Introduction to essential oils scheduled
“Live Life Better: Intro to Essential Oils,” will be presented by Dr. Melissa Brown from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Solomon Centre, 1621 Sixth St. S., Sartell. Essential oils can be a healthy, natural solution for everything from anxiety to asthma and allergies, arthritis, depression and more. Learn practical applications to help achieve health and wellness goals using essential oils.
Mahjong, games at Sartell Senior Center
Are you interested in Mahjong or other games like Rummikub, Scrabble, dominoes or a game of your choice? Currently a group of seniors plays Modern American Mahjong from 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday mornings at the Sartell Senior Center, 212 3rd Ave. N. They would like additional players who already know the game. This fall other games as mentioned will be held. Visit sartellseniorconnection.com for more information in late summer. All games will be free and scheduling will be flexible. Call Gerri Boser at 320-260-4817 regarding Mahjong or to show interest in any of the other games. Or grab a good book during summer from our library; hours are from 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday.
Families who lost food from power outage seek assistance from the St. Cloud Salvation Army
The St. Cloud Salvation Army is looking for food donations after their supply of food has dwindled after recent power outages.
“More than 120 families requested emergency food assistance due to the power outage and it’s expected the number will increase during the week,” said Major Lee Morrison. “Not only are we receiving more requests for food, but we also lost all of the food in our own walk-in cooler because of the outage.”
Even before the outage the needs from the Corps for the basic essentials have been increasing. In the first five months of 2013, the Salvation Army in St. Cloud experienced a 25-percent increase in food requests and meals served and a 36-percent increase in the number of people needing shelter.
The St. Cloud Salvation Army served more than 50,000 meals in the last 12 months and distributed more than 240 tons of food from their food pantry. They also have a 64-bed emergency shelter with an occupancy rate in the high 90s, 12-20 percent of which were occupied by children.
Contact Morrison, or the the Salvation Army at 320-252-4552 for ways you can help. You can also donate “on-line” at www.SalvationArmyNorth/StCloud.org.
Furniture Drive scheduled July 13
A furniture and household goods drive is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the WACOSA Thrift Store, 310 Sundial Drive, Waite Park. Accepted items include the following: couches, love seats, hutches, lamps, easy chairs, recliners, rockers, tables and chairs, dressers, bed sets, TV stands, TVs 32” or smaller, head boards and matching bed sets and microwaves. The drive cannot accept items with rips, stains, rust or mold and reserves the right to refuse any items. To schedule pick-up, call 320-656-9004.
One step closer to homeownership
If you are looking to purchase your first home, now is the time to participate in Home Stretch!, a first-time homebuyer workshop that takes participants through the entire home-buying process. In one day, you will learn about credit, qualifying for a mortgage, shopping for a home, the closing process, basic home maintenance and affordable mortgage products that may be available to first-time homebuyers.
Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, a non-profit organization providing affordable housing services to the central region of Minnesota, coordinates the Home Stretch workshop. The next workshop will be offered in St. Cloud from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the US Bank downtown. Registration is required, and participants will receive a completion certificate at the end of the workshop. To register for the online Framework course or the Home Stretch workshop, please contact Jason at 320-258-0672 and visit our website www.cmhp.net for more information.
Unity Spiritual Center to host free joint LGBT marriage ceremony
A joint marriage ceremony for LGBT couples will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 at Unity Spiritual Center of Central Minnesota. The inter-denominational ceremony provides couples previously prohibited from marrying to be legally united in a communal setting. The Rev. Winter Martin will officiate and a reception will follow. Advanced registration is required. Unity Spiritual Center and its Wedding Garden can also be reserved for individual ceremonies and no Unity affiliation is required. For more information or to register, call 320-255-9253 or visit office@UnitySpiritualCenterCM.org.
Upcoming programs at Waite Park Library
The Al Ringsmuth Public Library in Waite Park is offering the following programs: Read to Basil the Therapy Dog for children ages 5-10 from 11 a.m.-noon July 13; and Preschool Storytime featuring stories and a craft for children ages 3 to 6 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. July 16. Advanced registration is required for both events. Call 320-253-9359 to register.
BBB offers tips to claim unclaimed property
Do you have unclaimed property? If so, how would you know? Is it worth it to pay a service to help you identify unclaimed property? The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota aims to help people who might fall into this category understand what they need to do to reclaim their assets and possessions. Unclaimed property refers to accounts or assets held in financial institutions and companies that have had no activity or account holder contact with the owner for one year or more. This can include savings or checking accounts, refunds, customer overpayments, as well as contents of safe-deposit boxes. To begin searching for lost property, check legitimate sites like missingmoney.com, which is endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.
United Way volunteer opportunities
No child should sleep on the floor
You can help by donating gently used items to help out a low-income family in need. Items accepted include couches, love seats, lamps, recliners, rockers, kitchen tables and chairs, end tables, night stands, dressers and complete bed sets (no king). Furniture with rips, stains, rust, tears or mold cannot be accepted. Tax receipts and pick ups are available. For information, call 320-656-9004.
Cook and bake
Quiet Oaks Hospice House is seeking help with cooking and baking. Volunteers will interact with family members and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This is an important element of this volunteer opportunity. Volunteers are required to have a background check and two mantoux tests (arranged at no cost to the volunteer). Further requirements include reading the volunteer training manual and completing two shadow shifts. For information, call 320-255-5433.
Food for kids
Catholic Charities Emergency Services is need of food for their food shelf this summer. They are specifically seeking food items that are kid friendly to help parents and their children during the summer months. Suggested food items to donate include: canned food with a popped top and no cooking required, peanut butter, tuna, soup, canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, oatmeal and more. Donations are accepted at Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Road Suite 100, St. Cloud. For information, call 320-229-4560.