Following a series of drunk-driving accidents that claimed the lives of several Tarkington-area teenagers, Tarkington VFD instituted the "Forever Changed" program beginning in 2002. Modeled on other anti-drunk driving programs such as "Shattered Lives" and "Shattered Dreams," "Forever Changed" is a two-day program designed to educate students to the reality of drinking and driving.

The first day of the program, every fifteen minutes (representing the frequency of drunk-driving fatalities in the US), pre-selected students are pulled from their class while their "obituary" is read. They change into a "Walking Dead" t-shirt and their faces are painted white. They are not allowed to talk to their classmates for the rest of the day, symbolizing what it would be like should they be killed in a drunk-driving accident.

The major event of the day is the mock accident. The junior and senior classes are brought out to witness a staged accident involving a "drunk" driver. This accident involves several students, fire, emergency medical service, law enforcement, towing company, air medical, and funeral home personal in a scenario that recreates what happens in an actual accident. At least one student is flown by helicopter from the scene and another is pronounced dead and placed into a body bag. Other students are taken away by ground ambulance, while the "drunk" driver is given a field sobriety test and arrested.

Following the accident, the drunk driver is placed on trial.

Following the trial, all of those involved in the accident and the "Walking Dead" go into an all-night retreat, symbolizing what it would be like for their families if they had been actual fatalities. At the retreat, they compose letters to their families of what they would say if they had been killed and had had one last chance to communicate with their loved ones.

The next day, a memorial service is held for those killed and their letters are read. Students then file by an open casket, which gives them a surprise when they look in. A mirror is placed there and they see their own reflection, symbolizing that it could be them in that casket.

In late-2009, Tarkington VFD made an addition to the Forever Changed program. Following a drunk-driving accident that killed two recent Tarkington graduates, the car involved was donated to TVFD.

It will be used at future Forever Changed events and is also available to loan to othe programs. If you would like to use this car, please call (281) 592 - 7800.