Helping Hands

Yoga for the Voluntary Action Center will take place Mondays from 6-7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church on Red Bud Road in Calhoun in the multipurpose room. Beginner to intermediate yoga classes. No charge. Donations are accepted for the VAC. For more information, call Angela Deaton at 770-548-0772.

TREK, the foster care program of Lookout Mountain Community Services in Chickamauga, is expanding their foster care services to meet the needs of the residents in the following 12 counties: Gordon, Gilmer, Floyd, Fannin, Murray, Whitfield, Bartow, Cherokee, Haralson, Polk, Paulding and Pickens. TREK, therapeutic resources and environments for kids. If you want to help make a difference in the life of a child by being a foster care parent, call Jan at the TREK office today. TREK offers free training in the comfort of your own home, and provides reimbursement to foster care parents who are approved for placement. For more information, call 706-217-6819 or 423208-1259.

Want to make a difference in the life of a child? Caring adults and families to serve as foster parents are needed – opportunities for full-time fostering or for respite care. Call Murphy-Harpst Children’s Centers for more information at 770748-1500, extensions 223 or 224.

Gordon County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is recruiting new volunteers to serve as Child Advocates/Guardian Ad Litems for children involved in Juvenile Court deprivation hearings. It is the goal of the program to have a CASA volunteer to advocate for the best interests of all abused or neglected children placed in foster care. Currently the local CASA program has seven volunteers and there are 141 Gordon County children in foster care. For more information on how you can become a part of this very important program please call the Gordon County CASA office at 706-629-4561, extension 6 or e-mail apitts@gordoncounty.org.

Adventa Hospice is looking for very special individuals or groups who can visit hospice patients in homes or nursing homes. Activity volunteers support hospice patients through running errands, reading to the patient, sharing a devotional, playing board or card games, or just making friendly visits. Volunteer by yourself or as a group and as often or as little as your schedule allows. Individual or group training is available at your convenience. You can make a difference. Call Sheila Cameron at Adventa Hospice at 706259-2518 or toll-free at 1-866-353-5915.

LifeLink of Georgia, the agency which coordinates organ and tissue donations in Georgia, has speakers available for civic and community groups, churches, schools, corporations, etc. Speakers are trained to provide information and dispel myths about organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Presentations are free to the public and tailored to the specific audience. To learn more about the Speaker’s Bureau or organ and tissue donation, contact Terri Medina at 770-225-5465 / 800-544-6667 or visit the Web site at www.lifelinkfound.org.

Volunteers needed at Heartland Hospice. Flexible hours and a great opportunity if you need school credit or just want to help others. Clerical work and friendly visitors for our patients. Call 770-3820721.

Girl Scout volunteers needed now. Call Debbie Childress at 404-889-0528 or e-mail her at dchildress@girlscouts-nwga. org. Complete training is provided. Share your talents and skills with girls and watch them grow, Childress said.

The Coosa Valley Chapter of American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to do community outreach presentations at health fairs and other public events in Bartow, Chattooga, Floyd, Gordon, and Polk counties. Training will be provided. For more information, call Alison Dunwoody at 706-2916648.

Attention, students, retirees, housewives, and others who have a heart for volunteerism. There is no place you would be appreciated more than at Calhoun Health Care Center Inc. The activity department offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information, call 706-6291289.

The Calhoun Pregnancy Center Inc. offers free pregnancy tests and counseling regarding abortion, development of the baby, and sexual purity and also helps with maternity and baby clothes, diapers and baby care products, and even some baby furniture when available. The center is open Tuesday from noon to 4 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Calhoun Pregnancy Center is a Christian ministry dedicated to the sanctity of all human life. To make an appointment, call 706-625-5768. Walk-ins are also welcome. The pregnancy help center is located at the four-way stop on Peters Street.

The Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association maintains Caring Closets in several Northwest Georgia locations. Usually in stock are diapers in a variety of styles and sizes, wipes, creams, gloves, and bed pads especially for caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Caregivers may visit a Caring Closet location once a month to pick up above listed items free of charge. For availability of items or donation information, call: Calhoun, Beverly Hilley, 706-6290777; Cartersville, Beth Kershner, 770-606-1218; Dalton, Sandy, 706-2750819; Fort Oglethrope, Sue Brown-Long, 706866-3303; McCayville, Susan Greene, 706492-4045; Rome, Janie Freeman 706-291-0904; Summerville,Mary, 706857-5001.

As the seasons change, so does the storage unit provided by the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Gordon County. This unit provides clothing, shoes, and personal items that children need and appreciate. Such items are clothing, shoes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, hair barrettes, shampoo, soap, socks, underwear, diapers, and pull-ups. Items of clothing for ages 6-14 in girls and boys, 6 months and up for boys, and items for teens are desperately needed. Any donations would be appreciated. This allows the foster parents to provide for the children of Gordon County in state custody with items that their daily allowance cannot cover. For pick-up, call 706-6244522 or 706-271-8653. For monetary donations for the purchase of these items, mail your check to GCAFPA, 202 Dorsey St., Calhoun, Ga. 30701 or make a deposit into the account at Georgia Bank & Trust.

The Outreach Ministry takes all donations of clothes, furniture, appliances, miscellaneous items, yard sale items, outside items, and more and helps needy families with these items. Call Pastor Evelyn Adams at

706-337-3241.

