GREENVILLE – On Sunday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. the East Main Church of Christ, located at 419 East Main Street in Greenville, will be having “The Pillowcase Project” program presented by Sandra Dunn from the Darke County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

After this presentation, designed for children, there will be a brief time for pizza and games before dismissing around 6:15 p.m.

The Pillowcase Project, designed originally in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and since implemented by several other Red Cross chapters, teaches elementary school students emergency preparedness and coping skills. The program was inspired by students who carried their valuables in pillowcases when they were evacuated for Katrina.

Part of the presentation has children decorating pillowcases. The project seeks to emphasize the importance of community measures and proactive households by providing students with information and tools to better handle stressful events. It teaches students about being prepared for emergencies such as home fires and tornadoes while also helping them build basic coping skills to handle anxiety in emergencies of all kinds.

Students will be given the tools and information to help their families create an Emergency Communications Plan, Emergency Contact Cards, Home Fire Escape Plan and a Home Emergency Supplies Kit. Through this comprehensive program, the Red Cross seeks to increase individual, family and community preparedness and resilience.

While the presentation has been adapted to focus specifically on students in grades 3-5, children from 1st to 6th grade are welcome to attend the presentation at East Main. It is asked that those who will be attending please RSVP by calling the church at 937-547-1557 by Thursday, Oct. 8.