Community bulletin board — help and serve the community

Help and serve  the community

AARP Driver Safety Program

AARP will conduct an eight-hour classroom refresher course, designed for drivers 50 and older, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15 in the Frederick County Public Safety Building at 1080 Coverstone Drive.

Those completing the course will receive a certificate, which should reduce auto insurance costs. The course has no exams. The cost is $14 to cover materials; AARP members will receive a $2 discount.

Participants should bring their driver’s license to class. Call Mike at 540-869-2204.

Luncheon lectures series

A free luncheon series of lectures will be held at noon Thursdays at the Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship Center in Winchester.

March 7 — Attorney Dennis McLaughlin presents “End of Life Tool Kit.”

March 21 — A Walgreens pharmacist answers questions concerning Medicare Part D.

March 28 — Ask Landis presents “Turnkey Solutions for Seniors Downsizing.”

Contact 540-667-5869 or Sharon@godfreymillerhome.org.

Mahjong lessons

The Godfrey Miller Historic Home and Fellowship will offer free mahjong classes from noon to 3 p.m. each Tuesday in March.

Wendy Gay is the instructor. Call 540-667-5869 to register.

Child Find Screening Day

Northwestern Regional Educational Programs will sponsor a Child Find Screening Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 8.

The free preschool screenings are for children 18 months to 5 years.

Call 540-665-0103 to make an appointment.

Patsy Cline House volunteers

The Patsy Cline Historic House seeks for volunteers to help tell the legendary singer’s story at her childhood home in Winchester.

Detailed training will be provided.

Call 540-662-5555.

Caregivers vouchers

The Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program provides reimbursement vouchers to home-based caregivers for the cost of temporary, short-term respite care provided to individuals of any age with a disability or special need.

Those eligible are caregivers of children or adults who reside in the same household as the person receiving care. Voucher funding is limited to $400 per family.

Application information is available at vadars.org/services.htm. Contact Kristie Chamberlain at 1-800-552-5019 or Kristie.chamberlain@dars.virginia.gov.

Sleep study volunteers

Is your preschooler a lark or an owl?

Larks are up before the sun, ready to go; owls prefer the nightlife and would rather be up late than early.

Shenandoah University psychology professor Laura K. Zimmermann is conducting a survey of preschoolers’ sleep habits, daily routines and levels of alertness and fatigue at different times of day.

Parents of children between 36 and 60 months old may participate. The 12-minute survey can be found at surveymonkey.com/s/QFJ6CQ6.

Contact lzimmerm@su.edu.

Goodwill donations

Horizon Goodwill Industries needs donations of gently used clothing, shoes, household items, towels, linens, blankets and related items.

The local store is at 443 Millwood Ave in Winchester.

Call 540-723-6864.

Key Club value cards

The James Wood High School Key Club is selling value cards which can be used for discounts at local eateries.

The cost is $10; the cards are valid through Feb. 1, 2014.

Contact Barbara Devers at 540-662-6038.

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.

Volunteers are needed. Call 536-1648. Visit lvwa.org.

Park volunteers

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park is seeking volunteers to help with visitors’ needs and other projects.

The park, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last month, will open a Visitor Contact Station in Middletown in the spring.

For more information, call 540-869-3051. Park Ranger Shannon Moeck is the volunteer coordinator.

AARP Tax-Aide

AARP Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation for people with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older.

The Tax-Aide site is open through April 15 in the War Memorial Building at Jim Barnett Park in Winchester. The hours are: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will also be open March 9 and 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Participants should bring a Social Security card, photo identification and pertinent tax documents.

For more information, call 540-662-0039.

Blue Ridge Hospice  thrift shop volunteers

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

Volunteers are needed to sort donations and hang clothing in preparation for display and sale.

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

Office volunteers

Volunteers are needed at the American Cancer Society’s Winchester office for general support, such as answering phones, handing mailings and data entry, and other projects.

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

Volunteers needed

Our Health is seeking volunteers to help fill positions for nonprofit agencies.

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

Help for veterans

Military veterans living 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.

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.

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 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 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 needs wipes and disposable diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5), cloth training pants and potty chairs.

Contact Jody Stephenson at 540-955-0949.

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 to help with 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 Sundays 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 (Va. 7), 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.