The youth group at First Presbyterian Church, Red Bud Road, wants to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children in the area. They are leading the community in PROD (Prevention and Relief of Domestic Violence) and will be collecting the listed items for victims of domestic violence. If you would like to donate, place any of the following items in the box in the Gathering Room of the church: cleaners, trash bags, trash cans, dish towels, toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, soap, deodorant, hair spray, razors, feminine care items, lotion, diapers, baby wipes, laundry detergent, aspirin, BandAids, children’s cold medication, Wal-Mart gas cards, McDonald’s gift certificates, etc., and canned items (such as soup, ravioli, etc.). “Thank you for your help,” a spokesman said.

Volunteers for hospice care make tremendous contributions in the care of terminally ill patients and their families through visits and small tasks. Give a gift from the heart. Volunteers are trained and provide help in their local area. United Hospice serves 17 counties in Northwest Georgia. Call the volunteer coordinator at 706-602-9546 or 800-867-7976.

Calhoun’s Friends of the Library, an organization that supports the Calhoun-Gordon County Library, is making a plea to the public for donations of audiotapes. If you have audiotapes that you have heard and are willing to dispense with, it is requested that you donate them to the library. There is a supply of audiotapes on hand now, but the demand is great. Donations are taxdeductible. Checkout is similar to checking out a book, except for shorter duration.

Were you a Girl Scout? We need your help! Troop leaders, assistant leaders, and short-term volunteer opportunities are available. Call Debbie at 706-236-9254 right away.

As a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can give a child the kind of friendship that can mean the difference between just getting by and really making it. It’s just a few hours a week. Can you spare the time? Call Big Brothers Big Sisters at 706-629-6029 for more information.

The National Kidney Foundation is the leader in collecting thousands of unwanted automobiles each year that are either sold for re-use or recycled. Taking older cars off the street and out of driveways reduces emissions and beautifies neighborhoods. Donate your car, boat, truck, or motor home to the National Kidney Foundation of Georgia. Call 1-800-4882277 for more information. Donors receive an acknowledged letter stating the year, make, and vehicle identification number of the donated car for tax purposes.

Georgia Mountains Hospice helps people fill their last days with dignity and caring at home or in a nursing home. Georgia Mountains Hospice would like for you to take this opportunity to become a volunteer today. In whatever role you choose to volunteer, please make the decision that will change the lives of someone else. Call Gina Pendley, director of volunteer services, at 1-800-692-7199, with any questions about becoming a Georgia Mountains Hospice Volunteer.

Need a ride? Call Gordon Transportation, a bus service within Gordon County. The bus runs Monday through Friday and is available to the general public. For more information, call 706-602-0852 or 706692-5644.

The National League of Cities and the City of Calhoun have a new program to help residents save money on prescription medicines not covered by insurance. The City of Calhoun prescription discount card is available to all city residents free of charge and can help save an average of 20 percent off the price of commonly prescribed medications at participating pharmacies. To learn more about where to pick up the card and what pharmacies participate in the network, call toll free 1-888-620-1749 or visit www. caremark. com/ nlc. That’s 1-888-620-1749 or www.caremark.com/nlc.

St. Clement’s Catholic Church’s St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Food Pantry is open to the public on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Enter from the rear parking lot of the church.

The Northwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for volunteers interested in helping their neighbors and community during a disaster. Learn how you can help your community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters. You will also learn about other volunteer opportunities with the chapter. Help your neighbor, help your community! For more information, call 706-6294510.

United Hospice is seeking volunteers to help others as good neighbors providing friendship and doing small tasks. Enjoy the privilege of sharing in your local area. You will receive training that is personal and flexible to your schedule. Call our Volunteer Coordinator, Melva Floyd, at 706-6029546 or 800-867-7976 for an interview or to get further information.

Regency Hospice’s volunteer program strengthens and extends its capabilities into the communities in many ways that benefit patients and their families. All that is required is a loving heart, commitment and a willingness to learn to become an active link supporting our team of hospice professionals. Prior experience is not required, and the amount of time you give is up to you. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Kim Davidson at 770-3827175.

If you love to read and enjoy the helping others, you are encouraged to come by the Fairmount Library and fill out a volunteer application and background check form. The library is a wonderful place to offer your time and ability to help your community and others. You may call the library at 706-337-3110 for more information.

Transitions Hospice Care is in need of compassionate people to volunteer their time. As little as an hour a month can make a difference in someone’s life. For more information contact Britnee Tow @ 706-3782273.

Calhoun Health Care is asking for volunteers in the community. Those interested should contact 706-629-1289, ext. 118. Being a volunteer is rewarding to both volunteers and residents. The facility is located at 1387 Highway 41 North in Calhoun.

The North Georgia Home School Band is seeking used band instruments for its elementary, middle, and high school youth musicians. Donations can be made on Thursdays at Living Word Church on North Main Street in Jasper, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or make arrangements with the Coordinator, Nadine Harrison, at nghomeschoolband@gmail.com The North Georgia Home School Band meets every Thursday at Living Word Church in Jasper. For more information, see our website at www. nghomeschoolband.com

Gordon County children need you! Become a foster parent today. Classes begin soon. Call Donna Mincey at Gordon County Department of Family and Children Services at 706-624-1233.

The Littlest Heroes Project is a non-profit based organization of professional photographers worldwide that provide free photo sessions for children who suffer from a serious illness or life-altering disability to our nation’s Littlest Heroes. The whole family is welcome to participate in these special sessions. To sign up your hero or to learn more about the services Littlest Heroes provides, visit www.littlestheroesproject.org.

Meritan Stepping Stones, a specialized foster care agency is in need of loving, caring parents in Gordon County to care for children who are in the custody of the State of Georgia. If you are interested in learning more about Meritan Stepping Stones or becoming a Stepping Stones Foster Parent please contact JoNell H. Courson at 770-387-9003. Our office is located at 200 Leake St., Suite 103 Cartersville, Ga. 30120.