Photo by The Wandering Brit

Are sagging pants a problem worth addressing? Some community leaders in Prince George’s County seem to think so, reports the Washington Times, and they’ve been running a belt drive that will last through November to provide young residents the means to hoist up their pants a bit:

As part of the first Pull ‘Em Up campaign, the Take Charge Foundation program is leading a belt drive at 13 locations across the county where people can donate new or gently used belts that will be used to make students’ pants sit at their waists.

Take Charge Executive Director Jerrod Mustaf said the goal of the belt drive is to “modify the culture of young people who believe it’s cool to wear the pants that are sagging.”

“When we look at positive role models in our community, you don’t see any positive men dressing like this,” Mr. Mustaf said. “That should tell you something.”

Prince George’s County certainly isn’t the first place in the country to fight sagging pants—in 2005, Virginia legislators debated fining people who showed their underwear $50. (The proposal never went anywhere.) In 2007, Dallas launched a campaign against sagging pants, which went national when it received Dr. Phil’s endorsement.

While campaigning in 2008, President Obama said that sagging pants shouldn’t be at the top of anyone’s agenda: “Any public officials who is worrying about sagging pants probably needs to spend some time focusing on real problems out there.” Still, he interjected: “Having said that, brothers should pull up there pants.”

The organizers of the belt drive hope to collect 500 belts by November.