HCSAC to launch Pennies for Prevention substance abuse campaign

Harley Walts was just a teenager when her life changed forever — and it’s all because of the Hood County Substance Abuse Council (HCSAC).

Walts was in the Rancho Brazos Community Centers Crossroads for Youth program (a private, nonprofit treatment agency that serves at-risk children and youth) when the HCSAC impacted her life in a way that she had never felt before.

“The Hood County Substance Abuse Council is how I learned most about prevention, substance use and misuse, and some of the symptoms and dangers,” she explained.

Now, at 22, Walts is the new program coordinator at HCSAC for the Pennies for Prevention campaign — an idea she came up with to provide education on substance use and prevention services to youth in Hood County.

“For me, it’s all about going back to my teenage roots,” she explained. “When I was a teenager and TMAD (Teens Making a Difference) was going on, they were talking to us about these teenagers who want nothing more than to live beyond what their generational cycles have taught them, and honestly for me, that was the biggest thing.

“I come from a family predisposed to poverty, substance use, and domestic violence so for me, personally hearing that there are people who come from the same walks of life and can overcome those generational cycles made an impact on me. And if it made an impact on me, I want to make that same impact for that 14-year-old who is looking at their life saying ‘There's no way I'm gonna get out of this. What do I do?’ I want to be able to throw that lifeline and say, ‘There is a way. Let me help you. Come talk to me. I will figure it out with you.’”

Additionally, with the increase in fentanyl use in Hood County, Walts is motivated to start her youth education as soon as possible.

“Personally, it's hitting close to home, and I want to make sure that Hood County remains and stays a healthy community where children can go outside and play and not have to worry about if they pick something up off the ground and it has something laced in it,” she said. “For me, it's really just trying to connect the Hood County Substance Abuse Council more into the teenagers and into the residents of Hood County.”

Starting Tuesday, Aug. 15 through Friday, Oct. 6 — the week before Red Ribbon Week — Walts will be collecting money for the Pennies for Prevention campaign.

"We’re (launching the campaign in) August because August is Overdose Awareness Month, and August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day,” she said. “We're actually trying to get the square lit up purple as purple is actually the color (for Overdose Awareness Month), so even by someone wearing purple and spreading the word, that's even helping towards that campaign as well.”

Walts said proceeds from the Pennies for Prevention Campaign will go toward family engagement activities for Red Ribbon Week, plus future substance abuse education seminars.

She said she also plans to collaborate with local schools and businesses to display change jars around the buildings.

"At Hood County Substance Abuse Council, we are all about collaborating with local law enforcement, community organizations, youth programs, partner agencies, individuals, and groups to take actions that reduce substance use and misuse in Hood County,” Walts explained. “We want to provide education and prevention services to our youth of Hood County to confront substance use for overall, a healthier community."

She added that although Pennies for Prevention is the name of the campaign, individuals are not limited to only pennies for their donation.

“It's not just pennies; it's just one of those catchy little things that makes you think of money,” Walts said, with a chuckle. “But it can be dollars, it can be online, a check can be mailed, like, whatever. If someone wants to give to it, all they have to do is contact me and we will find a way.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the campaign can email Walts at Harley.WaltsHCSAC@gmail.com.

She added, "(HCSAC) helped me stay on the straight and narrow, so if it helped me, it's got to help another teenager."