Place of Hope to host Have a Heart Feb. 13
Place of Hope Ministries will host a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. Doors open at 6 p.m. Highlights of this year’s concert are New York soprano Angela Christine Smith, the group Dancing for Jesus which is directed by Jenni West and pastor, songwriter and worship leader Pastor Carol Jean Smith. Tickets are available in advance as well as at the door at Calvary, or by calling 320-251-4825. Proceeds from the event help Place of Hope provide food, shelter and long-term life solutions to those in need in central Minnesota. For more information, visit www.placeofhopeministries.org.
Car-seat events offer free checks
Make sure your children and grandchildren travel safely in your vehicle. Have car seats checked for correct installation from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, March 16 or April 20 at the Gold Cross Ambulance Garage, 2800 Seventh St. N, St. Cloud. The goal of the car seat check is to: demonstrate how to install your car seat properly every time; check to make sure you can install the car seat correctly yourself; and provide you with education and knowledge to protect your child. A car-seat check is encouraged for those with children ages 12 and younger, including those in booster seats. All appointments are free. Call 320-320-656-7021 to make an appointment. We ask you have the car seat installed to the best of your ability before coming to the car-seat checkup event. Also, it is recommended that you bring the following to your appointment: the manual for your car seat; the manual for your vehicle; and if possible, the infant/child who will use the car seat.
Free tax-prep sites now open across Minnesota
Income tax season is in full swing and free-tax preparation sites are open across Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Revenue recently announced there are more than 240 sites across the state offering free tax assistance to those filing their income tax and property tax-refund returns.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and AARP Tax-Aide are two free tax-preparation programs where volunteers help taxpayers prepare their federal and state income and property tax returns in communities throughout Minnesota.
To receive free help from a VITA site, you must meet one of these four qualifications: be age 60 or older, have a disability, speak limited or no English and/or have annual income of $54,000 or less.
The AARP Tax-Aide program offers free tax preparation for all taxpayers, particularly those who are age 60 or older. AARP Tax-Aide sites do not have income or age restrictions.
All volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service and will only prepare basic tax returns.
“There are hundreds of IRS-certified volunteers ready to help taxpayers accurately file their taxes,” said Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly. “They can even help identify the refundable credits taxpayers may qualify for. I encourage those who qualify to take advantage of these free filing services.”
The sites are generally open now through April 15. To find a local site, hours and dates, and a complete list of items to bring when visiting a site, visit the department’s website. You can search for a site by zip code or county, as well as sites with language interpreters and volunteers certified to complete military returns. Taxpayers can also call 651-297-3724 or 1-800-657-3989 to search for a site by phone.
Monastery to host nun banquet Feb. 12
A nun banquet supporting Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity will be held from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at St. Benedict’s Monastery Dining Room, 104 Chapel Lane, St. Joseph (enter in the Sacred Heart Chapel Gathering Place.) Dinner includes meatless soups/chili, bread and cookies. This is a ticketed event. For more information, call 320-363-7100 or visit www.sbm.osb.org.
History museum to host author Morgan Feb. 16
Bill Morgan will speak on how he used buildings and their histories to write an autobiography titled, Salt Lantern: Traces of an American Family at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Stearns History Museum. He will also share his experiences teaching family history at SCSU. Free. Open to the public. www.stearns-museum.org.
‘Selma’ to be shown free Feb. 18 at St. Cloud Hospital
In honor of Black History Month, the film “Selma” will be shown free at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 in Hoppe Auditorium at St. Cloud Hospital. The film chronicles the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., in 1965.
This and other films in the Cultural Café Film Festival sponsored by CentraCare Health’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee are hand-picked for their relevance to cultural issues in the community.
Free parking is available in the north visitor lot on the hospital campus. Use the north entrance, walk to the Lakes elevator, take the elevator to A Level and follow signs to Hoppe Auditorium.
Attendees may enter a drawing for a door prize.
Explore the iPad Feb. 17 at Ridgeview
Join other Boomers and Zoomers (55+) from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Ridgeview Place Assisted Living, 1009 10th Ave. NE, Sauk Rapids. Laura Mackenthun, district technology integrationist, will help you maneuver on your iPad and/or have one available for you to use. You will work in small groups or one-on-one to explore what iPads have to offer. Bring your own or we will have limited iPads ready for you to use. There is no fee to attend, but register in advance by calling Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education at 320-258-1577 so we can plan for refreshments. Bring a friend and explore the iPad.
Master gardeners to offer Feb. 20 class
Stearns County Master Gardeners are offering, Gardening Knowledge for Free, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Check-in is at 8 a.m. Advanced registration is necessary; registration is limited. Coffee and rolls will be available for a free-will donation. To register, visit z.umn.edu/GKFF, email mnext-stearns@umn.edu; or call 320-255-6169.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Junior Achievement seeks volunteers
Each year, Junior Achievement in the St. Cloud area partners with community volunteers to deliver programs to local classrooms in our schools. By sharing their personal and professional experiences and skills, volunteers help students make the connection between what they are learning in school and what they will need to succeed in work and life. The time commitment is minimal, scheduling is flexible and training is provided. Depending on the age of the students, volunteers make between five and seven visits to their classroom. Each visit lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. Volunteers select a local classroom in which they want to work and are provided a packet of materials, which contains detailed lesson plans and hands-on activities to engage the students. As a volunteer you will help local students learn the value of controlling their own financial future, while they acquire the important life skills of communication, teamwork, critical thinking and decision making. Contact Alli Nepsund, Junior Achievement, at 320-310-2165.
Sewing instructor
Hands Across the World provides the first learning opportunity to newly arrived immigrants who do not have language or living skills necessary to thrive in our community. In a classroom environment, they help children and parents acquire tools needed to become an integrated citizen of Central Minnesota. They are seeking volunteers to instruct students on how to use an industrial sewing machine to gain skills for employment. It’s important to us at Hands. Sewing instructors are needed on Tuesday and Thursday from noon- 2:30 p.m. Contact Brianda Cediel, Hands Across the World executive director, at 320-260-1072 or info@handsacrosstheworldmn.org.
Golf cart drivers
St. Cloud VA needs volunteers to drive golf carts or a van to shuttle veterans and visitors to and from the parking lots. Shifts available to volunteer are 8 a.m.-noon or noon to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Contact St. Cloud VA Health Care System at 320 255-6365 or vhastcvavsstaff@va.gov.
Working with kids
Find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you and get in on the action. Central Minnesota Youth for Christ is always in need of caring, mature adults to meet with teens they serve in a variety of roles. Volunteers must go through a screening process and attend an on-going training to help volunteers remain effective in their role. Contact Scott Anderson, Central Minnesota Youth for Christ executive director, at 320-251-8711 or scotta@cmyfc.org.
Reading buddy at Roosevelt Boys, Girls Club
Help a child read and volunteer in the Super Readers program. A volunteer is needed to listen to children read on a one-to-one basis, spending 10 minutes per child. Volunteers must be patient and comfortable working in an active environment; however reading does take place in a quiet space. Reading takes place from 3-5 p.m. Thursdays during the summer months (busiest time 3-4 p.m.) and from 4-6 p.m. during the academic year. Volunteers must be able to relate well with children in a group environment, participate as an active team member with staff and other volunteers, and abide by volunteer policies. Boys and Girls Club requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours over a three-month period. Volunteers will need to go through an enrollment process (includes orientation). All volunteers are asked to complete a criminal background check before their first volunteer experience. Apply by website at www.bgcmn.org. Contact Bethany Theisen, volunteer coordinator, at 320-257-5115 or btheisen@bgcmn.org.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
