PARS Topeka

What age do you think most Shawnee County youth first try alcohol, to***co, or other drugs? Take a guess, then take our quiz to see if you're right: https://parstopeka.org/prevention-education/

Knowing the signs of an overdose can save a life.

Look for:

Slow or stopped breathing
Unresponsive to sound or touch
Faint or no pulse
Tiny pupils
Blue lips or skin
Clammy or pale skin

🚨 If you suspect an overdose, call 911 immediately.

📞 PARS can connect you to local resources: 785-266-8666

We have another incredible donation for our Central Park Block Talk & NIA First Friday Event!

Here We Grow Again Kids Consignment Sale-TOPEKA has generously donated FREE passes to their upcoming sale for EVERY FAMILY who attends our First Friday event and 10 $20 gift cards that we will be giving away!

Accessibility can look like so many things, with this donation it looks like being able to get your child the next size of clothes they suddenly need. A winter coat. Shoes. Baby gear. Toys, books, or something your family needs without having to pay full retail price.

Replacing or even purchasing items for your kids for the first time can put a real strain on a family's budget. Consignment and resale events give families another way to stretch those dollars further, find quality items at more affordable prices, and make household resources go a little further.

If you're a Central Park neighbor, come spend First Friday with us, enjoy an evening together, and grab your free pass!

And even if you aren't joining us at Central Park, we encourage Topeka families to check out the upcoming sale. Supporting events like this helps keep affordable children's clothing, gear, toys, and other necessities circulating within our community instead of making families feel like buying everything brand new is their only option.

Thank you, Here We Grow Again, for investing in our families in such a practical and meaningful way. This is what community partnership can look like: seeing a barrier and helping us remove it.

October is National Substance Use Prevention Month. It’s a time to talk, learn, and take action together. All month long, we're sharing facts, resources, and a few surprises (including a quiz!) to help our community make informed choices. Follow along with us.

💙 Learn more: https://parstopeka.org/prevention-education/

We had an incredible time at our 4th Annual Co****le Tournament at Fairlawn Plaza!

A final and honored thank you so much to all those who came out to play! You make our work so much easier and seeing everyone's smiling faces is truly a highlight of our year. You have all made this September's Recovery Month one to remember.

Thank you!

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Something different we did this year compared to our previous tournaments was that every team had an opportunity to pick different colored shirts. The sea of color that came from that decision took the fun that was had to another level.

Thank you to everyone who made this tournament a reality! We have one more round of photos for you, so stay tuned!

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There are never too many photos when it comes to celebrating how many came out to show support.

Thank you to everyone who came out to join us! We hope you enjoyed the fun, giveaways, and the time spent connecting with our community!

We got a few more rounds of photos to show you and we can't wait!

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A huge thank you to Shively Farms!

Shively Farms generously donated a Family 4-Pack of tickets to their event, and we are so excited to give them away at our upcoming Central Park Block Talk & NIA First Friday.

At Block Talks, we spend a lot of time thinking about what helps neighborhoods thrive. That means bringing people together, making resources more accessible, creating opportunities for civic engagement, building connections, and making sure neighbors have a voice in their community.

It also means creating opportunities for families to have fun, experience new things, and make memories together.

Those experiences can be taken for granted. Time spent together doing something fun can strengthen family relationships, give kids positive experiences to carry with them, create a greater sense of connection and belonging, and give families a chance to enjoy time together. Joy, play, connection, and new experiences are part of individual, family, and community well-being, too.

We know that for many families, the cost of tickets, activities, food, transportation, and everything else that comes with an outing can put experiences like these out of reach. Block Talks work to help open some of those doors by giving families opportunities to explore activities without adding another financial burden. This is all possible thanks to places donating!

Thank you, Shively Farms, for helping a Central Park family have an experience together that they may remember long after the day is over. We are incredibly grateful to have community partners who understand that supporting families can look like resources and services, but it can also look like tickets and opportunities to go make a really great memory together.

Central Park neighbors, make sure you join us for First Friday for your chance to win!

988 is a lifeline for diverse communities, offering support that is inclusive and accessible to all. Gender affirming counselors are available to provide compassionate care tailored to individual needs. Spanish and ASL services ensure accessibility for those who may need it, while interpreters make it possible to offer support in over 240 languages.

Help is always just a call, text, or chat away—because no one should ever feel left behind.

What an amazing day we had at our 4th Annual Co****le Tournament at Fairlawn Plaza! Thank you to everyone who came out to join us! We hope you enjoyed the fun, giveaways, and the time spent connecting with our community!

Stay tuned for more photos!

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