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The Marengo County Community in Action is sponsoring a Drug-Free Kite-Flying Event on Saturday, July, 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Landing.

The director of Community in Action, LaToya Witherspoon, has asked for 100 kites to be used as a behavioral health disparity alternative activity. Caregivers and the target population will spend 4 hours together learning to fly kites. During this time, caregivers will also learn ways to open active communication with their children.

“Along with learning drug-free activities, parents will have the opportunity to implement their learned parenting skills, increase capacity for prosocial behaviors for our community, expose and correct behavioral health disparities, provide opportunities for honest, healthy communication, and learn fun ways to interact,” said Witherspoon.

The event will also double as the launch of the Marengo County’s Strengthening Families Program. It will further the ability of Marengo County to receive other federal and state grants. Professionals will speak with families regarding the program, explaining that activities like this and others will be encouraged along with the program’s educational properties. During this activity, all messages will focus on underage alcohol prevention including information from Talk! They Hear You, an underage drinking prevention campaign.

Organizers will be following CDC guidelines on social distancing and have a limit on how many people can take part. Masks are required for this event.

Admission to the event is free.