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140,000 Wristbands to be Distributed to Schools for Red Ribbon Weeks Drug Free Campaign
10/08/2019
What: Red Ribbon Week Wristband Distribution
Who: Local school district representatives
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10
Where: ESC Region 12, 2101 West Loop 340 in Waco
WACO, Texas - Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12, in partnership with Ascension Providence, and Sgt. Warren Bainbridge from the U.S. Army will provide Red Ribbon wristbands to schools across the region in recognition of Red Ribbon week, October 23-31. 

This year, students from areas schools will be present at ESC Region 12 to help distribute approximately 140,000 Red Ribbon Week wristbands to 162 school campuses on Thursday, October 10 through a partnership with Communities in Schools. "It's important to us that our students have an investment in this tradition and have the opportunity to engage in how we distribute the bands to our schools. Many of them have grown up wearing the trademark Red Ribbon wristband and are excited to help. We are really looking forward to having them here" said Jenipher Janek, ESC Region 12 counseling specialist and regional crisis response team leader.

Red Ribbon Week is an annual drug awareness campaign organized by the National Family Partnership (NFP). The initiative aims to educate all students grade K through 12 on the dangers of drugs and the benefits of living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The students wear the wristbands each day during Red Ribbon Week and they serve as a reminder for kids to ‘Band Together Against Drugs.’

Jenipher Janek, says "The Red Ribbon wristband has come to symbolize our commitment to helping keep kids stay safe and free from the harmful effects of drugs. After this year's distribution, ESC Region 12 and partners will have provided 560,000 bands that have been distributed to our schools just over the past 7 years. However, the effort has gone on long before we started counting under our current system of distribution. So the actual number is much higher. ESC Region 12 is thankful for our partnership with Ascension Providence and new partner, the Texas Joint Counterdrug Task Force, for providing these supports for our kids".