Envision St. Joseph open house/workshop set March 8
A community open house/workshop to Envision St. Joseph and update the comprehensive plan will be held Wednesday, March 8 at the St. Joseph Government Center, 75 Callaway St. E. An open house will be held from 5:30-6 p.m.; the community workshop will be from 6-8 p.m. Help shape the future of St. Joseph. Your participation is key to creating a great plan for St. Joseph. Check out www.EnvisionStJoseph.org to learn more.
Community Showcase set Feb. 25 at SMS
The 12th annual Community Showcase, entitled Sartell’s Red Carpet and sponsored by the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Sartell Middle School, 627 Third Ave. N. This family-friendly event introduces community members to Sartell area businesses. It will feature business booths, kids’ activities, entertainment and demonstrations for the whole family. For more information, visit sartellchamber.com.
Newsleader announces Valentine’s match-up winner
Congratulations to Stacey Rauch of St. Joseph who won the Newsleader Valentine’s romantice evening for two by completing the Romantic quotes fill-in- the-blank reader contest. Thank you to all who participated.
Newsleader seeks Sartell-specific photos
Hey amateur photographers! We are looking for our readers to submit your favorite town-specific candids/action shots for a chance to appear in our bi-annual resource guides. You can email your photos to advertising@thenewsleaders.com and be sure to include your first and last name and phone number. Please include as much information about the photo as possible, for example date, location, and first and last names of everyone in the photo listed from left to right.
Newsleader seeks St. Joseph-specific photos
Hey amateur photographers! We are looking for our readers to submit your favorite town-specific candids/action shots for a chance to appear in our annual resource guides. You can email your photos to advertising@thenewsleaders.com and be sure to include your first and last name and phone number. Please include as much information about the photo as possible, for example date, location, and first and last names of everyone in the photo listed from left to right.
Senior citizens can attend activities free
Senior citizens are invited to come free of charge to any and all Sartell-St. Stephen High School games, concerts, plays and other activities. Anyone age 65 or older can attend free. To find out what’s happening, go to the school district’s website at www.sartell.k12.mn.us, click on “Athletics and Activities,” then click on “Schedules.”
Country Manor nurtures friendships
Special friendships can be nurtured by visiting with residents at Country Manor in Sartell. Volunteers can visit residents in their rooms, the lounge, by the aviary in the lobby or outside by the gardens or ponds, weather permitting. The residents always have very interesting stories to share, and volunteers can learn much about the generation that matured decades ago. For more, contact volunteer coordinator Caitlin Tierney at 320-253-1920.
Free legal help offered to senior
Free legal services for seniors residing in Stearns County are available through an Older Americans Act grant from the Central Minnesota Council on Aging. The service provides legal advice, counseling and representation in court and administrative hearings. The St. Cloud office of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is providing the services. Call toll-free at 1-888-360-2889 to schedule an appointment.
If you are 60 years or older and reside in Stearns County, you can get help with legal problems involving Medicare, Social Security, eviction or other housing problems, public benefits, such as medical assistance, food support and fuel assistance, family law issues, including domestic abuse and income maintenance, nursing-home problems, home-care services, powers of attorney, health-care directives and debt collection. NO help is provided for criminal matters, wills, estate planning or real-estate transactions.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid accepts contributions for the legal services, but contributions are not required to receive legal help.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
VA Memory Care Unit
The St. Cloud VA Health Care System is in need of volunteers to attend Catholic Mass with veterans residing in the Memory Care Unit. Volunteers must be able to push a wheelchair and are needed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The St. Cloud VA is dedicated to providing exceptional health care to service men and women; join their team and honor our nation’s veterans today. Please call the Voluntary Service office at 320-255-6365 or email vhastcvavsstaff@va.gov.
