The Worthington Times

Last week was the National Red Ribbon Drug-Free Awareness Week in Greene County. After making a pledge to be drug-free, children all across the county launched their pledge cards into the sky attached to a red helium balloon. The balloon launch was sponsored by the Greene County Probation Department. 

JeanAnne Sanders of Worthington, who serves as the Juvenile Probation Department Administrative Assistant, said her department started this program a couple of years ago but only in one school.  This year they received a mini-grant from the Local Coordinating Council which let them expand the program to every school in the county.

About 3000 balloons, with pledges, were launched last week and it generated a lot of excitement at each school.  The first Red Ribbon Balloon Launch was held early last Monday morning at the White River Valley Worthington Elementary School followed by an afternoon launch at the White River Valley Lyons Elementary School.  Other launches were held last Tuesday at Bloomfield Elementary in the morning and at Eastern Elementary in the afternoon, last Thursday at Linton-Stockton Elementary, and this Monday at Shakamak Elementary.

The pledge cards were actually postcards which could be detached from the balloon and mailed back to the child at their school so if you find one of the balloons in your yard or field, drop it in the mail so the child will know how far their pledge traveled.  Sanders said last year one came back from as far away as West Virginia.

In addition to the balloon launches, a custom drug-free banner was presented to each school to hang in their hallway as a reminder to the students of their pledge.

The pictures below were all taken at the Balloon Launch at WRV Worthington last Monday.  In the first picture, JeanAnne Sanders is on the left, WRV Worthington Principal Kevin Keller is on the right, with the banner that was presented to students at the school.

A lot of work went into this project and JeanAnne and the Probation Department deserve a round of applause for creating a special event that will leave an impression that children should indeed be proud to be drug-free.