Red Bay PD to host Drug Awareness Day

Learning valuable life lessons that will stick with children for years to come can be a fun activity according to the Red Bay Police Department.

The RBPD, along with the Red Bay Housing Authority and the Park and Recreation Department, will be sponsoring their annual Drug Awareness Day next Saturday that will feature free horse rides, live musical entertainment from the group “Purpose,” free T-shirts, free food, a drug awareness program and prizes.

Police Chief Janna Jackson said the city has hosted this event for the past 10 years and she believes the event is beneficial to everyone who attends.

“We think it is very important to get the message across to our young people about the dangers of drug use and how it will negatively affect their lives,” Jackson said. “We want to focus on preventative measures because our hope is that these kids will never choose to go down that road in the first place.”

Jackson said by coupling the drug awareness program with fun activities, she hopes the kids will be able to grasp the message better.

“This event adds some fun to the usual ‘Just Say No’ message that kids normally hear,” she said. “It also gives the police department and the city a chance to have good interaction with the community.”

Red Bay’s “Drug Awareness Day” will start at 10 a.m. at the Red Bay Water Park with the horse rides and entertainment. Free hot dogs will be served at 11:30 a.m. before the drug awareness program. Prizes, including two bicycles donated by the city of Red Bay, will be given away at the conclusion of the event for those who are present to win. All community residents are encouraged to attend.