Orange County Community Youth Foundation is starting a project to pass out coloring books at Throop and Paoli High School to bring awareness about mental health and substance misuse. The Youth Council is a foundation composed of members who perform philanthropy around the community. Forty-six junior high and high school students from the three county schools and 15 students at PHS are active in the council.

The coloring books will include empowering and positive messages. Coloring books and crayons will be handed out to every Throop Elementary student, and a limited number will be available to Paoli High School students (along with other Orange County schools). Youth Council members from each school will determine the distribution method for high school students.
Due to the funds available to Orange County Commissioners from the National Opioid Settlement, the Orange County Community Foundation Youth Council (OCCFYC) was granted money to start a project focused on the youth in our county. The Youth Council decided to use the funds to pass out these coloring books.

“I’m so happy that the grant went through! The opioid epidemic and mental health issues within the school need to be talked about in order to combat the issue. These books may be a small way to comfort students in need,” said Youth Council Vice President Olivia McSpadden.

You can expect coloring books to be released sometime in January. Keep an eye out for coloring books in your classroom soon.