Wednesday, May 9, 2012

P2D2 Selected For Siemer Milling Company Grant

Pictured left to right are: Richard Siemer, President of Siemer Milling Co., and Mary Perkins, Renee Tillman, and Michelle Loy, Effingham County 4-H Youth Ambassadors. Teutopolis Press-Dieterich Gazette Posted Oct 12, 2011 @ 09:34 AM of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, announces that the Prescription Pill and Disposal Program (P2D2) was selected as the first grant recipient from the Siemer Milling Company Endowment Fund. P2D2 is a program being coordinated by the Effingham County 4-H Youth Ambassadors (ECYA). The purpose of the P2D2 program is to educate the public about the harm done to the environment, and the misuse and abuse of the pharmaceuticals due to the current prescription and non-prescription drug disposal practices worldwide. The mission of the program is to provide communities with proper disposal methods as well as to improve the quality of water for future generations. ECYA members have identified secure locations throughout Effingham County as collection sites. Local law enforcement officials, Mr. John Loy and the Sheriff's Department, assist with the collection of the disposed medications at the different collection sites. Currently there are seven collection locations including: Effingham Sheriff's office; Effingham Government Center; Teutopolis Village Hall; Altamont Police Department; Altamont Pharmacy; Andes Health Mart; and Heartland Human Services. Deposited drugs are collected on a bi-weekly basis, inventoried, and then picked up by a company that disposes of them by incinerating the drugs and turning them back into energy. Pharmaceuticals accepted include antibiotics, anti-depressants, birth control pills, seizure medication, cholesterol-lowering compounds, suppositories, painkillers, pet medications, vitamins and supplements, homeopathic remedies, and all other prescription and over-the-counter medications. All controlled substances can be returned to the police department. The P2D2 Program was initially developed by a group of kids in Pontiac, Illinois. Their Teacher Paul Ritter (a native of Effingham) was instrumental in starting the program that has now gone nationwide. More information about the P2D2 program can be found on the web site, www.p2d2program.org. The Effingham County Youth Ambassador program was started three years ago to make Effingham County a better place and help 4-H members acquire better leadership skills. The 4-H Ambassadors include Mary Perkins, Michael Meinhart, Michael Goldstein, Abby Westendorf, Paige Logan, Brandon Loy, Alexis Ronan, Ben Esker, Ethan Fitzwilliam, Jessica Goldstein, Jesse Haarman, Rachel Tillman, Renee Tillman, Ellen Schumacher, Paul Schumacher, Hayley Hahn and Abby Wolff. Patti Logan and Chely Loy are the program coordinators. The Siemer Milling Company Endowment Fund was established in 2006 with the purpose to provide funding to area programs that support the development of young leaders. It is a component fund of the Effingham County Community Foundation.

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