Lebanon Schools

CAR SHOW TO GIVE MONEY TO DARE

Without more money, the Lebanon Police Department barely would be
able to afford to give the 450 fifth-graders in the anti-drug program
a free pen.

That's why, police said, contributions to Drug Abuse Resistance
Education, such as those made through the efforts of E&E Metal Fab,
have become increasingly important.

E&E is holding a DARE benefit car show Saturday that last year raised
about $4,000 for the program, said Steve and Willie Erb, E&E owners
and sponsors of the event.

When DARE was first offered in Lebanon schools, a grant from the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency paid for officers'
salaries to teach, along with expenses to buy a T-shirt, certificate
and more for the students, said Lt. David Gingrich, one of the
Lebanon DARE officers.

The state gradually has reduced its contribution, from $12,900 in
1999 to $5,200 for 2006-07, which covers only the six officers' time
spent teaching and another $1 per student, he said.

"Every year the funding keeps getting lower and lower. ... Last year
it was $1 a student, which nowadays doesn't get you a pen or a
pencil," Gingrich said.

"It's pretty much bare bones. They give us enough money to try and
get into the schools to do a 45-minute class for 10 weeks," he said.

Police in other municipalities are also experiencing DARE cuts.

A North Lebanon Twp. police spokesman said contributions from
Cornwall-Lebanon School District and businesses such as Wal-Mart help
make up the difference.

"We're always looking at trying to keep the funding up because we
think it's an important program," he said.

The money E&E raised last year allowed purchase of T-shirts, water
bottles, certificates, pens and pencils and stickers for the
students. It also allowed the program to award stuffed DARE lion
mascots to winners of an essay contest and a jacket to one winner per school.

Gingrich said he believes DARE helps kids stay off drugs and out of
trouble and lets them see a different side of police officers -- not
just as officials who arrest people.