Community bulletin board: Help and serve the community

Help and serve the community

Festival volunteers

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival will hold a volunteer fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at OakCrest, 126 N. Kent St., Winchester.

Donations for Hurricane Sandy victims

Anthony’s Pizza, 2204 Valley Ave. and 1855 Senseny Road, will collect supplies and monetary donations to send to Hurricane Sandy victims in New York through Nov. 28. Drop items at either location. Call Brian Baretta at 540-667-5660.

Lights of Love

The Winchester Medical Center Auxiliary and Blue Ridge Hospice are sponsoring the annual Lights of Love fundraiser.

For $5 or more, a symbolic light is placed on an evergreen tree at Winchester Medical Center or at 333 W. Cork St.

A tree lighting ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Winchester Medical Center.

Call 800-238-5678 or 540-536-5210.

Thanksgiving Day meal

The Salvation Army and the First Presbyterian Church will host a Thanksgiving Day meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Loudoun St., Winchester.

Delivery is available for the elderly and shut-ins. Call 540-662-3564.

First Night Winchester volunteers

First Night Winchester is looking for volunteers to greet at entertainment venues on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31.

For more information, contact Kitty Redford at 540-662-6142 or fnwkredford@gmail.com or Felicia Hart at 540-533-5561 or firstnightwinchester@comcast.net.

Christmas tree sale

Troop 159 of Stephens City will sell fresh-cut Christmas trees and handmade wreaths and roping from Nov. 24 to Dec. 22 on Va. 277 across from Food Lion Shopping Center near Stephens City.

Proceeds will be used to attend summer camp.

Black Friday sale

The SPCA thrift store, 2225 Valley Ave., Winchester, will have a Black Friday sale from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday with 25 percent off. Call 540-450-2710.

Online auction

The 2012 Rotary Online Auction benefits C-CAP and Rotarians Against Hunger (Stop Hunger Now). The bidding is open through Nov. 28 with more than 60 items.

Visitbiddingforgood.com/fcrotaryauction.

Card game lessons

Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship Center will offer free hand and foot card game lessons from 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday. The teacher will be Kay Whitley. Call 540-667-5869 for more information.

Volunteers needed

Our Health is looking for multiple volunteers to help fill positions for various nonprofit agencies. Some of these positions need to be filled immediately and others through Dec. 15. Contact Daniel Rose at 540-536-1605 or drose@lumos.net.

Employment assistance

Handley Regional Library is hosting Estelle Sanzenbacher from Workforce Solutions at Lord Fairfax Community College to work one-on-one with area residents looking for employment.

She will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Bowman Library near Stephens City. Contact 540-869-9000, ext. 203. This program is free and open to the public.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots and the Marine Corps League need volunteers to help with the Toys for Tots program for the holidays.

Duties include distribution and collection.

Call Merrill Hausenfluck at 540-327-0327.

Ricky Timbrook  Food and Toy Drive

The Ricky Timbrook Food and Toy Drive is under way.

The drive has been held for 13 years since Timbrook, a city police officer, was killed in the line of duty in 1999.

Collection boxes have been placed at city fire companies, the Timbrook Public Safety Center, the War Memorial Building in Jim Barnett Park, the Joint Judicial Center, Rouss City Hall, Daniel Morgan Middle School and Handley High School.

Gift wrap volunteers

Volunteers are needed for the gift-wrap fundraiser at the Apple Blossom Mall for Healthy Families Northern Shenandoah Valley.

The dates are Nov. 23-25 and Dec. 10-24 during mall hours.

Contact 540-536-4113 or jmidkiff@valleyhealthlink.com.

Help for veterans

Military veterans living with a hearing or speech loss are now automatically eligible for telecommunications equipment through Virginia’s Technology Assistance Program.

Those eligible include veterans with hearing or speech loss and proof of an honorable discharge, veterans with a hearing or speech loss and documentation of a service-related disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a surviving spouse or child of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty and has a hearing or speech loss, and an active member of the Virginia National Guard who has completed the required initial active-duty service.

Call 1-800-552-7917 v/tty or visit vddhh.org.

Coat drive

The Salvation Army is in dire need of gently used or new coats of all sizes for men, women and children to be given to the needy this Christmas season.

Bring the coats to The Salvation Army at 300 Fort Collier Road, Winchester.

Holiday turkey drive

The Salvation Army Winchester Corps has joined with Sheetz convenience stores to sponsor a holiday turkey drive.

Participants should bring frozen turkeys to The Salvation Army at 300 Fort Collier Road. Donors will receive a $5 Sheetz gift card. Cash donations are also accepted.

The drive will continue through Dec. 14; 1,100 turkeys are needed.

Contact Cheryl Green at 540-662-4777, ext. 25.

Hurricane Sandy assistance

Donate to help residents affected by Hurricane Sandy through Nov. 30 at Exclusively Faces, 2055 Valley Ave. or at americanredcross.org. Call 540-667-3223.

Concern Hotline

Concern Hotline needs volunteers to answer calls from home or on cell phones for four hours a week. Call 540-536-1630.

Bell ringers

The Salvation Army, Winchester Corps, needs volunteers for the annual Christmas kettle bell-ringing fundraiser.

Ringing will continue through Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Contact Brenda McDonald at 540-662-4777, ext.15.

Shelter volunteers

The Clarke County Animal Shelter needs volunteers for a variety of duties to help stray or abandoned dogs and cats find homes. Call 540-955-5104.

KBA

The Kernstown Battlefield Association needs volunteers to help on weekends at the museum on the battlefield property.

Contact Donna Crawford at DCrawford@kernstownbattle.org.

Special Olympics

Local Area 13 Special Olympics needs volunteer coaches for the following sports: basketball, bowling, track and field, swimming and tennis.

