Summer Rec opens ball registration
Registration for the evening ball program for boys and girls ages 5-14 will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 8 at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall. For more information or questions, call Sharon Young at 320-293-3278 or Amanda Lopau at 320-260-1598.
Summer Fastpitch Softball Ages 6-18
Register now! Sartell Fastpitch Softball Association is forming girls 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U summer teams. Registration deadline is Monday, March 31. (Pay by Saturday, March 15 and receive last year’s rates.) For more information about our league or to register, visit www.sartellfastpitch.com. A parent meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 in the Sartell District Office. If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like more information, please contact Bill Davison at 320-291-4069. Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/SartellFastpitchSoftball.
Resources for individuals, families experiencing homelessness
Project Homeless Connect, a one-day event for individuals and families experiencing or near homeless, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at River’s Edge Convention Center, downtown St. Cloud. The event, sponsored by United Way of Central Minnesota in partnership with Tri-County Action Program and Stearns County Human Services, provides a welcoming environment and a way to connect individuals with needed resources in the community.
“To reduce barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness, we want to bring the resources to them,” stated Christine Midthun, United Way director of community relations.
Project Homeless Connect started locally in 2011 with helping just more than 25 individuals and has grown to help more than 240 individuals in 2013. The event has been planned to respond to the growing number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Central Minnesota.
The Wilder Homeless Study conducted in Minnesota in October 2012 reflects the growing needs. Consider the following stats: from 2009-12, long-term homelessness increased faster in greater Minnesota (28 percent) than in the metro region (1 percent); children with their parents represented the fastest-growing segment of the long-term homeless population today statewide (26 percent increase from 2009-12); last year, 325 children experienced homelessness in Central Minnesota.
Some services attending include the following: County Human Services, on-site health care, employment support, free cell phones, haircuts, HIV testing, housing and supportive services, legal services, mental health programs, MNSure sign-up, transportation, veteran services and youth serving agencies.
Transportation will be offered from Cold Spring, Sauk Centre, Melrose, Albany, Avon and Foley to help bring individuals to attend the event. Reservations are required; contact Tri-CAP at 320-202-7824 or 1-800-600-7498 to reserve a spot.
A special thanks to our event sponsors for making this possible: recipient of 2013 Spirit of Caring Award through CentraCare Health Foundation, Central Minnestoa Community Foundation, City of St. Cloud, Edina Realty Foundation, Quinlivan and Hughes, St. Cloud Hospital, Tri-County Action Program and United Way of Central Minnesota.
SSEF hosts Family Story Hour
The Family Library Story Hour, sponsored by the Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation, takes place from 11:15-12:45 p.m. Mondays, March 3 and 17, April 7 and 28 and May 12 at the District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N., Sartell. Approximately 15 children, as young as 9 months up to 5 years, participate with their parents or caregivers.
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AgStar seeks scholarship apps
The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is now accepting applications for its high school senior scholarship program, which awards up to 25 students with $1,000 scholarships.
The AgStar High School Scholarship Program is designed for students who have an interest in an ag-related field, are pursuing an ag-related degree or those with an ag or rural background.
“AgStar is proud to offer this program for the 10th year in a row,” said John Monson, chair of AgStar’s Fund Board of Trustees. “We want to show our commitment to the youth of rural Minnesota and Wisconsin as they pursue their passions and help mold a strong future for agriculture.”
Applicants must have a 3.0 grade-point average and live in AgStar’s local service area. Applicants are selected based on academic achievement, leadership characteristics and community involvement. Four winners will be chosen from each of AgStar’s five regions. The remaining five scholarships will be awarded to students in any of the regions who meet the criteria.
To apply for the scholarship, students should visit AgStar.com to download the application form. Applications must be postmarked by April 1 to be considered.
To date, the fund has given $174,500 in scholarships to 180 students through the high school scholarship program, which began in 2005. Since its inception in 2001, the AgStar Fund has donated more than $4 million to organizations working to improve the future of rural America.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Piano supervisor at Discovery Kidstop
Children at Discovery Elementary School who attend Kidstop on a regular basis are being selected to participate in a music program, Piano Education Reaching Kids, to learn how to play piano. Children will receive a 30-minute lesson, one day each week during Kidstop hours. Volunteers are asked to help one day a week, 2:30-5 p.m. to supervise students while they practice. Volunteers will need to pass a background check administered by Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota. Contact Bethany, Boys and Girls Club, at 320-257-5115 or www.bgcmn.org.
Help move furniture
The Community Furniture Program is looking for volunteers and community service workers to help move furniture out of the St. Cloud Holiday Inn Express and Suites behind McStop and into the CFP warehouse. They will be working from approximately 3-7 p.m. every Sunday, now through April 20. They will move 11 rooms of furniture each Sunday in that timeline until finished. This is an incredibly generous donation from the Holiday Inn, one that will help sustain the CFP for several months. Volunteers who can do heavy lifting or someone who can pick up a lamp, they need your help. Transportation, if needed, can be provided within the St. Cloud area. Contact Pat, The Community Furniture Program, at 320-260-0855.
Pots and pans needed for families
Catholic Charities Emergency Services needs new or gently used pots and pans for their Clothing Program. Drop off donations at 157 Roosevelt Rd, St Cloud. Contact Chad, Catholic Charities Emergency Services, at 320-229-4568.
Reception help needed
St. Scholastica Convent is looking for someone to volunteer to help at the reception desk area once or twice a month during the following hours: Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Friday 5:30-8:45 p.m. and Sunday 8:45 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Contact Sister Marina Schlangen, St. Scholastica Convent, at 320-251-2225 or email mschlangen@csbsju.edu.
Urgency center volunteers sought
Urgency Center at CentraCare Plaza needs volunteers to enhance patient and guest experience by providing excellent customer service through visitor guidance, purposeful rounding and patient escort and transport. Duties include transporting patients and guests in wheelchairs, guiding patients and families to assist with way finding, running errands as requested by staff, assist with clerical and administrative assistance as needed, and assist with cleaning and restocking exam rooms as needed. Contact CentraCare Volunteer Services at 320-255-5638 or volunteer@centracare.com.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way Community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkripper@unitedwayhelps.org.
