From dressing to match a friend to bringing their favorite stuffed animal to school, Towamensing Elementary students are marking Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention awareness program.

Towamensing is joining schools all over the country in reminding students that use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco is not a healthy choice.

“We’ve been doing Red Ribbon Week around 25 years,” Towamensing Guidance Counselor Jodi Kocher said. “We’re also trying to work kindness in as a theme as well over the next few weeks. It’s good for the kids to be able to dress up every day. It gives them that tangible reinforcement of, yeah we’re dressing up, but this is why and these are the things we’re learning and focusing on.”

Towamensing’s student council, made up of third through sixth grade representatives, choose the theme days for the week. For sixth-grader Joseph Solt, the message is clear.

“Red Ribbon Week encourages kids to live a healthy life and not do drugs,” Solt, a student council member, said. “We have a lot of great days planned this week leading up to our Fall Festival on Friday. We’re also collecting items for the Carbon County Friends of Animals.”

The Red Ribbon Campaign started nationwide in 1985 in response to the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Camarena. Angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.

At Towamensing, themed days this week include Red Day, a day to wear red to recognize Red Ribbon Week; Twin Day, a day to dress the same as a friend or sibling; Western/Fall Colors Day, a day to dress in western wear or fall colors; and Stuffed Animal Day, a day for students to bring a small stuffed animal to school.

“I think the spirit days are very important because the younger students may not know what this is all about and being able to be involved through dressing up helps them learn the message of the week,” Willa Green, Towamensing sixth-grade student and student council member, said.

Student council is collecting items all week for Carbon County Friends of Animals. Items on the wish list include Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, dish and hand soaps, paper towels, toilet paper, Purina cat and kitten chow, cat treats, Friskies wet food, cat toys, kitten bottles, KMR milk, Q-tips, index cards, pens and highlighters.

“Student council determines who we will collect items for each month,” Kocher said. I really think all of our students get excited when they know they are helping a local organization.”