Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund Helps Restart D.A.R.E. Program at NCPS, Lourdes

NCCFF Advisory Committee members present a ceremonial grant check for $1,500 to NCPD Officer Casey Fertig. From left to right are: Brad Moyer, FAC Chairperson, Officer Fertig, and Sharon Hersemann, FAC Treasurer. NC-CFF’s donation helped enable the NCPD to get the D.A.R.E. program back in Nebraska City schools.

After a hiatus of two years, the Nebraska City Police Department is pleased to be back in the classrooms working with students through the nationally accredited D.A.R.E. Program. The Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund (NCCFF) is excited to again help fund this worthwhile youth program with a $1,500 grant.

Using its well-researched curriculum, the D.A.R.E. program, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, educates youth about drug and alcohol abuse as well as the dangers of bullying.

The 10-week program is presented in the classroom by Nebraska City Police Officer Casey Fertig, who has been with the department for over two years. Officer Fertig, who is a certified D.A.R.E. officer, said in addition to teaching the students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and bullying, it’s also a great opportunity to enhance the relationship between law enforcement and the community members.

“This is important because some students have only seen the law side of law enforcement, not the community side,” Officer Fertig said.

Brad Moyer, NCCFF Foundation Advisory Committee Chair, expressed his enthusiasm for this worthwhile program and the Foundation’s financial support.

“It’s great to have D.A.R.E. back in our classrooms,” Moyer said. “NCCFF is proud to be a part of making this happen for the Nebraska City students.” He said it is great that the NCPD can dedicate an employee to this task.

“An important side benefit of D.A.R.E. is the bonding among the students with a local law enforcement representative,” he said. “Officer Casey Fertig truly wants to get the information out to these young people about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and the damage bullying can cause. It’s a ‘win-win’ for everyone.”

For 2022 and 2023, Officer Fertig said she will be presenting the D.A.R.E. program to fifth-grade students at Nebraska City Public School and Lourdes Central Catholic School in the spring semester.

“I will also teach D.A.R.E. to the Nebraska City Public School and Lourdes Central Catholic School in the Fall Semester to the eighth-grade students who missed D.A.R.E. in fifth grade,” she said.

All told, over 250 students will receive instruction. Officer Fertig pointed out that after 2023, the D.A.R.E. program will continue to be taught in the fifth grade year, and a meeting will be held to discuss the future of D.A.R.E. in the eighth grade year.

It seems many others in Nebraska City are excited to see D.A.R.E. return to the classroom. In addition to the NCCFF grant, Officer Fertig said she is getting money from the Keno Fund from the Otoe County Commissioners.

In a tremendous show of community support, more than 20 local businesses have donated money or prizes to be given out to students during the 10-week program. The Wirth Foundation is donating funds to bring in a D.A.R.E. keynote speaker, called ‘Retro Bill’, to speak to the students.

The Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund is a local, non-profit organization focused on investing in the people of Nebraska City and inspiring a culture of giving by developing knowledge, skills, leadership and the commitment necessary for community engagement. Since its founding in 2000, NCCFF has invested more than $6 million in the people of Nebraska City. The Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation. Learn more at www.NebraskaCityCommunityFoundation.org or www.facebook.com/NCCFF .

From Nancy Feeney, NCCFF Communications Director via Nebraska City News Press