Just a few months ago the Drug Free Communities of Dallas County was founded from a $625,000 grant given to the Dallas County Children’s Policy Council from the office of President Obama to address drug usage, especially among young people.

“We received the grant, but now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Our main goal is to have all of the community members that are present to get involved,” said Jerria Martin, director for Drug Free Communities of Dallas County. “I’m just so excited to be kicking this off.”

Martin and other community members held a pep rally at Selma High School last month to announce the grant and let the students and teachers know about the program. But now, Martin said it’s time to put the money to use and start working in the city.

“The grant is for building up our community to target drug abuse and substance abuse in our communities,” Martin said. “Short term is just getting the community to buy into the program. Folks are ready to participate, they’re ready to be involved and they are ready for a transformed Selma.”

The Arsenal Place was pack Tuesday with people from health care, public safety, education, parents and others to see what they could do to help.

The program will consist of four different committees that volunteers can choose to be a part of. The committees are youth engagement, business community relations, public relations and media and public safety and public health.

Those involved in the program will work with a group to come up with ideas and campaigns to further the program and get more involved in the city.

“We want to end this drug problem in Dallas County once and for all,” Martin said to the crowd of people.

Captain Mike Granthum with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department said he was excited to hear about the grant.

“This is money that is well-needed in our community because the funds just aren’t here in Dallas County to get programs started. This is a big step in the right direction,” Granthum said. “Dallas County has a big drug problem. When we think of drugs we think of crack, we think of marijuana, cocaine, but our alcohol rate here is unbelievable. The root of our drug problem is the root of a lot of our crime.”

For more information about the program, visit dccpc.net.