A Vietnam vet’s good works
Sartell Senior Connection hosts Vietnam veteran Clyde Lewandowski as he recounts his trips to Vietnam to help an orphanage in Kontum, Vietnam at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14 in the Sartell Community Center, 850,19th St S. Originally from Foley, Lewandowski finished high school in 1965 then attended Staples Vocational School. After graduating, he was drafted and spent six months in Vietnam where he helped two orphanages. For more than 30 years he repressed the memories of his time in Vietnam and when the memories started coming back, he decided to do something good rather than be angry with the past. Learn about the orphanages and his many trips back to Vietnam. This event is free; the public is welcome.
Fare for All set Nov. 13
Fare For All will sell affordable Thanksgiving holiday packages including an 8- to 10-pound Jennie-O turkey, a pork tenderloin, diced chicken breasts, sage pork sausage, turkey tenderloin, two bags of green beans and an apple pie at 31 locations throughout Minnesota. Its next distribution will be from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. Fare for All is a budget-stretching program that allows people to save up to 40 percent off fresh fruits, vegetables and frozen meats. Distribution is once a month. There is no need to register in advance. These holiday packs make a family meal for eight. Packs are not limited and make great gifts for family, friends, neighbors or employee-appreciation gifts. The program has no income requirements and is open to everyone who is looking to save money. Cash, credit, debit cards and EBT cards are accepted. December holiday packs will feature a 7- to 9-pound spiral cut hickory smoked ham and will be available on Monday, Dec. 11. For more information visit fareforall.org, find us on Facebook or call 1-800-582-4291.
Foster Grandparent program seeks volunteers
Adults ages 55 and over can receive an hourly tax-free stipend, mileage/travel reimbursement and ongoing training by volunteering 15 hours per week (or more if they wish) assisting children with activities, reinforcing learning, helping with art projects and more. This is a great opportunity if you have time to spare, love to be with children, and could use some extra non-taxable income. For more information, please call Jennifer at 320-229-4589 or contact by email at jlieser@ccstcloud.org.
Nov. 13 event to focus on violent offenders
A free presentation called “Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force” will be given from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 in the Multi-Purpose Room at Sartell Middle School. This is the third of four programs sponsored by the Sartell-St. Stephen Drug-Free Coalition – one program each month through December.
The Nov. 13 program features speaker Steve Soyka. Formerly known as the Drug and Gang Task Force, the renamed task force investigates crimes involving narcotics, prostitution and gang behavior, as well as other forms of violent offenses.
The Drug-Free Coalition’s programs focus on substance abuse, its causes and ways to prevent the terrible scourges of addiction and abuse.
Other programs included the following: an upcoming Dec. 11 “SCSU’s U-Choose,” an education-based prevention effort to share resources to help ease these conversations with youth, as well sharing a data-driven, evidence-based approach that works to empower students to make informed choices and understand the consequences of high-risk drinking and drug use. More in-depth write-ups of each may be found at www.thenewsleaders.com; the September program “Generation X” to inform people of all ages about the potential dangers of misuse of prescription medications; and the October “TXT4Life” a free, crisis-based suicide-prevention texting program that provides counseling 24/7 every day of the year.
Snow shovelers sought
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to shovel snow on properties Habitat owns (but there is not a homeowner on that property yet). Locations are in the St. Cloud and Paynesville areas. Volunteers are asked to “adopt” a property and shovel as needed throughout the winter. The time is flexible to the volunteer’s schedule, but the shoveling needs to be done in a timely manner after a snowfall. Contact Melanie Blake, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, at 320-248-8256 or melanieblake@cmhfh.org.
Cross-country ski patrols sought for winter season
Cross-country ski patrols are needed for the winter season running from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 at the following county parks: Quarry Park and Nature Reserve, Warner Lake, Mississippi River and Kraemer Lake-Wildwood. Ski patrol volunteers must be at least at an intermediate skier level, should be familiar with the park they patrol, may register at any of the four parks, must sign up for two-hour shifts, and must ski the trails and observe conditions, lighting and visitors and submit a report to the park office. For more information, visit co.stearns.mn.us/Recreation/SkiPatrol.
