The Tulsa Health Department’s Regional Prevention Coordinator Program (RPC) and the Stop DUI Task Force are working together to raise awareness of the devastating effects of drunk driving in Tulsa County through the annual Tree of Life holiday display. This year, the community is invited to submit a photo of their loved ones lost due to a drunk driving incident to be included on the ornaments for the Tree of Life, which will be displayed inside Woodland Hills Mall beginning in December.
“It’s important to remember that behind every statistic is a person,” said Kandice Lawson, Prevention Specialist at the Tulsa Health Department. “Giving a face to the lives lost due to drunk driving can help us truly understand the impact that alcohol abuse has on our community.”
The Tree of Life has been an annual reminder since 2014 of the number of Tulsa County families who are missing a loved one during the winter holiday season due to a drunk driving accident. The tree features wrapped gifts as a symbolic reminder of the gifts that won’t be opened this year due to a family member who is no longer here. The number of gifts corresponds to the number of lives lost in Tulsa County due to drunk driving.
Visitors to Woodland Hills Mall can sign a pledge card near the Tree of Life to make a personal commitment to abstain from drinking and driving. People who consume alcohol should do so responsibly and make a plan for a sober driver or use a ride-sharing service. Photos can be submitted digitally through the Tulsa Health Department website, or physically dropped off at three locations of the Tulsa Health Department between now and December 8, 2023. If submitting digitally, please include