By:Sarah Hallberg
Community members are teaming together with the Rockville Centre Drug and Alcohol Task Force to raise awareness that drugs and alcohol are an existing problem facing families today.
Hoping to build on the success of last year's Awareness Walk, organizers are planning a repeat Sunday, Oct. 21.
The two-mile walk is designed to "promote drug-and-alcohol-free youths and drug-free, alcohol-safe adults," said Naomi Bisk, South Side High School social worker.
According to Bisk, 50 signs with positive messages on them will be carried by participants.
Last year, 200 people participated in the walk and Bisk stressed that it is a community-based event and hopes that people of all ages will come down.
Fliers were handed out in the elementary and middle schools and to members of Students Against Destructive Decisions at South Side High School.
All proceeds will be given to the Confide Counseling and Consultation Center, which is cosponsoring the event.
Confide is a non-profit organization that does out-patient substance abuse treatment for adolescents, adults, and their families.
Bisk said the walk is designed to promote awareness for everyone. "It's really about people of all ages, not just youth."
Pearl Greenfield, a local parent and a Drug and Alcohol Task Force member, is a strong supporter of the walk and the support it shows for drug-free families.
A ceremony will be held at the end of the walk.
"We are rallying on the side of health and making good choices," said Bisk.
In the event of rain, the walk will be held on Sunday, October 28. Participants are being asked to be at South Side Middle School, 67 Hillside Ave., at 11:30 a.m. The two-mile walk will start at noon. Participants will travel east on Hillside Avenue to Burtis Avenue. They will continue North on Burtis Avenue, turning westbound on Hamilton Road, which they will take to Hempstead Avenue. The walkers will then travel West to Dorchester Road. Walkers will then take Harvard Avenue East to Lakeview Avenue, which they will take to Burtis Avenue. They will return to Hillside Avenue bringing them back to the starting point.
