Senior Connection travels Route 66
“Come along with us as we travel down Route 66 without leaving Sartell.” Sartell Senior Connections hosts Mike Smith and James Grabinski, The Travel Talkin’ Guys, as participants experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the iconic Route 66 at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at the District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N., Sartell. Listen to their stories and share their pictures of the road trip everyone has heard about, but few have completed. All ages are welcome and free admission.
K of C to sponsor Youth Free-throw Championship
All boys and girls ages 9 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the Knights of Columbus Free-throw championship, which will be held Sunday Jan. 26 at the gym at All Saints Academy, St. Joseph. Registration and practice is at 12:30 p.m.; the contest begins at 1 p.m.
The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually with winners progressing through local, district and state competition. International champions are announced by the K of C international headquarters based on scores from the state-level competitions. All youth 9 to 14 years old are eligible to participate and will compete in respective age divisions. Last year, more than 120,000 sharpshooters participated in more than 3,600 local competitions.
All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation in the event. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For more information, contact Mark Berg-Arnold at 320-363-1077.
Open house explores regional sales-tax ideas
Area residents are encouraged to share their ideas for the regional half-cent sales tax during an open house from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Great River Regional Library, downtown St. Cloud. Informational presentations will be given at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., but ideas about the sales tax projects are accepted anytime. The event is sponsored by Sartell, St. Joseph, St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, St. Augusta and Waite Park cities.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Kids Fighting Hunger sets Jan. 20 event
A Kids Fighting Hunger packaging event will be held Jan. 20 at Salem Lutheran Church, 90 Riverside Drive SE, St. Cloud. In addition to food packaging, educational breakout sessions will be available to allow volunteers to learn about hunger. Volunteers can sign up for two-hour shifts, individually or in groups and can be as young as 6, if accompanied by a parent. A suggested donation per child, college student and/or adult volunteer is asked to help cover the cost of ingredients used for packaging meals. Kids Fighting Hunger of Central Minnesota is a volunteer led, international hunger-relief campaign committed to combating hunger and poverty world-wide and locally by providing nutritious meals to those in need. Sign up to volunteer at www.unitedwayhelps.org.
Build friendships
Develop a special friendship with a resident of Country Manor by visiting with them regularly. You can visit their room, the lounges, the bird aviary or when the weather permits you can take the resident outside the facility to one of our gardens and/or ponds for your visit. The residents have very interesting stories and insights to share about their lives. Please take some time to listen to a piece of their history and life experiences. You will learn so much about their generation. Contact Jacquie Hartman, volunteer coordinator, at 320-253-1920.
Volunteer with Quiet Oaks
Volunteers are needed for the Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta to help with all areas of the house, such as housekeeping duties, baking, light cooking, greeting guests and answering phones. Volunteers will be accessible to the nursing staff on an as-needed basis throughout the shift. Interacting with family members and providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere is an important element of a volunteer. Contact Eileen Bitzan, volunteer coordinator, at 320-255-5433.
Help needed throughout the year!
Place of Hope needs donations throughout the year to help their clients. Personal needs include deodorant, socks, gloves, laundry soap, razors, feminine products, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and other personal-care items. Volunteers are needed to help with meal preparation. Contact Place of Hope at 320-203-7881.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way Community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
Newsleader website down for maintenance
We have been notified by our internet provider that our website at www.thenewsleaders.com will be down for maintenance from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Friday-Sunday, Jan. 17-19. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Hot off the press
If you’d like to receive the Newsleader hot off the press, send us your email address and we’ll notify you with a link when our website is updated, which is typically by noon a day in advance of the print edition. Send your email to news@thenewsleaders.com and you should start receiving your reminder at that address within a week. Notify us otherwise.