525 Foundation Hosts Seventh Annual Say Boo To Drugs
The South Bend community gathered at Howard Park to kick off Red Ribbon Week with drug prevention messaging.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The 525 Foundation hosted its seventh annual Say Boo To Drugs event at Howard Park in downtown South Bend. The community gathering featured trick-or-treating and costumes while serving as the official kickoff for Red Ribbon Week.
Why it matters
The event aims to provide essential drug prevention and mental health information to children and families in a family-friendly environment. By marking the start of Red Ribbon Week, organizers seek to raise awareness about the importance of living a drug-free life.
This seventh annual event serves as a recurring milestone in local outreach efforts compared to previous years of the initiative. The total scale of community participation and the specific volume of information packets provided to families are currently under review.
The players
525 Foundation
This organization leads community outreach efforts and hosts local events dedicated to drug prevention and youth education.
The details
Local law enforcement and community groups partnered with the foundation to distribute educational resources on mental health and substance abuse prevention. The event combined traditional Halloween festivities, such as candy and costumes, with public safety outreach.
Timeline
The Say Boo To Drugs event took place on October 22, 2026.
The Big Picture
The gathering aligns with the national Red Ribbon Week initiative by using public visibility to promote substance abuse prevention. This event follows the established pattern of local programming supporting Red Ribbon Week, which is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation.
Families attending the event received direct access to drug prevention messaging and mental health resources from local experts. These materials provide parents with concrete tools to start preventative conversations at home.
The takeaway
Engaging children in preventative health conversations during community festivities can normalize discussions about drug safety. Parents are encouraged to utilize these resources to maintain an ongoing dialogue about wellness beyond the event.
Further reading
Find more resources on community-based outreach initiatives at the Substance Abuse section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wndu.
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Do you believe community-based prevention events are effective at discouraging drug use among local youth?
