Interested in summer youth baseball?
Registration for summer youth baseball will open Monday, Feb. 1. To register kindergarten through ninth-grade youth, visit sartellbaseball.com and click the “registration” button. General registration will be open until April 1 (first- and second-grade registration will stay open until May 1). For registration questions, call Mike Connolly at 320-309-9747.
CSB hosts Girls, Women
in Sports Day on Feb. 6
The College of St. Benedict will host a celebration for National Girls and Women in Sports Day at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Haehn Campus Center on campus. This year, CSB will honor 2016 Breaking Barriers Award honoree Shelly Boyum-Breen. She is the author of Shelly Bean the Sports Queen series of books. Children in grades K-6 are invited to join Boyum-Breen for a book reading, mini basketball clinic and a college basketball game. This event is free, and children will also receive a free T-shirt and free admission to the game. For more information visit csbblazers.com.
Public input meeting set
Feb. 10 for park master plan
The public is invited to a meeting to review design alternatives and give input on a master plan for Kraemer Lake Wildwood County Park, located in St. Joseph. The open house will be from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 10 at Kennedy Elementary School, 1300 Jade Road, St. Joseph. The open house will begin with a short presentation about major concepts within the plan. Some of the ideas presented for discussion include an improved access road, a swimming beach, restroom facilities, a fishing pier, youth group-camping facilities, picnic shelters, educational programs, trails, some type of boat access and an open play field. Input can be provided in several ways including emailing your comments to [email protected], contacting the park department at 320-255-6172, participating in the public input meeting, or attending the meeting and completing a comment card.
Local 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 2016 Knights of Columbus Free-Throw championship. The local competition will be held Sunday Jan. 31 at the All Saints Academy gym in St. Joseph. Registration and practice is at 12:30 p.m., and the contest begins at 1 p.m. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent.
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 boys and girls 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. For any additional information contact Mark Berg-Arnold at 320-363-1077.
Free bus passes for job seekers
Free bus passes are available to low-income individuals who are actively job-seeking or who have started a new job. The passes are part of a new program offered by Metro Bus and funded by a Morgan Family Foundation grant.
The Metro Bus Transportation Emergency Fund program provides bus passes to low-income individuals who need transportation for job-related activities during that transitional time between job-seeking and when they have the financial means to purchase their own bus pass (for example, their first paycheck). As applicable, a seven-day, 31-day or 10-ride Metro Bus pass or Northstar Link Commuter Bus or Northstar Line Commuter Rail pass will be provided to individuals who can demonstrate need.
“This is a referral-based program,” said Debbie Anderson, who is coordinating the program at the Metro Bus Mobility Training Center. “Social service agencies will apply for the program on behalf of their clients. The agencies will screen for financial need and verify employment activity.”
More information about the program can be found on the Metro Bus website, ridemetrobus.com, and at the Metro Bus Mobility Training Center, 700 W. St. Germain St., Suite 100, St. Cloud.Or call the Mobility Training Center at 320-529-4497.
Free lecture to address on sex trafficking
Sex Trafficking 201: Dynamics of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking will be held at noon Wednesday, Feb. 3 in the Atwood Theatre at St. Cloud State University as part of the SCSU Women’s Center lecture series, which brings diverse women and programming to SCSU to cover political, social, legal and economic issues affecting women’s lives. It started with WHISPER (Women Hurt in Systems of Prostitution Engaged in Revolt), and turned into a roar – Breaking Free – an organization working with women in prostitution before Minnesota communities recognized, let alone acknowledged, that sex trafficking was keeping our own women and girls enslaved in systems of abuse and sexual exploitation. This presentation, by Vednita Carter, the founder of Breaking Free, provides a more in-depth look at the system of prostitution/sex-trafficking, definitions, methods of recruitment and barriers to escape. The audience will also learn about the economics of sex trafficking and how the “demand” is driving the market for sexually exploited women and girls.
United Way Volunteer Opportunities
Mittens and gloves
Catholic Charities Clothing Program is in need of new/gently used gloves and mittens for adults and children to keep them warm. The program is designed to help with the basic essentials for everyday living, and this is a need they strive to fulfill. Donations can be dropped off during business hours – Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. Contact Chad Kaushagen, Catholic Charities Emergency Services, at 320-229-4568.
e-Mentors needed for the new McKinley Career Academy Program
St. Cloud Area School District 742 needs 15 e-Mentors for its new McKinley Career Academy Program, a joint partnership between Stearns County Human Services and District 742. Its purpose is to provide additional career-planning and career-exploration opportunities for ALC Students. All e-Mentors need to register by Feb. 2 and can be from any career field. Volunteers will share their career insight with the students through four weekly emails and they will be expected to meet their mentee at McKinley from 2:30-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 as well as from 4:15-5 p.m. Thursday, March 3. Contact Jayne Greeney Schill, St Cloud Area School District 742, at 320-202-6892 or [email protected].
Volunteer advocate training
Volunteer sexual-assault advocates provide information and guidance to sexual-assault victims on the 24-hour crisis phone line, at medical facilities and at law-enforcement centers. Shifts fall on evenings and weekends. Forty-hour training is required prior to volunteering as an advocate. The next 40-hour training will start on Monday, Feb. 29 and will consist of Monday evenings and two Saturdays. See CMSAC’s website for an application and more details. Contact Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center at www.cmsac.org or call 320-251-4357.
Serve up coffee and a smile in our Cobblestone Corner Eatery
Serve up a cup of coffee and a smile to residents and guests at the Cobblestone Corner Eatery, located in the Health Care Center. It’s a great place for individuals who like to meet and greet people. Volunteers serve beverages and prepared food such as sandwiches, salads, pizza, soups and more to their residents, their families and staff. Duties include running the cash register (training provided), serve customers and keep the area clean and neat. Food is prepared and brought to the eatery. Shifts available are 2-7 p.m. Tuesdays; 3:30-7 p.m. Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m. Thursdays and 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays. Contact Caitlin Tierney, Country Manor Campus volunteer coordinator, at 320-258-8936 or [email protected].
Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking to recruit 100 Men in 100 days
Man Up Minnesota is a Big Brothers Big Sisters initiative to recruit 100 Men in 100 days. By April 9, they need 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.
For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way volunteer engagement coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or [email protected].