Talbot Goes Purple heads into fifth year with student contests

New shirt, car sticker design winners get $300

EASTON – Talbot Goes Purple announced this week a student material design contest as part of the substance use prevention initiative.

Talbot Goes Purple is a substance use prevention initiative geared toward helping kids stand up against substance abuse. Now entering year five, the initiative helps young people learn that they do not need substances to meet life’s challenges. Talbot Goes Purple includes school-based student clubs, outreach and education activities, and encourages the community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of support and solidarity.

This year’s student contest offers a fun opportunity for local kids to get involved. While some schools have reopened and activities are starting to happen again, the ongoing pandemic has challenged our youth in unprecedented ways. The latest reports on overdoses, coupled with statistics on increased anxiety and depression among our youth, has reinforced the message that substance use prevention – and healthy and fun activities, are critically important.

“A year of that has been anything but normal has really left our kids struggling with mental health issues like anxiety and depression,” said Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble. “Perhaps more than ever, we remain committed at finding ways to support our youth during this time. We hope that our contest can provide a little fun as we all navigate getting back into our daily routines.”

The contest runs from now through June 30 and is open to all Talbot County students. Middle school students are encouraged to redesign the Talbot Goes Purple car stickers; high school students are invited to create a design for this year’s T-shirt. The top two designs in each category will go to a vote on the Talbot Goes Purple Facebook page. The winner in each category receives a $300 gift card, courtesy of Spring & Associates.

Car sticker designs should be no more than two colors, and sized either at 5” by 5” or 3” high by 10” wide, and readable at that size from a distance of at least 10 feet. T-shirt designs should be one color and on an imprint size of 14.5” high by 17” wide. These designs are for the front of the shirts.

Reports from the state department of health show that non-fatal overdoses in young people across the state increased 15% in the second and third quarters of 2020, while emergency room visits have increased three-fold. Maryland’s Department of Health (MDH) has developed a guide for adolescents and young adults that includes resources, coping skills and other relevant information. That guide is available on the MDH website via that agency’s Behavioral Health Administration.

Along with the video contest, TGP also has a radio PSA project through a continuing partnership with 96.7 WCEI and 94.3 WINX-FM. Student ambassadors record a provided educational message as a 30-second PSA that will air during September. The project is open to any student in Talbot County and submissions are due August 28, 2021
For information on the student programs, contact talbotgoespurple@gmail.com.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help with mental health please dial 9-1-1 if it is an emergency. For non-emergency crisis support please contact the Eastern Shore Crisis Response line at 888-407-8018.

Talbot Goes Purple (TGP) is an educational and awareness prevention program that empowers our youth and our community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse. The purpose of the program is to promote the ‘new conversation’ – one that includes prescription drugs, alcohol, marijuana and e-cigarettes. TGP focuses on educating students about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, and works toward preventing kids from beginning to use these substances in the first place.

An initiative from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Tidewater Rotary, in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools, Saints Peter & Paul School and the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Talbot Goes Purple empowers our youth and our community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse.

More information about Talbot Goes Purple is available at www.talbotgoespurple.org. Find us on Facebook @TalbotGoesPurple or contact us at talbotgoespurple@gmail.com.

###
Talbot Goes Purple is a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization – donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.