Today is the Great American Smokeout, the day when legions of smokers try to kick the habit.

A number of schools and organizations are hosting events and establishing support networks for people trying to snuff their butts for the last time.

Volunteers for the American Cancer Society will distribute free Quit Kits -- care packages to assist people in their attempt to be nicotine-free. The kits -- filled with advice, headless matches and other goodies -- are available at the cancer society's Modesto office at 1604 Ford Ave. and at the following locations:

• Walgreen drugstores on Standiford and McHenry avenues in Modesto, and on Geer Road in Turlock.
• Longs Drugs on Carpenter Road in Modesto.
• Roller King in Modesto.
• Festival Theater in Modesto.
• The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency clinic in Turlock.
• And these bar-restaurants: Minnie's in Modesto, Ridgway's in Modesto and Oakdale and Bleachers in Newman.

The county's Tobacco Education Program will take its anti-tobacco message to Riverbank for a town hall meeting starting at 7 o'clock tonight.

The meeting, at the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe Ave., will give residents the opportunity to talk about tobacco issues that affect their community. Participants also will discuss how tobacco advertising affects youth.

Donna Phillips of the Tobacco Education Program will be a guest on radio station KFIV 1360 AM's "Power Talk" from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tips on quitting will be included in the information she presents. Former smokers also are expected to participate in the discussion.

An anti-tobacco quilt made from tobacco company T-shirts will be on display at the American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop for the rest of the week. Last year, people were invited to trade in their shirts for ones with anti-tobacco messages. The Discovery Shop is at 3440 McHenry Ave. in Modesto.

For more Great American Smokeout information, call the Tobacco Education Program at 558-6053 or the American Cancer Society in Modesto at 524-7242.

Reprinted by permission of the Modesto Bee.