STEP Force – Emergency Trauma Center
Volunteers provide a friendly caring walking escort or wheelchair transport for patients and guests throughout the facility. Volunteers work as a team to complete errands and deliver flowers, mail and packages to patients at St. Cloud Hospital. Volunteers enhance a positive patient-care environment to provide a superior patient experience. Volunteers are needed from 6 a.m. to midnight Saturday-Sunday. Visit www.centracare.com/volunteer or 320-255-5638 or email volunteer@centracare.com.
Filing volunteers wanted
Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity? Country Manor Campus is looking for volunteers to help out in their business office with filing and clerical duties. The commitment is once per week for a period of one to three hours. Times and day of the week are flexible. Contact Caitlin, Country Manor Campus volunteer services, at 320-253-1920.
Become a Foster Grandparent – a joyful, rewarding experience
Are you looking for more positive interactions in the New Year? Consider joining the Foster Grandparent Program for a joyful and rewarding experience, and mentor youth in our community. The Foster Grandparent Program, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud, is looking for volunteers aged 55 and older to mentor children. Volunteers are needed in schools in District 742, Cold Spring and Avon, as well as after-school programs. An hourly stipend, transportation reimbursement and paid training are included. Contact Emily Chaphalkar, Catholic Charities Foster Grandparent Program, at 320-229-4597.
Math, Reading Corp seeks volunteers
Minnesota Math Corp and Minnesota Reading Corp place and train tutors to provide support for students who are struggling with reading or math skills. For teachers, regularly delivering individualized, one-on-one instruction can be difficult, if not impossible. That is where their programs come into play. Since their tutors are focused solely on providing reading or math support, they can target instruction and dedicate the time needed for each student. Tutors commit to a year of AmeriCorps service, receive rigorous training and ongoing support throughout the year from literacy or math coaches, and use assessments to ensure their efforts produce the desired results – helping children achieve grade-level reading or math proficiency. Contact Abby Fragodt, recruiter, at 320-247-5516 or abby.fragodt@servetogrow.org.
Change your life – become a hospice volunteer
Do you enjoy visiting with other people? Kind people like you are needed to provide companionship to hospice patients in Central Minnesota. St. Croix Hospice companions visit patients and families and offer emotional support as a part of their hospice team. Visiting may involve talking with patients and families, reading to patients or participating in activities with them. Visiting times are flexible and are individualized to patients and volunteers’ schedules. Training is provided as well as ongoing support from their dedicated hospice team. Contact Jen Lahmann, St. Croix Hospice volunteer coordinator, at 855-278-2764.
Volunteer anytime
Place of Hope needs volunteers anytime. Volunteers are needed on a regular basis for their on-going Homeless Hospitality Outreach, Nightly Community Meal, Residential Living Hope Program and the Thrift and Specialty Shop. You can find the volunteer application under the Contact Us tab, under downloads. Visit www.placeofhopeministries.org for more information.
Sixth Avenue Bistro
CentraCare Health is looking for volunteers to perform tasks, assist staff in the Bistro making it a positive place to dine for the patients and his/her family and friends. Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Contact Megan Richert, CentraCare Health, at 320-255-5638 or volunteer@centacare.com.
Early Childhood assistants
Hands Across the World is a nonprofit organization that provides classroom instruction in ESL and other skills for immigrant and refugee newcomers to St. Cloud. They are in need of assistants to help the early childhood-program teacher in the classroom. Their goal is to give the children the love and attention they need while they help them learn English and adjust to life in St. Cloud through activities and games. Parents are considered the primary caregivers, and will be responsible for changing diapers and feeding; the volunteers will help the director supervise and carry out activities for the children. If you have worked or plan to work in education or social services, if you just enjoy children or if you’re interested in other cultures, this is a great opportunity for you to help others while learning more about them. Contact Brianda Cediel, Hands Across the World executive director, at 320-260-1072 or info@handsacrosstheworldmn.org.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
Veterans, heroes receive free snowplowing
Free snowplowing for veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and first responders is being offered by Nate Chapman of plowingvets.org. For more information, call Chapman at 320-241-8236.
