Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) — April 7, 2025 — The Jonesboro Police D.A.R.E. Program will host its ninth annual two-mile Color Me DARE Run in late April, which aims to benefit the program.
The free event takes place on April 26 at the Central Baptist Church pavilion, located at 3707 Harrisburg Road. The race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Registration can be done beforehand on the 2025 Color Me DARE Run on Race Roster or the day of, starting at 8 a.m.
T-shirts are also available to purchase, with the deadline to purchase being April 9. The shirts are $15 each through the Elite Graphics website.
Additionally, there will be a bounce house open from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and a Zumba warm-up starting at 9:45 a.m. Participants can stay after the run to enjoy food trucks, face painting, and giveaways.
Jonesboro Police D.A.R.E. Officer Lynae Prater said this is the second year the run has been free. The Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission, Miracle Kids and First Community Bank are sponsoring.
“We would love to have as many people come out as possible,” Prater said. “This is a free event, absolutely everyone is welcome. The event would not be possible without their [the sponsors’] generosity, along with the many other businesses who donate giveaways for our participants.”
The Jonesboro D.A.R.E. Program has been around the Jonesboro area since 1989 and solely runs off donations and sponsorships.
“We go to every school inside of the Jonesboro city limits, which is 11 schools and teach their fifth-grade students,” Prater said. “The DARE program is 10 weeks long and is geared towards teaching the kids to make safe and responsible choices, which range from knowing only to take medications prescribed from the doctor to knowing how to report bullying,” Prater said. “Every single week, we go over situations and use the DARE Decision Making Model which teaches the students to define their situation, asses what choices they have, respond in the best way possible, and then evaluate their decision.”
In addition to teaching the fifth graders, she added that they also receive requests for DARE to participate in events, career, and health fairs across Jonesboro.
“We love to give back to our community that gives so much for us to continue the program for the kids,” Prater said. “It takes approximately $25,000 to run the DARE program which includes a wide variety of items that are needed such as T-shirts for the students, all the books, any weekly prizes/goodies for the students for their good behavior in school and participation, and so much more.”
Visit the Jonesboro DARE Facebook page for updates and information.