CALENDAR

Editor’s Note: At press time, the following events and meetings were known to be still scheduled. Organizers or appropriate officials are encouraged to contact Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com to make additions or changes.

Underway

Covid-19 testing sites available Details for getting the covid-19 test are available at the Jefferson County Health Department — 870-535-2142; and Arkansas Department of Health’s website — https:// www.healthy.arkansas.gov/ programs-services/topics/ covid-19-guidance-for-getting-tested . Scroll down until you see the map and enlarge the map. Click on each star to see where each testing site is located.

Tuesday, Jan. 12

TOPPS to give away food TOPPS Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization will hand out food boxes in a drive-through session at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at TOPPS, 1000 Townsend Drive. The food will be given away on a first come, first served method. One box will be given per household and no more than two boxes will be placed in a vehicle, according to a news release. Food boxes are distributed monthly.

White Hall School Board meets

White Hall School Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 1020 W. Holland Ave., at White Hall. Wednesday, Jan. 13 SEARK Board of Trustees meet The Southeast Arkansas College Board of Trustees will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, via Zoom only. The public is invited to attend. To request Zoom access, contact Wanda Grimmett at wgrimmett@seark. edu.

Wednesday, Jan. 13

Pine Bluff Commercial sets church news deadline

Church news is printed in The Commercial on Friday. The deadine to submit church announcements is noon Wednesday. Articles may be submitted by email to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing a religion column may submit articles for consideration by email. Please include your phone number, the name and location of your ministry or city where you reside, and your photo. Photos may also accompany church news by email.

Thursday, Jan. 14

NAACP to hold Zoom meeting The Pine Bluff Branch of the NAACP will hold its regular monthly membership meeting via Zoom at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14. If the branch has valid email addresses for NAACP members, they will the emailed the Zoom link to join the meeting. Others wishing to attend may email pbnaacp@yahoo.com for the Zoom link. Details: NAACP Branch President Wanda V. Neal, (870) 536-3141.

Friday, Jan. 15 Deadline set to register for online diabetes support group

The Cooperative Extension Service will offer Delta Day to Day with Diabetes, a free online support group, through Feb. 28. The deadline to register is Jan. 15, according to a news release. Virtual meetings will be offered on Mondays from 12:30 – 1 p.m. Other days will include Tasty Tuesdays for sharing recipes, Wellness Wednesdays, Think about it Thursdays, Fitness Fridays and Wonderful Weekends. Registration is open at https://uaex. co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_eaJQYv1rDlWcsUl. Sessions will also be accessible on the Facebook Group Page along with recipes, handouts and posts. Details: www.uaex.edu/diabetes or mkizer@uaex.edu.

Saturday, Jan. 16

Pine Bluff sets community cleanup for MLK Service Day

In honor of the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the city of Pine Bluff will host a community cleanup Saturday, Jan. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers should meet at 8 a.m. at Good Faith Carr United Methodist, 3703 Ryburn Road, according to a news release. Supplies and clean-up assignments will be given out at Good Faith, however, volunteers should provide their own transportation to clean-up sites, which will be located throughout the community. To protect against Covid-19, public health measures will be implemented, including social distancing and mask wearing. Details: Mayor Shirley Washington’s office, 870-730-2004. Sunday, Jan. 17

2021 Justice Sunday event to be virtual

Justice Sunday Service Around the Clock, a virtual event will be held from noon Sunday, Jan. 17, until 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18. The national virtual event promoting community service and volunteerism is sponsored by the 400 Years of African American History Federal Commission, according to a news release. Pine Bluff participants will be Leslie Hall Dorn, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Arkansas; Renice L. Davis, pastor of Bethany Chapel Missionary Baptist Church; Gary Bell, pastor Pine Bluff First Assembly of God; and Arkansas state Rep. Kenneth B. Ferguson of District, a Democrat of District 16. Actor Ernie Hudson will be the host. Details: 400 Commission website, www.400yaahc.gov. Beginning Sunday, Jan. 17

One Pine Bluff Praying continues

One Pine Bluff Praying Together Services will continue to be held in 2021, according to a news release. The prayer initiative started in 2017 and was intended for participants to meet at area churches to pray for the growth and prosperity of the city. Due to Covid-19, sessions are held by conference call or Zoom on Sundays during the months that have five Sundays. The following churches will host the prayer sessions in January from 6-7 p.m. Sundays: Jan. 10 — First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Sixth Ave.; Jan. 17 — Cherry St. AME Zion Church, 800 Cherry St.; Jan. 24 — Trinity Episcopal Church, 703 W. Third Ave.; and Jan. 31 — First Assembly of God, 1002 Ridgway Road. The conference call number is #1.978.990.5000 with access code 127365#

Monday, Jan. 18

House of Bread Church giving away food

House of Bread Deliverance Church, 500 S. Main St., will open its drive-thru food pantry Monday, Jan. 18, from 1-4:30 p.m. or until the 250 boxes food boxes run out. The church will give away food on a first come, first served basis. Only one box will be given per household. Police officers will direct traffic at the giveaway, according to a news release. Due to the pandemic, the process is a drive thru and everyone is required to wear a mask. Everyone must bring proof of address (utility bills and drivers’ licenses.) All clients must fill out new intake forms for 2021, according to the release. Details: House of Bread apostle, Saint Mary Harris at 870-872-2196. Through Saturday, Jan. 23 Arts center hosts Ballots & Laughs The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas 701 S. Main St., will host the “Ballots & Laughs: Political Cartoons of Ray Walters” exhibit. It will be on display and online through Jan. 23, 2021, featuring a light-hearted perspective of the 1930s and ’40s political and social climate.

Events underway

Weekdays New library offering curbside service

The Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System is offering curbside service at the new main library, Sixth Avenue and Main Street. The library is checking out materials with curbside service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Library staff and patrons will follow social distancing and public health recommendations during pickup. Patrons may use their library cards to access the online catalog or call the main library at 870-534-4802 for curbside service. A staff member will contact the patron to arrange a curbside pickup time.

Neighbor to Neighbor open 5 days a week

Neighbor to Neighbor, 1419 S. Pine St., has reopened five days a week. The agency will be open Monday through Friday from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m. For the sake of safety, Neighbor to Neighbor will continue serving to-go lunches at the door from noon to 1 p.m. and are available to anyone who is hungry. Masks are required to enter the building and hand sanitizer will be available at the door, according to a news release. New clients or those seeking assistance with bills or medications should call 870-5342883 for an appointment. Fathers & Sons collects clothes for Neighbor to Neighbor

Fathers & Sons Clothier in Jefferson Square is partnering with Neighbor to Neighbor to assist people in the community who need winter clothes, according to a news release. The store management is asking for the community to donate new socks, gently worn used coats, blankets, knit hats, scarves, gloves or other winter items. For anyone living outside the community who can’t bring in donations but want to contribute, they can send an email to Fathersandsons@att.net or call the store. Details: David Maddox, owner of Fathers & Sons, or Brandon Maddox or (870) 536-7848.