Coalition Advocates Against Underage Drinking

A group focused on reducing underage drinking met for the first time this school year Wednesday night.

The goal of the is to bring middle and high school students together with parents, town officials, business owners and police officers to help bring awareness to the community about substance abuse by underage children and show students that there are better activities than underage drinking.

The group, which is a combination of the Local Prevention Council, Youth Service Advisory Board, Community of Concern and Youth Leadership Training, meets the second Wednesday of each month from 4:30 – 6 p.m. in the police department training room to discuss ways to educate the public on youth issues, advocate for the youth of Rocky Hill and bring awareness to the community.

“It is an energetic group who want to make a difference in Rocky Hill,” Lori Stanczyc, the advisor to the coalition, said. “The youth is the future.”

The meetings start with a group discussion about upcoming events and projects and then the members break into small groups.  In past years, the coalition has helped set up and run a distracted driver’s assembly, mock car crashes and the annual “Scare Away Hunger” food drive to benefit the food pantry.

“We do great community service projects in this group,” Stanczyc, who is the Youth Services coordinator, said.

Activities such as Whirlyball and ropes courses allow coalition members to work on team building, improve leadership skills and enjoy a bonding experience.

“Whirlyball is way better than drinking,” Stanczyc and group members agreed. 

Upcoming events include a dodge ball tournament at Rocky Hill High School, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 7, where participants will dress up in costumes. The coalition is also looking to have an inter-generational dinner around the holidays where the students cook the meal and the seniors will share their life stories.

The students are the leaders of the coalition and determine the direction of the group and the projects they do, Stanczyc said.

Co-chair Vanessa Ianfrancesco said she has learned a lot from the group and had “a lot of experiences” without drugs or alcohol.

“You do not have to do something stupid to have a good time,” she said.

“This is our big family,” Leroy Young, coalition member, said. “This brings joy to me.”

Pizza is provided at the start of each meeting.

“We always feed them before we do our work,” Stanczyc said.

The public can send donations to the Champions for Youth c/o Rocky Hill Youth and Family Services, 699 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill, CT, 06067.

Anyone interested in joining or donating to the coalition is asked to call 860-258-2752.  The next coalition meeting is Oct. 12 from 4:30- 6 p.m. at Youth Services inside the .