Red Ribbon Week is typically a busy time across the tribe in October with parades, dinners, art contests and other events.

The week is designed as an alcohol, tobacco, drug and violence prevention awareness campaign. It is organized by the Seminole Tribe’s Center for Behavioral Health.

This year was greatly toned down – from a week to a few hours on one day – because of the pandemic.

In Hollywood, Bernard Colman, the CBH tribalwide aftercare/prevention administrator, handed out Red Ribbon-themed bags filled with goodies for those who drove their cars by the west entrance of the Betty Mae Jumper Medical Center at 111 W. Coral Way.

Inside one of the cars that came through on Dec. 2 were Anna Doctor and Patrick Doctor Sr. Other vehicles with both residents and employees drove by to pick up bags from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a sunny day.

The national Red Ribbon Campaign is sponsored by the National Family Partnership and is observed across the country. It began in 1985 as a tribute to fallen Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) special agent Enrique Camerena.