Santarsiero Donates Cost of Living Raise to D.A.R.E.

For the second year in a row, State Rep. Steve Santarsiero has donated his cost-of-living raise to D.A.R.E. programs run by police departments in Newtown and Lower Makefield townships.

Santarsiero on Thursday presented $1,210 to each department to help fund Drug Abuse Resistance Education programs in the Council Rock and Pennsbury school districts.

Lt. Robert Matthews and Sgt. Mark Pentz accepted the donation on behalf of the Newtown Township Police Department. Chief Ken Coluzzi and Officer Michael Pell accepted on behalf of the Lower Makefield Township Police Department

“Finding funding for our community’s D.A.R.E. programs has been a priority for me since I began public service,” Santarsiero said. “Few drug awareness programs boast the return on investment that D.A.R.E. does for our schools. While I’m grateful that my donation will help further its mission, I remain committed to finding permanent sources to pay for an indispensable program in the fight against drug-related crime.

“Not only does D.A.R.E. raise awareness on the streets of our community, but it helps students recognize the danger drugs bring into their schools and, in some cases, into their family lives,” he added. “There is an uncountable number of adults and children whose lives have been touched by D.A.R.E. officers and initiatives.”