3,000 stickers with anti-drug abuse messages designed by a Montour Falls elementary school student are being placed on to-go pizza boxes throughout Schuyler County.
The Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD) launched the 2nd annual “Pizza Box Sticker Shock” event on December 27, 2021. Over the course of the next two weeks, volunteers will place nearly 3000 stickers on pizza boxes that read “Pizza is Good. Drugs are Bad. Which will you choose?” A sticker that was created by 11-year-old, 6th grade Hanlon Elementary student Peter Dechow following a county wide youth sticker design contest.
Related: Montour Falls student wins anti-drug abuse pizza box slogan contest
The goal of this youth-led initiative is to spread awareness of a critical community issue by placing the stickers designed by area youth on pizza boxes to remind everyone the dangers of underage drinking and drugs.
The “Pizza Box Sticker Shock” campaign was done in collaboration with 11 Schuyler County businesses that serve pizza. Watkins Glen businesses included Jerlando’s Ristorante & Pizza Co., Pudgie’s Pizza, Landon’s Pub & Pizza Scuteri’s Cannoli Connection and Sinclair. Montour Falls businesses included McGillicuddy’s Bar & Grill, Jerlando’s Pizza, and Linda’s Citco. The Odessa Dandy Mini Mart, Burdett Dandy Mini Mart, and the Hector Dandy Mini Mart also participated.
“By holding the county-wide youth sticker design contest and partnering with as many businesses that we can to put out a message, our hope is to bring as many people in the community together as we can in the name of youth substance prevention” stated SCCUDD Program Coordinator Ward Brower. “Our hope is to have the event grow each year.”
SCCUDD is a group of dedicated community members, businesses, and agencies that work to prevent, reduce, and delay the onset of substance use among Schuyler County youth by collaborating with our community partners, promoting prevention education and substance-free activities, and implementing environmental strategies. SCCUDD works to reduce youth use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as they can cause lifelong problems. SCCUDD’s vision is a connected community where youth have education, resources, and drug-free options to help their journey to become happy, healthy adults.
For more information, or to become involved with SCCUDD, visit SCCUDD online at www.schuylercounty.us/sccudd, or follow SCCUDD on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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