Contact Diana Treece, Frederick County Parks and Recreation, at 540-665-5678.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Winchester-Frederick County is seeking low-income families who live in Winchester or Frederick County to qualify for the opportunity to own an affordable Habitat home.

Perfect credit is not required. Assistance will be given to help applicants qualify. Call 540-662-7066 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Volunteers are needed to renovate and/or build affordable houses for qualified low-income families.

No skills are necessary. To sign up, visit habitatwfc.org. Groups should call 540-662-7066.

Battlefield volunteers

The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation needs volunteers to help operate its battlefield visitor center at 8437 Valley Pike near Middletown.

Contact 540-869-2064 or info@ccbf.us.

Adopted Soldiers

Spurmont Chapter 64, Order of the Eastern Star, sends shipments of supplies to adopted soldiers serving in Afghanistan, who distribute the supplies to their units. Holiday packages are being prepared.

Contact Lou Ann Thompson at thompsonlouann@aol.com for a pickup or call 540-974-3071.

Red Wagon Ministry

The Congregational-Community Action Project is in need of wipes and disposable diapers in sizes 3, 4, 5, cloth training pants, and potty chairs.

Contact Jody Stephenson at 540-955-0949.

Help with reading, writing, math

Literacy Volunteers-Winchester Area provides tutoring and small-group instruction to adults who need basic education in reading, English, math and General Educational Development preparation.

Call 540-536-1648 or visit lvwa.org.

Faith in Action

Faith in Action for Winchester and Frederick and Clarke counties needs volunteers to visit with local residents or to take residents to medical and other types of appointments. Call 540-536-1006.

Flamingo flocking

Xi Gamma Pi will place 20 pink flamingos in someone’s yard, along with a sign that reads “Congratulations! You’ve been flocked!”

The $30 suggested donation will benefit the local Relay for Life Cancer walk.

Contact Donna Bonjo at 540-665-8509.

FISH volunteers

FISH of Clarke County helps neighbors in need with funds, food, clothing, rides and counseling through a volunteer system.

Telephone work and driving help are needed.

Call Marilyn Estep at 540-955-1730.

“Save-a-Sole”

Frederick County’s recycling initiative “Save-a-Sole” collects shoes, heels, handbags, belts, hats, luggage, backpacks and bags in any condition for recycling.

The items are shipped to West Africa.

Collection drop-off points are at county citizens’ convenience sites (except Gainesboro and Star Tannery), the Regional Landfill and the Frederick County Animal Shelter.

Visit fcrecycles.net.

Barns of Rose Hill

Barns of Rose Hill needs volunteers for its events and for the Berryville-Clarke County Visitor Center.

Contact 540-955-2004 or barnsofrosehill@gmail.com.

Soup kitchens,   free meals

These community organizations and churches offer free meals:

Braddock Street United Methodist Church, 115 Wolfe St., Winchester, provides a meal from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays. Enter on Braddock Street. Call 540-667-3366.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 2732 Martinsburg Pike, Stephenson, offers a community meal, “Sharing His Bounty,” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays.

Winchester Rescue Mission, 435 N. Cameron St., offers lunch at noon Tuesdays. Call 540-667-5379.

The Knights of Columbus sponsors a soup kitchen from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays at 519 S. Cameron St., Winchester. Call 540-662-5545.

Living Faith Church, 419 N. Cameron St., Winchester, sponsors a soup kitchen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Food donations are accepted. Call Jeff Beard at 540-665-2335.

Market Street United Methodist Church, 131 S. Cameron St., Winchester, hosts a Kitchen of Hope from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. Call 540-662-6709.

The Centenary Reformed United Church of Christ, 202 S. Cameron St., Winchester, serves lunch from noon to 1 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays. A food giveaway follows from 1 to 2 p.m. Call 540-888-3349.

The Jenny Girl Soup Kitchen is held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Grace Episcopal Church, Church Street, Berryville. Call Steve Mitchell at 540-955-3322.

Jubilee Kitchen is open from 11:30 to noon Saturdays at First Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Loudoun St., Winchester. Call 540-662-3832.

The Salvation Army, 300 Fort Collier Road, Winchester, provides meals daily: Monday to Friday — 6:30 a.m. breakfast, noon lunch, and 5 p.m. dinner; Saturday — 10 a.m. brunch and 5 p.m. dinner; Sunday — 9 a.m. breakfast, 1 p.m. lunch and 6 p.m. dinner. Contact Lt. Danitza Porras at 540-662-4777, ext. 22.

Phazz One Ministries, 501 S. Cameron St., Winchester, serves a community meal from 1 to 2 p.m. the second and fourth Sundays. Call 540-323-7159.

Thrift shop donations

These thrift shops, owned by nonprofit organizations, accept donations:

Agape Outreach, 30 S. Braddock St., Winchester, 540-450-8868.

Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop, 115 W. Main St., Berryville, 540-955-2840.

Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop, 116 Featherbed Lane, Winchester, 540-542-0202.

Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop, 760 Warrior Drive, east of Stephens City, 540-868-0392.

Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop, 1694-A Berryville Pike, Winchester.

Goodwill, 443 Millwood Ave., Winchester, 540-723-6864.

Grace United Methodist Church Thrift Shop, 7882 Main St., Middletown, 540-869-1008.

Habitat ReStore, 1944 Abrams Creek Drive, Winchester, 540-662-9704.

Salvation Army Thrift Store, 320 Weems Lane, Winchester, 540-722-2749.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Thrift Store, 2225 Valley Ave., Winchester, 540-450-2710.

The Treasure Box, 114 W. Boscawen St., Winchester, 540-662-2453.

Winchester Medical Center Auxiliary Attic, 318 Millwood Ave., Winchester.