Senate passes bill to allow food donations
The Rome affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is offering a free eightweek course for adults that have family members or friends living with mental health conditions. Students increase their understanding and advocacy skills while learning how to take care of themselves and promote recovery for their loved one with a mental illness. Familyto-Family starts Sunday, March 1, and meets from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in Rome at the NAMI Rome trailer. For more information and registration, contact Bonnie Moore at 706-506-8314.
The Anna Shaw Children’s Institute (ASCI), 1201 Burleyson Road in Dalton, will hold a family support class on Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. in the Southern Magnolia Rooms on first floor of the facility. Emily Brandt, MD, developmental and behavioral pediatrician, will provide an introduction to autism. This class is part of ASCI’s CHAMP series. CHAMP stands for Classes to Help, Advise and Motivate Parents. The sessions will be held on the first Tuesday of each month. The CHAMP series is open to families of children of any age. Register by calling 706-226-8911. Space is limited. Limited childcare for children 12 and under will be available.
The Rome affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is offering a free eight-week course for adults living with a mental health condition. Students learn about mental illness, their triggers, and how they can live a life in recovery. Peerto-Peer starts Wednesday, March 4, and meets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Rome at Living Proof Recovery. For more information about NAMI and registration, call Bonnie Moore at 706506-8314.
A free performance of “Raising a President,” the story of a woman named Rachel Clark who worked on the family farm of President Jimmy Carter as he was a child, will be presented on Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the GEM Theatre in Calhoun. Historical actress Joanna Maddox will play the lead role. The event is presented in partnership with the Calhoun-Gordon County Library. For tickets or more information, call 706-625-3132 or visit calhoungemtheatre.org.
A Northwest Georgia Home Vegetable Gardening Workshop is planned for Thursday, March 12, from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gordon County Agriculture Services Center, 1282 Highway 53 Spur S.W. in Calhoun. The guest speaker will be Robert R. Westerfield, senior public service associate with UGA Extension. Pre-registration with a payment of $20 is required by March 9. Lunch will be provided.
AdventHealth Gordon is hosting a maternity fair on Sunday, March 15, for those who are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are parents of an infant. The event will be held in Conference Room E (enter through the North Entrance) from 2 to 4 p.m. Limited space is available, and registration is required to
Tallatoona Community Action Partnership Inc. is hosting “Pathway to Empowerment,” a program that provides services and supports individuals and their families who are committed to changing their lives. Families can receive training and guidance regarding career pathways, education, financial literacy, job training and life skills development. The program is by appointment only. Contact the Gordon County location at 770817-4666 for additional information.
Celebrate Recovery meets every Tuesday at 100 Peter St., Suite 80, in Calhoun. A free dinner is served at 6 p.m., following by large group at 6:45 and small group at 8 p.m.
The Oostanaula Community Club hosts a monthly bluegrass jam on the last Saturday of every month, except in March and October. Dinner is served beginning at 5 p.m. for $7 a plate and includes dessert and drink. Music starts at 6 p.m. and at least one band will take the stage at each event. For more information, contact Barbara Talley at 770-6082050.
The Calhoun-Gordon County Library will host Chess for Adults every Thursday at 1 p.m.
The Calhoun-Gordon County Library is providing U.S. citizenship classes for those who wish to prepare for the civics exam. Classes are free and do not require any registration or documentation. Classes are held Tuesdays from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. For more information, call the library at 706-624-1456.
Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — Legislation allowing nonprofit groups to make sandwiches for needy children during summer cleared the Georgia Senate on Thursday.
Senate Bill 345, dubbed the “Save Our Sandwiches Bill,” came after state health inspectors halted a Marietta-based summer food program after nearly 24 years of serving free homemade sandwiches to thousands of school children.
A technicality in state law barred the nonprofit MUST Ministries from receiving and distributing donated sandwiches, forcing the group to raise nearly $250,000 to keep the program afloat last summer.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen.
Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta, said it would fix the issue by allowing nonprofits like MUST Ministries to secure permits to operate free food programs for 12 weeks over summer and four weeks during the regular school year.
Nonprofit food programs could also receive donations of food made in church kitchens and businesses under the bill, provided volunteers in those kitchens follow basic food-safety rules like wearing gloves and keeping preparation areas clean. Food prepared in homes could not be donated.
Squaring the MUST Ministries food program with state law would make sure kids in food-scarce areas will still receive sandwiches when school is not in session.