The I-KAN Regional Office of Education and Life Education Center support Red Ribbon Week, Oct. 23-31. Red Ribbon Week is a way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. 

This year’s theme is “Drug Free Looks Like Me”. The theme is a call to action to speak out in support of healthy choices and serves as a reminder that we are all empowered with shaping the communities around us through positivity, bravery and strength. 

As part of Red Ribbon Week, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place Saturday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northfield Square Mall. Turn in your unused or expired medications for safe disposal. New this year is a drive through service. Look for the tent at the main entrance.

This event is brought in partnership with the Life Education Center and Pledge for Life Partnership Youth Advisory Council, Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group in conjunction with the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department, and Kankakee, Bradley and Bourbonnais police departments, State Representative Jackie Hass and Riverside Healthcare.

As part of Red Ribbon Week, the Life Education Center's Wise Highs billboard contest winner was recently chosen. This year's billboard design winner was Isabelle Trudeau, previously a sixth grade student at Liberty Intermediate in Bourbonnais. Isabelle's winning billboard is displayed digitally on the corner of North Hobbie Avenue and East Brookmont Boulevard, in Kankakee.  The billboard will be displayed in October coordinating with Red Ribbon Week.

About Red Ribbon Week: The National Family Partnership, formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth, was established as a grassroots, nonprofit organization in 1980 by a handful of parents who were convinced they should begin to play a leadership role in drug prevention. Since its founding, NFP has devoted its efforts to the well-being of youth. Today, NFP is a national leader in drug prevention education and advocacy. Their mission is to lead and support the nation’s families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug free youth.

For more information, contact Brenda Wetzel, director of Life Education Center programs at the Iroquois-Kankakee Regional Office of Education, at 815-936-4606. For parent resources, go to PledgeforLife.org.