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ROCKAWAY, NJ – Employees and family members of Picatinny Arsenal attend a “movie night” at the AMC Theaters as part of this year’s annual Red Ribbon Campaign.
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PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ – Picatinny Arsenal officials observed Red Ribbon Week from October 21 to 25 with several anti-drug awareness activities and events for employees and families, including one that installation officials had never done before: a family movie night at a nearby movie theater.
“Red Ribbon Week, an initiative that advocates against drug and alcohol use disorders, has always emphasized the importance of finding healthy, alternative ways to cope with life’s challenges,” said Amy Gopel, alcohol and substance abuse program manager Picatinny Arsenal and Coordinator of the Employee Assistance Program. .
PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ – A health and wellness fair was held at the Lindner Conference Center in Picatinny this year as part of the Red Ribbon Week campaign.
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“While Red Ribbon Week is an annual campaign, our goal is to make it something much more meaningful,” Gopel said. “We held picnics, wore red, participated in the annual Trunk or Treat and hosted more than 50 vendors at our Health and Wellness Fair, but perhaps the most heartwarming moment was our ‘Goonies’ Family Movie Night.
The theme of this year’s Red Ribbon Week campaign was “Life is a Movie.”
“It encourages us to spend quality, drug- and alcohol-free time together, sharing memories and making new ones,” Gopel said. “The Goonies, a beloved ’80s adventure film about friendship and courage, is the perfect way to do just that!”
ROCKAWAY, NJ – The Goonies movie was shown for free to Picatinny employees and family members on October 24 during an evening showing at the nearby AMC Movie Theater in the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.
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The Goonies film was shown for free to Picatinny employees and family members on October 24 during an evening showing at the nearby AMC movie theater in the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.
“Nearly 100 members of the Picatinny community and their families came together, some rewatching, some seeing it for the first time, but all sharing in the joy of a nostalgic classic,” she said. “As we sat in the back, we were fortunate to hear the laughter and giggles of families enjoying each other’s company – moments that were only possible through our collective efforts over the years.”
Earlier this year, Gopel was recognized as Picatinny’s first female recipient of the Stalwart Award, which was approved by the Secretary of the Army in 2003 to recognize individuals from the U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) who have demonstrated the highest standards of performance. contributed to the success and responsibilities of the command.
In her role, Gopel oversees a division focused on suicide prevention, employee assistance, preparedness and resilience, drug testing, leadership development, inclusion and workplace cohesion.
The installation’s annual Red Ribbon Campaign is one facet of the program that Gopel, along with her colleague Kristina William, tirelessly supports. The innovative new ideas and approaches that Gopel presents are inspired by one of the world’s most famous civil rights activists and poets, the late Maya Angelou.
‘As Maya Angelou so beautifully said: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ Our desire is that our office remains a safe place where community members feel good and connected. Thank you to everyone who joined, participated, and helped build our community. It may be a small effort, but as we know, even a small community can make a big difference, step by step.”
PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ – Amy Gopel, Picatinny Arsenal Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program Manager and Employee Assistance Program Coordinator (left) and Kristina Williams, Picatinny Arsenal Drug Testing Program Coordinator (right) at the installation’s Health and Wellness Fair.
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The Red Ribbon Campaign originated in 1985, when Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a Marine Corps veteran and police officer turned Drug Enforcement Administration agent, was murdered by drug traffickers in Guadalajara, Mexico.
In 1990, the Department of Defense officially began observing Red Ribbon Week to raise public awareness and mobilize communities to combat tobacco, alcohol, and drug use among military personnel, civilians, and their families.
Employees who believe they may have an alcohol or drug addiction should contact Gopel at 973-724-4357 or for a referral. All showings are confidential.