Nov. 15

Love of Christ celebrates 20th anniversary Nov. 24

Proposed City Center meeting set Nov. 18

Persons interested in supporting a City Center are invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 at the District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N., Sartell. Discussion will focus on creative ideas to facilitate the building of the City Center as well as structural suggestions. Refreshments will be served. Call 320-253-4036 for more information.

What are you thankful for? 

Kids Fighting Hunger, a Sauk Rapids-based humanitarian hunger-relief organization is hosting a “We Are Thankful” food-packaging event before Thanksgiving. Volunteers are needed to help assemble food packages for shipment to children who are in desperate need of food. “We Are Thankful” will take place on Saturday Nov. 23; 180 volunteers are needed to participate in two-hour sessions to package “hunger packs.” The packaging sessions are from 9-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 1-3 p.m. at the Kids Fighting Hunger warehouse in Sauk Rapids.

The goal is to package approximately 30,000 meals that day. The food will be combined with food from partnering program Food for Kidz in Stewart, Minn. and will be immediately shipped to Afghanistan for distribution through the Lamia Afghan Foundation.

In addition to their donation, each volunteer is asked to bring non-perishable food items for the Catholic Charities food shelf to assist in local hunger efforts.

The Lamia Afghan Foundation was formed to provide a sustainable means to collect and organize shipment of aid from various locations to Afghanistan, where it is distributed directly to those in need by U.S. and Coalition Forces. The Lamia Afghan Foundation is lead by volunteer Lt. General John Bradley (retired) and Jan Bradley.

Volunteers can sign-up for “We Are Thankful” by registering at www.unitedwayhelps.org or by calling 320-252-0227.

St. Ben’s Senior Community offers memory screening Nov. 19 

St. Benedict’s Senior Community and St. Cloud Hospital Home Care and Hospice will host free, confidential memory screenings and information about successful aging from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at St. Benedict’s Senior Community, 1810 Minnesota Blvd. SE. There will also be a presentation at 3 p.m. by Jeffrey Kearney, LP; PhD, St. Cloud Neurobehavioral Associates. The events are part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America holds each November during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. More than 2,000 sites across the country will be participating. To schedule a memory screening, call 320-654-2355. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.

Qualified health care professionals administer the screenings, which consist of a series of questions and tasks, and takes five to 10 minutes. Screening results are not a diagnosis, and individuals with below-normal scores or who have concerns are encouraged to pursue a full medical exam.

Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. Other memory problems might result from causes that are not currently reversible, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat one of these conditions.

Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, said the continuing growth of National Memory Screening Day reinforces the need for this service. “Community memory screenings are a vital resource to begin a dialogue with a health-care professional and to learn more about brain health. They prompt critical next steps,” he said.

AFA urges anyone concerned about memory changes, at risk of Alzheimer’s disease due to family history or who wants to check their memory now and for future comparison to get screened. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills, confusion over daily routines and erratic mood swings.

Currently, as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and the incidence is rising in line with the swell of aging baby boomers. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years beyond age 65.

Car seat clinic offers free checks

Using the correct restraints reduces infants’ fatalities by 71 percent and toddlers’ fatal injuries by 54 percent in passenger cars. Install your car seat for infants and young children and then have our certified technicians check the safety and fit of the seat in your car from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Gold Cross Ambulance Garage, 2800 7th Street North, St. Cloud. This is a free service.

The goal of this car seat check is the following: to teach you how to install your car seat properly every time; make sure you feel comfortable with the installation of the seat; and provide education and knowledge to protect your child.

We ask you have the car seat installed to the best of your ability before coming to the clinic. Also, it is recommended you bring the following to your appointment: the manual for your car seat; the manual for your vehicle; and if possible, the infant/child who will use the car seat.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 320-656-7021.

Women’s risk for cancer talk set Nov. 21

VA to host Great American Smokeout, Healthy Living Fair on Nov. 21

The St. Cloud VA wants all veterans to stay healthy and invites everyone who uses tobacco to quit. In support of this effort, the St. Cloud VA is hosting a Healthy Living Fair in conjunction with the annual Great American Smokeout from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 in the Auditorium (Bldg. 8) on the St. Cloud VA campus.

The Fair will feature testimonials from ex-smokers and provide the opportunity and resources to quit smoking – for a day or for life. Information for everyone will be available to help manage stress and maintain a healthy brain and body.

Participants will have the opportunity to enter the Cold Turkey Contest and Healthy Living Contest with a chance to win a grocery gift card – just in time to buy a Thanksgiving turkey!

A “Cold Turkey” lunch, featuring a turkey wrap, chips and a beverage, will be available for a small fee.

Contest entry forms will be available in the auditorium, at the main entrance of Building 1, the lobby of Building 111, the VA canteen.

Studies show that 70 percent of tobacco users would like to quit, but don’t have the resources or coaching required for success. In Minnesota, 19 percent of the population still smokes. In the veteran population that number is significantly higher. Come to the fair and learn about the many ways help is available to smokers who want to quit, and to make other changes to live a healthier, happier life.

The event is free and open to veterans, their family members and employees of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

United Way Opportunities

Volunteers sought to read to preschool-age children

Reach-Up Inc. has multiple classrooms with lots of wonderful preschool age children who would love to have someone from the community come in and read to them. There is not a huge time commitment with this opportunity. Nor do you have to make this an ongoing commitment. But if you have a love of reading and enjoy preschool-age children, this is a perfect match for you. We need volunteer readers between now and May. Volunteer readers will go through an orientation, complete a background check, and fill out a one-page information/emergency contact form prior to volunteering. Background checks will be paid for by the volunteer at a cost of $20. Contact Laurie Whitaker, Reach-Up. Inc. volunteer coordinator, at 320-253-8110.

Big Family for a Little

Big Brothers Big Sisters wants Big Families, an entire family meeting with a Little. This is a great opportunity for a family to volunteer together. The family would be matched with a Little in our community-based program. The family would provide friendship, emotional support and hope to the young person with whom they are matched. The family will meet with their Little three to four times a month. Volunteers must attend an orientation session before becoming a Big Family. They will also fill out an application and complete an interview. The parents in the Big Family must be at least 18 years of age or older and completed high school or equivalent. They must have a viable means of transportation, and agree to participate in a background check. Contact Big Brothers Big Sisters at 320-258-4535.

No child should sleep on the floor

You can help by donating gently used items to help 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 up is available. Contact the Community Furniture Program at 320-656-9004.

Holiday donation needs for Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities is in need of donations for the holiday season.  Needs include sponsors for the Share the Spirit program, personal care items, new toys, children’s coats, boots, food donations, new socks/underwear (all sizes), gift cards for teens, extra large coats for men and women. Contact Kathryn, Catholic Charities Emergency Services, at 320-229-4560.

Help with programs and office duties

The Salvation Army needs volunteers now and after the holidays. Volunteers will assist the volunteer coordinator with Salvation Army programs and office duties. Some of the duties will be: assist in food shelf, help prep for lunch, assist clients, accept donations, placing donations in the proper areas, watch the front desk and assist volunteer coordinator with office duties as needed. The time and shifts for this position can be very flexible but would like a volunteer to commit to a minimum of two shifts per week, at least until after the holidays. Contact Barbara Nelson, Salvation Army volunteer coordinator, at 320-252-4552.

For more information, contact Mary Krippner, United Way Community volunteer coordinator, at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.