With the help of a grant from the Cigarette Restitution Fund from the Talbot County Health Department, Eastern Shore Parent has started an anti smoking campaign drawing contest – through November 30th. Local children are encouraged to create artwork with an anti-smoking message as part of the ongoing contest. The drawings are featured on the EasternShoreParent.com web site and facebook fan page throughout the campaign. The contest coincides with the Great American Smoke-out which occurs on Thursday, November18th.

There are some catchy slogans developed by the kids, who have been encouraged to submit their drawings/scans via email to Eastern Shore Parent. Some of them are meant to deter people from smoking around their pets, “Keep tails wagging …Don’t Smoke” The message being that smokers sometimes forgets smoking also harms animals. Another poster exclaimed, “Don’t Smoke or you will be a joke.”

The kids have enjoyed seeing their posters online and have been given a number of rewards for entering, such as a free kids meals from Applebee’s, Milkshakes from Sonic, gift cards for the Easton Bowling Center, gift cards from PageTronics. The contest continues through November 30th.

A grand prize of a $50 Gift Card to the Easton Movie Theatre will be given to one lucky poster submission. You can send your child’s images to mary@easternshoreparent.com or go to www.easternshoreparent.com and click on Cool Cat Contest.

Eastern Shore Parent is online resource for local parent that consist of a website, e-newsletter and Facebook page with Articles, Directory, Resources & Coupons. Junior Jazzercise is a perfect program to get kids active and learn the importance of exercise and health.

Those who are feeling inspired by these young people and would like to quit smoking, the third Thursday in November is The Great American Smoke-out, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Make a pledge to quit for the day and see if you can make it last a lifetime. There are lots of resources to help you here a but a few:

The Talbot County Health Department Cessation Program
Quit Now- a free hotline with real people to help call 1-800-quitnow (1-800-784-8669)
Quit Net- a terrific web-site dedicated to helping you quit
National Cancer Institute web site www.cancer.gov or call 1-800-422-6237
The American Lung Association web site www.lungusa.org/ or call 1-800-586-4872