News & Press

River Edge Sponsors Red Ribbon Week Events at Appling Middle School

MACON — River Edge Behavioral Health Center is sponsoring Red Ribbon Week, an anti-bullying and anti-drug awareness campaign, at Appling Middle School this week. The events are part of the national anti-drug campaign and River Edge’s prevention efforts, funded by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

“The students are very excited about this week,” said Dr. LaPrincess Vinson, school counselor and event organizer. “The week really helps to reinforce the messages against drug and alcohol abuse and anti-bullying for our school and we are grateful to River Edge for its continued support of our Red Ribbon Week.”

This year’s theme is “The Best Me Is Drug Free,” for the week’s activities, Dr. Vinson said. On Monday, the school will decorate for the week and receive armbands and red ribbons. There will be an essay contest, commercial contest and door decorating contest judged during the week, with winners announced at a school-wide assembly on Thursday. Each day, students will lead morning announcements with anti-drug and anti-bullying “commercials.”

Thursday’s assembly takes place at 1:30 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium. The program includes the school’s band, cheerleaders and dance team, a video by Principal Steven R. Jones and performances by singer Cori Simms and the Royal Elite Modeling Troup of Fort Valley State University. The speakers include Etheria McFarland Dalton of River Edge; Mercer Basketball Assistant Coach Jonathan Howard; Chris Paul, executive director of Macon Regional Crime Stoppers; and Sammie Haynes, chief executive officer of Sheen Magazines.

River Edge is also sponsoring Red Ribbon Week at Jones, Florence Bernd, Rice and L.H. Williams elementary schools.

About River Edge
River Edge has provided comprehensive mental health, addictive disease, and developmental disabilities services and supports in Central Georgia since 1950. Through multiple locations, River Edge currently serves more than 12,000 youth and adult residents of Bibb, Baldwin, Jones, Monroe, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson and surrounding counties annually.  With special expertise to assist individuals with intensive support needs, River Edge empowers, encourages recovery and strengthens resilience. River Edge accepts Medicaid, Medicare, most private insurance and offers a sliding scale fee for individuals without insurance. River-Edge.org