Community Planning Groups Continue Serving Families

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

Friendsville Community Watch’s annual family back to school event took on a new look this year. The group recently held a Backpack Drive Through Event, allowing them to provide school supplies to community children while maintaining the safety precautions necessary due to COVID-19.

“Our Backpack Drive Through event was a great success,” said Christy Thomas, Outreach Worker at the Garrett County Health Department. “We gave out 40 backpacks, draw-string bags from our Just Like You program, as well as lots of school supplies.”

Recipients remained in their vehicles while driving through several stations to pick up all the supplies, as well as COVID-19 information, and key messages about underage drinking prevention. 

The main message was: “Don’t let COVID-19 make underage drinking easy.” Parents can help their children avoid alcohol problems by:

• encouraging kids to participate in healthy and fun activities that do not involve alcohol
• being a role model for responsible drinking behavior
• not having alcohol available in the home
• or if there is alcohol in the home, regularly inventory the alcohol 

Around the county, Community Planning Groups such as Friendsville Community Watch are providing innovative community activities while maintaining the required COVID-19 safety precautions. In addition to Friendsville, there are Community Planning Groups in Accident, Crellin, Oakland, and Kitzmiller.

Activities of community planning groups are supported by programming from the Garrett County Health Department to promote healthy living and prevent risky behaviors, and are funded in part by Maryland Department of Health and SAMHSA. Events promote prevention messages for youth about topics such as alcohol, tobacco, and non-medical use of prescription drugs. The events also share protective messages about healthy behaviors such as the importance of eating healthy and exercising. 

For information about a group in your area, call the Garrett County Health Department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.  

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Friendsville Community Watch held a Backpack Drive Through Pick Up as their back to school event this year. Pictures at left are Sarah and Erica Mager preparing to give out bubbles at the event, and in the bottom picture is Breanna Olinzock helping to register participants. For information about Community Planning Groups in Garrett County call the Health Department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.