To the community,

On March 30, 325 6th-grade students from South Tahoe Middle School, St. Theresa and Zephyr Cove Elementary participated in another successful drug prevention demonstration called The Drug Store Project.

A massive project like this is only successful thanks to the time, effort and financial support of many who care. In fact, the many consisted of 38 agencies and more than 150 volunteers all with the same concern; providing our youth with information to prevent them from ever becoming involved with drugs.

Tahoe-Douglas fire Capt. Jim Anti, who is part of the bomb squad talks safety with kids Tuesday. Photo/Laurie Brazil

The Drug Store Project is a reality-based demonstration which focuses on “choices”. We as adults can teach information concerning the dangers of drugs to our children, we can intervene when we know something is occurring, but it is the individual child who will make the choice when the time comes. We hope that learning how choices affect not only them, but the many friends and family who love them, will help children to make the right choices for their futures.

On behalf of Tahoe Youth & Family Services I’d like to thank the amazing volunteers who participated in this year’s event. I’d also like to thank the following agencies which make this program happen: Barton Health, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, California Conservation Corps, CalSTAR, California Highway Patrol, California National Guard/DDR, Douglas County Probation, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, El Dorado Community Foundation, El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, El Dorado County Mental Health, El Dorado County Probation, El Dorado County Public Defender’s Office, El Dorado County Public Health, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, El Dorado County Superior Court, Embassy Suites South Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s Harveys Lake Tahoe, Harrah’s HEROs, Kiwanis, KTHO, Lake Tahoe Community College, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Lake Valley Fire Protection District, McFarlane Mortuary, Optimist, Partnership of Community Resources, Pro Leisure, Rotary, St. Theresa School, Sierra Community Church, Soroptimist, South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, STHS Friday Night Live, STMS Leadership, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, and Vitality Lake Tahoe.

The collaboration of the Lake Tahoe area is an example for other cities and counties. We are fortunate to live in such a caring community.

I am honored to be a part of your team.

Lisa Huard, Drug Store Project coordinator

Tahoe Youth & Family Services