News and Events
Tobacco Free Partnership and Students Working Against Tobacco Members Attend Back-to-School Health Fair
July 29, 2017
On Saturday July 29, 2017, Students Working Against Tobacco and The Tobacco Free Partnership of DeSoto County participated in the annual Back-to-School Health Fair held by the DeSoto County School Board and DeSoto County Health Department. This event serves as a means for local agencies to provide families within our community with free school supplies. It also serves as a great way to promote services provided to families within DeSoto County. There were over 35 vendors in attendance and a grand total of more than 1000 students who walked away loaded with back to school supplies. |
 Community Health Advocate - Jodie DeLoach, SWAT Advisor - Melissa Mendoza, and SWAT Youth - Myha Mendoza and Aaliyah Rios pause for a quick selfie before distributing school supplies. |
The Back-to-School Health Fair was held in the cafeteria at DeSoto Middle School. Parents and children were lined up outside the gym an hour before the event started waiting for the doors to open. This is an event that surely gets better and better each year.
SWAT Member Myha Mendoza, works diligently to get the supplies to attendees.
The Tobacco Free Partnership (TFP) handed out Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) palm cards with SWAT frisbees and Tobacco Free Partnership Chapstick. There were also pamphlets available for families who wanted more information about the dangers of second hand smoke. In addition to giveaways, both TFP and SWAT had sign-up sheets available for individuals wanting more information about what we do as an organization.
The families that visited our booth were not only receptive of the information they received about tobacco use and its consequences, but they were also very appreciate of the supplies given. We had numerous individuals sign up to receive more information from our organization, and while there were a few individuals uninterested in what we had to offer, overall we felt welcomed by the families in attendance. We will continue to work on changing the social norms amongst our rural community and gain a positive presence within DeSoto County.
Anyone interested in assisting in creating a healthier DeSoto County is encouraged to attend one of our quarterly Tobacco Free Partnership Meetings. More information is available by visiting our website at https://tfp-desoto.org/ or by emailing the Partnership at info@tfp-desoto.org.
