St. Joseph Farmers’ Market held Friday at Resurrection
The St. Joseph Farmers’ Market will be held again from 3-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 in the fellowship hall of Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. The Feb. 19 market will feature plenty of locally produced goods from local vendors. For more information, head to www.stjosephfarmersmarket.com.
Free family course on mental illnesses offered in Sartell
Do you have a family member living with a mental illness? National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota is offering a free educational course that helps families gain a greater understanding of mental illness, discuss resources, build communication skills, reduce stress and find support from 6:30-9 p.m. starting Wednesday, March 2 at Unity Spiritual Center, 931 Fifth Ave. N., Sartell. Registration is required. More than 3,000 Minnesota families have benefited from this course. Join others for this series taught by family members who have walked the walk. The Family-to-Family course will meet weekly in Sartell for 12 weeks. The course starts Wednesday, March 2, from 6:30-9 p.m., at Unity Spiritual Center, 931 Fifth Ave. N. Registration is required. To register, please call Chuck at 320-290-7713 or Sanda at 320-249-2560.
Minority student scholarship now accepting applications
Applications for the 2016-17 academic year are now being accepted. The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship is available to minority students from union families attending or planning to attend one of the 31 technical colleges, community colleges and/or state universities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
To be eligible, a scholarship applicant must be a racial minority and a union member or be the child, grandchild or spouse of a union member. Scholarships are awarded to both full-time and part-time students who will be attending a MnSCU tech or community college or state university in the fall of 2016.
Scholarship amounts are for the following: $1,200 for full-time students (12 or more credits undergraduate or six credits or more graduate) or $500 for part-time students (six-11 credits undergraduate work).
Scholarships are given each year to students who enroll in two- or four-year undergraduate or graduate programs. Scholarships may be renewed for up to two years for community or technical college programs, up to four years for students working toward a bachelor’s degree, and two years for those enrolled in a master’s program.
Applications and additional information about the scholarship are available online at http://www.nelliestone.org or by calling: 866-738-5238 toll free or 651-738-1404.
Applications must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2016 to be considered.
Sartell police host coffee with a cop
Coffee with a Cop will be hosted from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at Liquid Assets Coffee Shop, 1091 Second St. S., Ste. #600, Sartell. Hosted by the Sartell Police Department and Metro Citizens Police Academy, the event doesn’t have an agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in your neighborhood. Contact 320-230-2433 for additional information.
SCSU to host Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter: Perspectives from Minnesota’s activists and organizers will be held at noon Wednesday, Feb. 24 in Atwood Theatre at St. Cloud State University. Black Lives Matter emerged in 2012 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the murder of Treyvon Martin as a call to action and a response to the systemic and institutionalized racism that devalues and dehumanizes Black lives and people in America. Today, Black Lives Matter is a national, chapter-based organization that works for the validity of Black life and to (re)build the Black liberation movement through a variety of methods and campaigns. This event is a panel discussion by regional Black Lives Matter activists and organizers Lena Katherine Gardner, Luna Gebriel and Kandace Montgomery as they discuss the movement and their work. The noon-hour lecture series put on by the SCSU Women’s Center brings diverse women and programming to the university to cover political, social, legal and economic issues affecting women’s lives. Admission is free and open to the public.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Man Up Minnesota; become a Big Brother
Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking to recruit 100 Men in 100 days. By April 9, the organization needs 100 men to volunteer as Big Brothers. There are currently 80+ boys on their waiting list with the majority of them who want and need a male mentor in their life. The number continues to grow. Guys, they are asking you to Man Up and be a mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters is not minimizing the powerful role women play as role models. In fact, women make up approximately 65 percent of the active matches in Central Minnesota and more than 75 percent of prospective volunteers are women. We hope you will join us in asking your male friends, associates and family members, to “Man up.” Contact Rachel Johnson, Big Brothers Big Sisters recruiter, at 320-258-4537.
Foster Grandparent Program seeks volunteers
The Foster Grandparent Program, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud, is looking for volunteers ages 55 and older to mentor children. Volunteers are needed in St. Cloud area Schools District 742, elementary schools in Paynesville, Journey Home daycare (working with infants and toddlers), the St. Cloud Children’s Home (working with teens) and several after-school programs. Foster Grandparent volunteers might help students with a reading assignment, work with a small group on a craft or help kids cook an evening meal. An hourly stipend, transportation reimbursement, and paid training are included. Contact Emily Chaphalkar, Catholic Charities Foster Grandparents, at 320-229-4597.
Minnesota Senior Games seeks volunteers for May
More than 500 athletes 50 years of age and older will compete in 20-plus different sporting events May 19-22 in St. Cloud. Dedicated volunteers will be needed at a variety of events during the games. Each volunteer shift will run approximately three-four hours. Positions include athlete check in, scorekeeping, staff assistant, hospitality and more. Each volunteer will receive a 2016 Minnesota Senior Games T-shirt. Contact Jennifer, RSVP, at 320-650-3119 or rsvp.msg@ci.stcloud.mn.us.
Fine arts assistants sought
Teach WACOSA’s clients age-appropriate, creative stimulation and varied artistic skills. These may be skill-building classes or classes to teach the clients about a particular fine arts medium through a specific project. Previous volunteers have featured dance classes, photography, painting, music and poetry. This volunteer position is available from 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 320 Sundial Drive, Waite Park and 712 Lincoln Loop, Sauk Centre, Minn.. Contact Andrea Harrell, WACOSA at 320-257-5188 or aharrell@wacosa.org.
Place of Hope lists donation needs
Place of Hope provides transitional housing and supportive services for women with children with the goals of providing stability and obtaining permanent safe housing. The following donations are needed to help clients on an ongoing base: deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushs and toothpaste, first-aid items, notebooks and pens, feminine products, combs/brushes, facial tissues and small toys for children. Visit www.placeofhopeministries.org to view a complete listing. Donations can be dropped off at Place of Hope, 511 Ninth Ave. N, St. Cloud 56303, door #4 ramp. Contact Place of Hope by email: hope@placeofhopeministries.org.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or Mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
