Community bulletin board — help and serve the community

Help and serve  the community

Miss Middletown Honorary Fire Chief

The Middletown Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company is taking applications for the 2013 Miss Middletown Honorary Fire Chief.

The deadline is 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Visit middletownfire.com or go to the fire hall at 7855 Main St. for an application.

Girl Scout cookies

Girl Scout cookie sales are under way.

Deliveries will take place from Feb. 6 to 21. Cookie booth sales are set for Feb. 22 to March 24.

Eight varieties are available. For more information, visit gscnc.org, email nwood@ gscnc.org, or call 202-870-1193.

Boys and Girls Club benefit

Body Renew Fitness will expand its Delco Plaza location with an indoor pool and basketball court and will also hold a drive to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Shenandoah Valley.

The remodeling of the former Delco Plaza cinema site is scheduled to break ground this month. Between Jan. 1 and the expansion opening, Body Renew will donate a percentage of every new membership to the Boys & Girls Club, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $5,000.

Call 540-450-0700.

SPCA Thrift Shop

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Thrift Shop at 2225 Valley Ave. in Winchester needs volunteers.

The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Call 540-450-2710.

Tax-Aide

Tax-Aide, a volunteer organization co-sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service and AARP, needs volunteers to help prepare tax returns for low- to middle- income taxpayers.

Training will take place this month in Winchester.

Other volunteer positions are also needed. Call Helen Sperry at 540-722-8185.

CCHS Pride Cards

The Clarke County High School softball team is selling discount cards, valid through 2013, for 29 area restaurants and markets.

The cost is $10 and they are available from: team members; the coach at 540-955-6130, ext. 7422; Charles Grubbs at 540-955-1306 or 540-533-2906; or the office of the high school.

Burns Night Dinner

The City of Winchester Pipes and Drums is seeking sponsors for its annual Burns Night Dinner fundraiser, scheduled from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the Millwood Special Events Center.

The proceeds will be used to support band activities and scholarships for students to study highland piping and drumming.

Contact Fran Jeffries at 540-665-1710.

The event is open to the public. The evening will include the traditional piping-in of the haggis and traditional Scottish dancing and music.

Tickets cost $60 per person (in advance only) and are available by calling 540-535-5235 or 540-955-8386, or from any member of the band.

Volunteer training

The Laurel Center will hold volunteer training from Wednesday to Feb. 6.

The dates and times vary for the 36 to 40 hours of training.

A volunteer may help sexual-assault and domestic-violence victims as a crisis-intervention companion (emergency hospital response); court advocate; children’s volunteer; administrative/general support volunteer; or special events volunteer.

For more information or to register, contact Leslie at 540-667-6160.

Blue Ridge Hospice  thrift shop volunteers

The Blue Ridge Hospice needs volunteers for its thrift shops in Winchester, Stephens City, Front Royal, Berryville and Purcellville.

Assistance is needed for sorting donations and preparing clothing for display and sale.

Contact Kelly Miller or Sue Jarvis at 540-536-5210, or visit blueridgehospice.org.

Shoes needed

Agape Outreach Ministries needs clothing and athletic shoes (gently worn and in excellent condition) for children and young adults in needy families.

To donate, call 540-450-8868 or 540-955-4820.

Appalachian Trial ambassadors

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy seeks to fill 15 volunteer positions for community ambassadors.

The ambassadors will support the AT community program with outreach, education, local projects, events and initiatives.

For more information or to apply, contact Julie Judkins at 828-254-3708 or  jjudkins@appalachiantrail.org.

Office volunteers

Volunteers are needed in the Winchester office of the American Cancer Society for tasks such as answering phones, preparing mailings, performing data entry and handling other projects.

Contact 540-667-2315, ext. 3 or Julie.Overbaugh@cancer.org.

Volunteers needed

Our Health seeks volunteers for various nonprofit agencies.

Contact Daniel Rose at 540-536-1605 or drose@lumos.net.

Help for veterans

Military veterans with a hearing or speech loss are 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 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; or an active member of the Virginia National Guard who has completed the required initial active-duty service.

Call 1-800-552-7917 or visit vddhh.org.

Coat drive

The Salvation Army Winchester Corps seeks gently used or new coats of all sizes for the needy.

The coats may be donated at 300 Fort Collier Road.

Concern Hotline

Concern Hotline needs volunteers to answer calls from home or on cell phones for four hours a week.

Call 540-536-1630.

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 at the museum on the battlefield property.

Contact Donna Crawford at DCrawford@kernstownbattle.org.

Special Olympics

Local Area 13 of the Special Olympics needs volunteer coaches for bowling, track and field, swimming, and tennis.

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

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Winchester-Frederick County seeks 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 provided 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 (U.S. 11) 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.

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.

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.

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.

Faith in Action

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

Call 540-536-1006.

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 at 6 p.m. each Monday. Enter on Braddock Street. Call 540-667-3366.

Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 2732 Martinsburg Pike (U.S. 11), Stephenson, offers a community meal, “Sharing His Bounty,” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

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

The Knights of Columbus sponsors a soup kitchen from 4 to 6 p.m. each Wednesday 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. each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. 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. each Thursday. Call 540-662-6709.

The Centenary Reformed United Church of Christ, 202 S. Cameron St., Winchester, serves lunch from noon to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. 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. each Wednesday at Grace Episcopal Church, Church Street, Berryville. Call Steve Mitchell at 540-955-3322.

Jubilee Kitchen is open from 11:30 to noon each Saturday 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. on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. 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, 381 Millwood Ave., Winchester, 540-536-0000.