For Immediate Release – May 9, 2013
(HUGUENOT, NY) – The Town of Deerpark Police Department D.A.R.E. program is seeking contributions from businesses and individuals to fund various aspects of the program. A letter was sent out by D.A.R.E. police officer Frank McGrath requesting donations. This is the first year that the Town of Deerpark is participating in the program coordinating their efforts at the Hamilton Bicentennial School in Cuddebackville. In years past, the program was solely handled by the City of Port Jervis Police Department, which is now running the program at the Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School. The program is taught to students in 5th grade.
“We are so happy to coordinate the D.A.R.E. program at Hamilton Bicentennial this year,” said Deerpark Supervisor Karl A. Brabenec. “It is critically important to teach our youth about the dangers of drug addiction and illegal gang activity. We hope that with your help, we can reach as many students as possible to help keep them on the right path to a successful and prosperous future.”
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is an international education program that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior. Students who enter the program sign a pledge not to use drugs or join gangs and are taught by local police officers about the dangers of drug use in an interactive in-school curriculum which lasts ten weeks. The D.A.R.E. program is not state or locally funded through taxpayer dollars, so therefore all of the students’ education materials, graduation ceremony/festivities and end of the year D.A.R.E. dance are solely funded through donations raised throughout the year.
Contributions can be made at or sent to the Deerpark Town Clerk’s office, 420 US Route 209, PO Box 621, Huguenot, NY 12746. Please make checks payable to the Town of Deerpark and write D.A.R.E. program in the note section of the check. All contributions are tax deductible. For more information, please contact the Deerpark Town Clerk’s office at 845-856-2210, ext. 2 or Officer Frank McGrath at 845-858-4529.
