The Monroe County Coalition for Drug-Free Communities demonstrated significant strides toward enhancing community outreach during its Monday meeting.

For one, the coalition reviewed a presentation it will share with the community demonstrating its mission and displaying data from the county’s 2016 Illinois Youth Survey.

Data pulled from the survey includes such topics as the frequency of marijuana use among teens or how many teens reported getting in the car with someone high or under the influence of alcohol.

“We wanted to use data that would come off as most surprising and shocking,” coalition secretary Gary Most told the Republic-Times.

Coalition chairman Bill Rebholz said the focus on marijuana and alcohol use would help the community understand how these habits can lead to more serious consequences down the road.

“You’re going to have people saying, ‘Oh, it’s just a little bit of pot or it’s just underage drinking,” he said. “But the kids who are doing that stuff are at an increased risk of doing something that will upset you.”

Most emphasized that the presentation does not narrow down the coalition’s entire focus. In other words, the coalition will continue efforts to curb prescription drug abuse and surveil the problem of heroin seeping into the community.

The coalition also recently built a website to increase its online presence.

Monroecountydrugcoalition.org includes information about the coalition’s mission and successes, as well as community resources the coalition partners with.

The website also provides information on a fundraiser the coalition hopes will garner $14,000 to further its mission. To raise the money, the coalition is selling tickets for two different raffles. Both raffles will have drawings at 4 p.m. April 3 during the coalition meeting at the Monroe County YMCA.

For each raffle, the coalition plans to sell 700 tickets at $10 a piece. One raffle will award someone a first place prize of two Cardinals green seats and $100 Cardinals Cash for a game of their choosing, based upon availability.

The second place prize in the raffle — which also comes with $100 Cardinals Cash — is four Cardinals box seats also to be chosen by the winner. Luhr Bros, Inc. donated the box seats and Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) donated the green seats.

The other raffle only includes one winner, who will receive  an upright freezer full of assorted Schneider’s meats. One hundred percent of the proceeds from these raffles goes to the coalition.

The coalition will provide pamphlets that explain the Maidez Center — which is the non-profit that incorporates the coalition and other programs — to those who buy raffle tickets.

“We’re trying to get that name out there and the scope of services,” coalition member Chelsea Wesselmann said.

To help sell tickets or buy raffle tickets, contact the Regional Office of Education at 939-5650, or visit the office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tickets are also available at the Republic-Times office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at themaidezcenter.org.