Iowa Red Ribbon Campaign; a week's worth of Red Ribbon activities

Try some of these activities for your Red Ribbon celebration.

Wear a red ribbon
Invite a speaker to talk at your school, organization, or business about current drug trends
Give a speech in your classroom, school, and/or business about the negative affects of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs on the brain, nervous system, and family
Arrange for school cafeteria to serve all red food

Wear a red ribbon
Host a parade, rally, concert, or major media event
Invite speakers, plan entertainment and fun
Have a crazy red hat contest
Wear red socks to show that you're "socking it" to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use

Wear a red ribbon
To turn your back on drugs - wear clothes backwards
Place ribbons and bows on office buildings, lamp posts, trees, billboards, mailboxes, bicycles, dogs, yourself, spouse, friends, bosses, employees, car antennas, and so forth
Decorate malls, schools and recreation centers with banners and posters
Leave a basket of red ribbons where others can take one. (Try the library, on your desk, in a restaurant, in a church or synagogue, doctors' offices, banks, movie theaters, pharmacies, and grocery stores)
Encourage media to highlight Red Ribbon Campaign decorations

Wear a red ribbon
Collect canned goods for local food pantry
Ask local mall to participate by distributing red ribbons to merchants
Volunteer to serve
Say positive things to at least three people
Take 5 minutes to actively listen to your child or anyone else who needs to "talk"
Share drug prevention messages and encourage others to get involved
Give someone a Red Ribbon bow, ribbon, or button

Wear a red ribbon
Wear sunglasses
Wear bright clothing and/or shoes
Distribute ribbons to marching band members, team members, cheerleaders, and spectators to wear during athletic events
Plan special Red Ribbon half-time activities
Hold a Red Ribbon pep rally
Encourage media to cover events
Sell mums or carnations with red ribbons attached

Wear a red ribbon
Give special recognition awards to individuals and groups making outstanding contributions to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs use prevention, and/or to the Red Ribbon Campaign
Post on your Website
Create a Red Ribbon Hall of Fame
Designate a special wall (or create a scrapbook) for pictures of individuals, groups, businesses and organizations making significant contributions to prevention efforts

Ring church bells in memory of Kiki Camarena and those who have lost their lives to drug use, or drug related activities
Wear a red ribbon
Distribute red ribbons to members of the congregation
Encourage your place of worship to offer special prayers/sermons
Hold a discussion on spirituality and substance abuse
Provide information on substance abuse prevention, counseling, and treatment
Plan fun, drug-free, prevention activities for youth groups