Current and prospective volunteers for the B.O.L.D. (Building Our Lives Drug-free) Coalition were invited by staff to an open house in the classroom at Stanley Street Treatment & Resources on January 14, 2009. The event was an occasion to express appreciation to the current volunteers for all of the work that they have done over the past year to make the organization so effective in addressing the problem of substance abuse in Greater Fall River. "We could not do the kinds of things we do without the involvement and dedication of so many in the projects that we have undertaken," noted Program Director Karen Fischer. Projects included reclaiming futures, guiding good choices, smoke-free families, Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol, drug paraphernalia, youth access to alcohol, Parenting Wisely, and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Funded by a  SAMHSA grant, the Coalition has been in operation for five years and will soon be applying for a new five-year grant. Click here to see photos from last year's annual meeting. Click here to see photos of the Good Neighbor Awards for eliminating tobacco sales to minors and drug paraphernalia sales in local stores. For more information about the BOLD Coalition,  contact Program Director Karen Fischer at 508-324-3537.
 

(Top row, left) Karen Fischer welcomes volunteers, prospective volunteers and staff to the open house in the classroom at SSTAR as volunteer Jeremy Clark listens. (Top row, center) Volunteer Donna Stewart talks with BOLD staff member Karin Wood behind some of the literature describing local and substance abuse programs. (Top row, right) Volunteers Barbara Lamonde and Amy Curry talk about their work on the Coalition. (Middle row, left) Staff member Jade Niewenheusen shares a lighter moment with Barbara. (Middle row, center) Volunteer Jim Bartley of the Lower Highlands Historic Downtown Neighborhood Association and a member the Paraphernalia Prevention sub-committee of BOLD, chats with Fall River Tobacco Control coordinator Marilyn Edge and SSTAR Executive Director Nancy Paull. (Middle row, right) Karen Fischer greets volunteer Natalie Grannum. (Bottom row, left) BOLD Coalition's Communication Coordinator Kim Rodrigues chats with Jim Bartley and Alycia. (Bottom row, center)  BOLD Coalition Vice-president Jasiel Correia II talks with new volunteer members of Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) Maille O'Brien and Julia Stachura. (Bottom row, right) Volunteers Chad Wilusz and Maureen Brisson chat.