Jody Bittrich
Program Director
Moorhead, Minnesota
218-299-7231

Rainbow Bridge Safe Exchange/Visitation Center –
2004 Thoughts and ideas for our Orange Ribbon Campaign

We have a total of seven staff that work in our Visitation Center. Of the seven staff, four are part of the Orange Ribbon Goal Team. All four staff work on the events and activities.

1. Get the local Minor league baseball team to allow you to have a table at some of the games and to comb the parking lot (tailgaters) giving out information, and selling pins.
2. Booth at the mall with orange ribbons & balloons
3. We gained the assistance of a local cheap movie theater to promote one day a week as family movie day, in which all ticket sales would go to our agency and we made pins available for sale.
4. We had board members send letters to their acquaintances asking for a contribution and giving them a pin as her gift to them.
5. Burger & hot dog stand, with ice cream, at grocery stores/gas stations
6. Radio station sponsor (possibility depending upon cost)
7. Orange ribbons in banks
8. Bookmarks in libraries – book readings @ libraries – Barnes & Noble. We use books that we have in our office.
9. Fire stations & businesses such as Cook Sign – use their signs & marquees
10. Radio/TV commercial – some purchased, some Public Service Announcement. PSA's are FREE
11. Human interest story on Fox TV
12. Get permission to distribute sheets w/ribbons on windshields
13. Week long events – luncheon, trainings, etc.
14. Governor & mayoral proclamations
15. Open houses
16. Phone-a-thon (end of May)
17. New huge kick off event to start off with a bang
18. Family Fun Day in the Park. Co-sponsored by the Police Department and the Parks District. Kid ID and the Fire Department will be present. Orange Chalk and Coloring Contest. Focus on Safety!
19. Possible downtown event – VIPS to kick off the event
20. Kidsource – Adventures for Kids to publicize the month to the schools
21. Village Family Magazine – free adult events or an article
22. Churches – newsletters/bulletin inserts
23. Community Picnic at Island Park
24. Free seminars in May
25. Pizza Boxes fliers
26. Placements/napkins
27. Orange ribbon stickers
28. Family fun night
29. Service clubs (go visit & hit them hard)
30. Side panels of milk cartons (Cass Clay Creamery)
31. Parades (participate if there is one)
32. Regional parades
33. Kids coloring contest
34. RedHawks Baseball Games– throw out the first pitch – sponsor night
35. Magnets
36. Pepsi cans (marketing to families on side panel)
37. Get county commissioners and others to attend Open House events
38. St. Paul luncheon with Minnesota legislators
39. Something in schools
40. May is FREE intake month!
41. Have kids color the sides of paper bags for local grocery stores
42. Coloring contests for local daycares to promote Orange Ribbon Month
43. Massive brochure distribution