NATCHEZ &8212; The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, Greater Macedonia Baptist and New Hope Baptist churches are teaming up, this summer and school year, to raise awareness for children from fourth- to sixth-grade about the dangers of smoking.

Each faith-based organization received a $1,500 from the partnership&8217;s tobacco education program. They&8217;ll use faith-based materials, which incorporate scripture and other faith-based references with tobacco education activities.

The program began in early June with a week-long camp.

Duvalier Malone, grant director for New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, said it was a success.

&8220;I believe that if we can reach children at that age, when they have not yet faced the temptation of using tobacco products, and prevent them from ever using them, we&8217;ve done a good deed,&8221; Malone said.

High school volunteers instructed the program. The volunteers used scripture verses from the Bible and used crafts and activities to show the dangers of tobacco addiction and tobacco use prevention.

&8220;One of the activities, for example, was showing the children the many household products and chemicals that are used in cigarettes,&8221; Malone said.

Malone said the program would continue as a once-a-day program during the school year starting in August.

New Hope will also offer after school tutoring and activities every third Monday from September to May.

&8220;I&8217;m happy the program is being extended because a week wasn&8217;t long enough to equip the children with the proper information about tobacco use,&8221; Malone said.