Newark Elks #391 Educating Kids at Rally in the Ally

Every year, Newark City Schools holds a “Rally in the Ally” for underprivileged and at risk middle and high school students. Available at the Rally are school supplies, backpacks, uniform shirts and pants, and hygiene items as well as giveaway items such as bicycles all supplied by different businesses and fraternal lodges in the area.

This year, along with the uniform shirts, the Newark Elks Lodge #391 provided Drug Awareness items to the students and parents. The kids were handed bags with all the DAP pamphlets, coloring books for younger siblings, pencils and bookmarks inside. The kids also received DAP wrist bands, flying rings, lanyards, and the big item of the day, sunglasses.

The sunglasses went on right away (it was a very sunny day!) and the flying rings went on their heads like a crown! Once one kid started the “fashion statement” others followed immediately. There were kids all over the place with DAP red flying rings on their heads.

It was surprising to see how quickly the kids followed each other with the rings. It is our hope that we can educate enough kids about the dangers of drugs that they will again “follow” each other and NOT do drugs!