Free airplane rides for kids Aug. 22
On Saturday, Aug. 22, the St. Cloud Regional Airport will offer free flights for children ages 8-17 from 9 a.m.-noon. Sponsored by Experiment Aircraft Association Chapter 551, the event requires a parental consent form be signed by a legal guardian. For more information, head to youngeagles.org or contact Mark Phillips at [email protected] or 763-516-2510.
Free family classes on mental illness set
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota is offering a free educational course that help families gain a greater understanding of mental illness, discuss resources, build communication skills, reduce stress and find support. The Family-to-Family course meets weekly on Tuesdays for 12 weeks and will start Sept. 8, from 6:30-9 p.m. at Little Falls Drop In Center, 120 E. Broadway, in Little Falls. Advance registration is required; call Jean at 320-532-3829 or Barbara Jean at 320-630-0268.
Catholic Charities to host back-to-school drive
Catholic Charities will accept back-to-school items from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays. This year, Catholic Charities will help well over 2,000 children with the back-to-school supplies they need for those families who are having difficulty making ends meet. Most requested items include the following: pens and pencils, scissors, notebooks and folders, colored pencils, washable markers, dry erase board markers, Elmer’s School Glue and glue sticks, headphones for computer lab, scientific calculators, yellow highlighters, hand sanitizer, large erasers and rulers.
Items may be dropped at Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud to donation door D. Items are accepted from 8 a.m..-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Northstar rail, bus to provide Vikings home games
The Northstar Link commuter rail and bus now offers rides to all pre-season and regular season Minnesota Vikings home games at TCF Bank Stadium.
To get to the game:
• Catch the Northstar Link Bus from St. Cloud or Becker to the Northstar train in Big Lake.
• Ride the train until the end of the line at Target Field Station, where you can make an easy – and free – transfer to a METRO Green Line train for service to TCF Bank Stadium.
• Travel time from St. Cloud to TCF Bank Stadium is just more than two hours. This includes time for fare purchase and transfers. Using public transport will get you to the game in time for some pre-game activities.
For the return trip:
• Ride a westbound METRO Green Line train to Target Field Station. Green line has frequent departures.
• For Saturday 7 p.m. games, a northbound Northstar Rail train will depart Target Field Station 90 minutes after game ends. For Sunday noon games, a northbound train will depart Target Field Station at 4:55 p.m.
• The Northstar Link bus will meet the train in Big Lake and will serve all stops.
Separate fares are required for the Northstar Bus and the Northstar Train. For more information, visit metrotransit.org/ride-northstar-to-vikings.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer for United Way Day of Caring
United Way of Central Minnesota will host Day of Caring on Sept. 24. Day of Caring is designed to bring people together to volunteer on community projects. The day will begin with a kick-off breakfast at United Way’s office from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Volunteers will be provided with a continental breakfast during the kick-off and a free T-shirt (T-shirts can be picked up on Sept. 18 at the United Way office and worn on Day of Caring). This is a great opportunity to volunteer with co-workers, friends, family and service groups for your community. Projects include painting, packaging food, fall clean-up, children’s activities and crafts. Project sign-up will be available through Sept. 11 at unitedwayhelps.org. For more information, contact Mary Krippner, volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991.
Help at the St. Cloud Walk to Defeat ALS
The ALS Association is looking for some enthusiastic people to volunteer for the Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 7:15 a.m.-noon at Eastman Park, Lake George. They need volunteers to help decorate, register participants, give out T-shirts, hand out food, paint faces and take photographs. As a thank you for volunteering, you’ll receive a volunteer T-shirt, snacks and beverages. More importantly, you’ll be an integral part of an event that supports ALS research and helps fund the equipment and services they offer free of charge to people living with ALS and their families. Contact Laura Winterstein, ALS Association, at 888-672-0484.
Go back to school, make a difference
Are you bored at home? Looking for a reason to get up and out of the house? You are needed this school year! Foster Grandparents help children with activities, reinforce learning, help with art projects and more. Adults age 55 and over can receive an hourly tax-free stipend ($2.65/hour), transportation reimbursement and paid training through our program. Schools requesting Foster Grandparents include Discovery, Oak Hill, Oak Ridge (Sartell) and local KidStops. This is a great opportunity if you have time to spare, love to be with children and could use some extra non-taxable income. If interested, call Emily Chaphalkar, Catholic Charities Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent Program, at 320-229-4597.
Serve up coffee and a smile in our Cobblestone Corner Eatery
Serve up a cup of coffee and a smile to Country Manor Campus residents and guests. The Cobblestone Corner Eatery located in their Health Care Center is a great place for individuals who like to meet and greet people. Volunteers serve beverages and prepared food such as sandwiches, salads, pizza, soups and more to their residents, their families and staff. Duties required are to run the cash register (training provided), serve the customers, and keep the area clean and neat. Food is prepared and brought to the eatery. Contact Caitlin Tierney, Country Manor Campus volunteer coordinator, at 320-253-1920.
Mentoring is better together
Two adults can team up to mentor a youth. “Couples” may be a spouse, significant other or close friend. As a Big Couple, the two mentors will be enrolled in the Community Based Program to provide friendship, emotional support and hope to young people with whom they are matched. The volunteers will meet with their Little three to four times a month for 12 months in the Community. Contact Rachel Bogenrief, Big Brothers Big Sisters recruiter, at 320-258-4537.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or [email protected].