The Tulsa Health Department Regional Prevention Coordinator Program (RPC) and the Stop DUI Task Force are joining forces to raise awareness about the devastating effects of drunk driving in Tulsa County through the annual Tree of Life holiday display. This year, community members are invited to submit a photo of their loved ones lost due to a drunk driving accident to be included on the ornaments for the Tree of Life, which will be displayed inside Woodland Hills Mall starting in December.

“It’s important to remember that these victims are people, not just numbers,” 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 can have in our community.”

Since 2014, the Tree of Life has served as a poignant reminder of the 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 representation 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 and 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 dropped off at three locations of the Tulsa Health Department during business hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm: James O. Goodwin Health Center, Central Regional Health Center, and North Regional Health and Wellness Center. Photos can be received until December 8, 2023 if submitting digitally or until business hours close if dropping off physically. If submitting digitally, please include the name box with the name of