As an initiative to spread awareness of stopping substance abuse, DECA and Stand Together Make a Difference have introduced Project Purple

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, students are encouraged to wear purple to show support for the cause.

Monique DeLima, BOG treasurer, said that there will be an assembly on Thursday for juniors in which guest speaker Chris Sandy will tell of his battle with alcoholism.

As part of a community service project, DeLima says, “We are trying to empower students, and Project Purple fit perfectly with our project.”

“I think the most important thing is spreading the awareness of substance abuse and to encourage people to make good decisions, not just by saying, ‘Don’t do drugs,’ but by saying that we’re strong enough to not need them,” DeLima says.

The project is associated with the Chris Herren Project. Herren, a former NBA star, spoke to DHS students last year about the dangers of substance abuse.

According to his website: “A national anti-substance abuse initiative, The THP Project Purple Initiative empowers youth to stand up to substance abuse, promotes positive decision making and encourages teens to make a difference.”

Jana Patel, who is also involved with the DECA project, says, “We want to get rid of the stigma placed on DHS students.”

Stand Together Make a Difference — which started the Purple Project — is an outside organization dedicated to educating about the effects of substance abuse, mental health issues, suicide and other public health concerns.

Sarina Gersten, senior, has been devoted to STMAD as a student representative since her freshman year.

On top of the Purple Project, Gersten says that recently STMAD as hosted town hall meetings with a panel of speakers explaining the risk of drugs and a forum to teach freshmen of the dangers.

“I hope that by bringing the project to DHS that this helps people from overdosing,” Gersten says.

In the cafeteria, the group has provided a bulletin board for all who want to participate in #GOpurple contest.

With your purplest outfit and biggest grin, you could be in for a chance to win a Bagelman or Hatter’s Cafe gift card.

To enter the contest, post your pictures on twitter to @DanburyBOG with the hashtag #GOpurple.

Contest winners will be decided at the end of the week.