Winter Market opens Nov. 23
The Sartell Farmers’ Market is in full swing. It will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday Nov. 23 at Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N, Sartell. Stop in for all your favorites to add to your Thanksgiving dinner. Winter Market features locally raised meats, eggs, canned goods, lefse, coffee, tea, baked goods, vegetables and much more. “Foods grown close to home taste better!”
St. Joseph survey helps guide city services
City of St. Joseph taxpayers are encouraged to participate in a community survey to aid elected officials in determining the efficiency of city services and measuring residents’ opinions of those services, along with assisting in determining community amenities. The survey contains 12 questions and takes less than five minutes to complete. A link to the survey is provided on the city’s website at www.mn-stjoseph.civicplus.com. Paper copies are also available at city hall.
United Way volunteer opportunities
Holiday donation needs
United Way is working to increase awareness of holiday donation needs among nonprofits in Central Minnesota. A flyer with a list of local holiday needs is available. Display it in the lunchroom at work, share with family and friends and even post it on your Facebook page. Help make the holidays bright for the children and families in our community. For more information on additional holiday needs, call United Way 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-543-7709. To volunteer, contact Mary at 320-223-7991.
South Junior High reading buddy
Would you like to build positive relationships with students? Enhance reading skills? Volunteers are needed to read to students and discuss stories with students and help monitor stations Friday morning or afternoon. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with middle-school-age students. Orientation and training are provided. Contact Sonia Dickrell, K-12 volunteer coordinator, at 320-529-6500 or volunteer@isd742.org.
Place of Hope holiday donation needs
Place of Hope is in need of donations for the holiday season. Needs include the following: gift cards; winter hats, coats and mittens; new gifts for children to give to their parents and siblings; backpacks; personal-care items; sponsors for Adopt a Family for Hope; food for meals served on site; and $10 gift cards for food, diapers and teen gifts. Contact Pastor Carol, Place of Hope, at 320-203-7881.
Kids Fighting Hunger
Kids Fighting Hunger packaging event will be held on Nov. 23 at their warehouse at 1000 S. Benton Drive Suite 415, Sauk Rapids. 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 of $10 per child, $15 per college student, and $20 per adult volunteer is asked to help cover the cost of ingredients used for packaging meals. Food donations will be collected for the local food shelves. Kids Fighting Hunger of Central Minnesota is a volunteer-led, international hunger relief campaign committed to combating hunger and poverty worldwide and locally by providing nutritious meals to those in need. Sign up to volunteer at www.unitedwayhelps.org. Contact Mary Krippner at 320-223-7991 or mkrippner@unitedwayhelps.org.
Administrative assistant volunteer
Opportunity Matters is a local non-profit dedicated to creating opportunities that empower individuals and their families to reach their full potential. This mission is completed through offering residential services, day program services, respite services, crisis services, in-home services and consulting services to individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges. They are currently looking for administrative assistant volunteers to assist with completing various administrative tasks such as typing, filing, copying and completing research. This is a flexible volunteer opportunity open to the volunteer’s availability. Our office hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with the ideal individual assisting about two hours per week. Volunteers must be organized, friendly and efficient in Microsoft Office programs. Contact Brenda Eggerth, Opportunity Matters, at 320-240-1900.
Volunteer for the Salvation Army
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 the following: 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.
Movember, a worldwide movement to draw attention to men’s health issues, will be commemorated on the St. Cloud State University campus with activities that include a challenge event to attempt to break the world record for the most fake mustaches worn at a single event.
“Movember represents a significant movement in raising awareness of serious issues men face in regard to their health,” said Steve Hoover, professor in the Department of Counseling and Community Psychology and leader of the Movember planning group of faculty, staff and students at SCSU. The group worked with a community health class in planning and conducting Movember events open to campus and community participants.
On Saturday, Nov. 23 the Movember planning team invites community members to attend the men’s hockey game against Colorado College to participate in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Last year in Grand Rapids, Mich., 1,544 people wore fake mustaches at one time. SCSU’s goal is to reach 4,000 fake mustaches at once. Following the game fans in fake mustaches will be asked to come together on the ice and join the challenge.
The month of November isn’t just about turkey anymore. In 2003 the health community in Australia designated Movember (Mustache + November) to bring awareness to the issues of men’s health. Currently more than 2 million men worldwide participate in Movember events to get out the word about prostate and testicular cancer and men’s mental health. The Movember movement uses the iconic mustache symbol and the motto, “changing the face of men.”
Conservation Corps accepts applications
Young adults, ages 18 to 25, are encouraged to apply for one of 160 positions available with Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa. Conservation Corps is currently accepting applications for AmeriCorps field crew leader and member positions for the 2014 program year. Positions are available statewide, including northern, central and southern Minnesota, as well as central Iowa. Priority application deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 4.
All projects are completed on public land in cooperation with nonprofit organizations and government agencies, such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. These opportunities provide technical field experience and professional certifications for future natural resource careers. Many DNR employees got their start in natural resources with the Conservation Corps (formerly MCC), where they learned a strong work ethic and a first-hand appreciation of the environment.
Corps members receive on-the-job training in natural-resource management and put those skills into practice working on habitat restoration projects throughout the midwest. Typical project work includes exotic species management, prairie and oak-savanna restoration, stream-bank stabilization, trail building and maintenance, prescribed burning and wildland fire suppression.
Crew members receive a living stipend of $1,210 a month (crew leaders: $1,565 a month), health insurance, student-loan forbearance during the service term and a post-service AmeriCorps Education Award that may be used for college expenses or to repay qualified student loans.
A crew member or leader position with the Conservation Corps involves physically challenging, team-oriented work to accomplish habitat restoration and emergency response projects. Projects are usually completed outdoors and about 70 percent involve camping near the project location. Applicants should have an interest in working outdoors in a team setting, giving back to their community and exploring professional development opportunities.
To apply for the field crew program, and to view other AmeriCorps positions with Conservation Corps, visit www.conservationcorps.org/apply or contact Mark van der Linden, recruitment coordinator, for more information at mark@conservationcorps.org or 651-209-9900, ext. 31.