Week activity (i.e., fun run, bike-a-thon, community breakfast, etc.).
Promote Red Ribbon Week on signs and marquees
Initiate drug education programs for employees.
Sponsor banners to hang on light poles, in their storefronts/and other areas of high volume traffic.
Sign a pledge and publicize list of signees in the local newspaper. Have a signing event that the local television station can carry live (Download a sample pledge).
Submit articles to local newspaper, school newsletters/websites, and church bulletins.
Advertise Red Ribbon special discounts or sales for customers wearing a red ribbon.

Media

Wear red ribbons and distribute them to your employees, including TV anchor persons, news reporters, etc.
Display red ribbons and posters on the interior and exterior surfaces of your building.
Inform the community about Red Ribbon Week, encouraging them to participate.
Produce and air Red Ribbon public service announcements (see sample “3 out of 4” PSAs).
Invite Red Ribbon community leaders to appear on talk shows.
Assign reporters to cover Red Ribbon activities.
Feature drug education information during Red Ribbon Week.
Publish a special Red Ribbon insert in newspapers with articles and ads to distribute during Red Ribbon Week.
Initiate drug education programs for employees.

Medical

Display a basket of red ribbons in the waiting room or lobby for patients and family members.
Display red ribbons and posters on the interior and exterior surfaces of buildings.
Create a display on alcohol and drug abuse prevention information.
Adopt a school and donate ribbons for Red Ribbon Week.
Give red balloons to children with a message to reject drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

Religious Institutions

Distribute and wear red ribbons at religious services.
Give a drug-free message in a sermon.
Include a special Red Ribbon insert in bulletins.
Sponsor in-service educational programs for priests, ministers, rabbis, teachers, secretaries, volunteers, and the congregation.
Address alcohol and drug problems during youth and adult meetings.
Hold prayer vigils for those affected by the use of drugs.
Invite youth to wear and distribute red ribbons during religious services

Schools

Wear red ribbons and distribute them to students and staff.
Organize drug education programs and integrate alcohol and drug information into all curricula during Red Ribbon Week.
Observe Red Ribbon Week activities.
Provide drug education in-service for teachers and staff.
Invite parents and families to a special health fair or drug education program.
Decorate inside and outside of school building with drug-free messages.
Host a school assembly where children tell why they are drug-free.
Have a “sock it to drugs” day where children wear their wildest red socks to school.
Have a poster and coloring contest where signs are made and hung around the school hallways that promote an alcohol & other drug free lifestyle.
Have students sign a pledge to be drug free.
Have a group of students get on the agenda of the school board, city council or county commissioners meeting and allow them to make a 5 minute presentation about why they choose to live drug-free.
Conduct a media contest where students can create a video, public service announcement, poem or song that conveys why living drug-free is important. Partner with local businesses to sponsor awards and team with a local television or radio station to show the spots.
Students can tie red ribbons to car antennas to remind student drivers of the importance of being drug-free.
Daily Update. Have an announcement read during school that provides a different drug-free message each day of the week. Have pre-recorded messages read by local celebrities, student leaders or sports figures that can be played. (see sample PSAs).

Parents

Wear red ribbons.
Talk to your kids about the dangerous effects of alcohol, drug, and tobacco use.
Participate in planning and implementing Red Ribbon community activities.
Volunteer to cut and distribute red ribbons.
Schedule a community meeting focusing on drug education.

Community

Conduct a town hall meeting or community forum. Topics can include drug-related issues, underage drinking, prescription drug abuse, tobacco and second hand smoke, etc. Invite youth to serve on the panel discussion and planning committee.
Submit articles to local newspaper, school newsletters/websites, and church bulletins.
Observe Red Ribbon Week activities.