In Panguitch, we are extremely fortunate to have the Panguitch Prevention Coalition (PPC) working alongside the Youth Coalition (PYPC) in order to spread awareness on important topics for both youth and adults.
The Adult Coalition is dedicated to providing the educational support and resources necessary to develop healthy communities and families. It does this by sharing knowledge, skills and mutual respect for one another.
The Youth Coalition, on the other hand, seeks to increase risk perception of substance use. Some of its biggest tools for this include peer education, creating pro-social activities or alternatives to using substances, teaching about the importance of policy work, and developing leadership skills among youth.
With immense support from both leaders and community volunteers, the coalitions are able to host fun and wholesome activities each year that bring youth together, along with families as a whole.
Here are some activities they’ve done in the past, to name a few:
- Community Christmas Celebration (complete with gingerbread house kits, hayrides, hot chocolate and bonfire, and food).
- Outdoor movies for high school students and/or families.
- Seasonal “Kits” (each containing treats and activities to be completed together as a family).
- Little Dam/Outdoor Classroom clean-up (which allowed for new benches, bridges, pathways, and outdoor games to be placed — with the help of other community organizations) .
- Optional Training/Learning Opportunities (directly target issues affecting our community, youth, and individual families).
- Most recently: PPC paid for all families in attendance at the play, at Panguitch High School on Thursday, November 3rd.
It is clear that we are truly blessed by the efforts of both branches of the Panguitch Prevention Coalition. Community involvement, family and community bonding, and substance abuse prevention are all topics that need to be addressed with utmost priority. Each of these coalitions has a genuine desire to better our community and works hard to ensure that their goals are met.
I encourage each of you to find ways that you can be more involved with either of these coalitions as they provide perfect opportunities to volunteer, serve and make a positive impact.
– by Hailee Eyre (18) Cedar City/Panguitch
Feature image caption: Panguitch Prevention Coalition hosted a Drive-In movie back in August. Courtesy Panguitch Prevention Coalition Facebook Page.
Hailee Eyre – Panguitch
Hailee Eyre is a journalist at The Byway. She attended Southern Utah University in the fall and is pursuing a career in the medical field. Her favorite topics to write about are those that intend to inspire others, providing motivation as means to better yourself or the world around you. In her free time, Hailee loves to be outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing, boating or hiking.
Hailee is currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pennsylvania and New York Church History Sites Mission.