Girl Scout Troop 4 teamed up with First United Methodist Church and Richfield Nursing Center to create a pumpkin patch for the residents on May 18, 2013. This was a part of FUMC Day of Missions titled “Operation InasMuch” and a Take Action Project for the Girl Scouts.

Contributing to project: Bailee Lintner, Cecilia Fraticelli, Sierrah Deel-Morris, Danielle Davis, Samea Brown, Mackenlee Simmons, Abigail Stinnette, Erin Helton, Mackenzie Brodrecht, Emma Painter, Madison Sowder, Serena Fick, Eleni Butzer, Angela Lee, Emma Hamilton, and Emily Harrell. Leaders Tracy Lintner, Judith Painter, Mitzi Simmons and Katrina Brodrecht.

– Submitted by Tracy Lintner

Girl Scout Troop 909 teamed up with First United Methodist Church and Richfield Nursing Center to create a Memorial Garden for the residents on May 18, 2013. This was a part of FUMC Day of Missions titled “Operation InasMuch” and a Take Action Project for the Girl Scout Breathe journey.

Alex Abbott, Amber Helton, Joy Postmus, Holly Thomas, Ashley Bulaski, Kayla Lintner, Sacha Brown, Azyah Burnett and Rebecca Burton (not pictured), lead by Tracy Lintner and Debra Abbott

– Submitted by Tracy Lintner

Picture yourself at the end of this rope! The GE Energy team “tugging for children’s health.” Photo courtesy of Nancy Fralin

Reigning champions will defend their titles at CHIP’s 17th annual Tug for Tots competition on Friday, May 17th, at Noon, Spartan Field, Salem High School. All funds raised will benefit the Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP) of Roanoke Valley. Nineteen teams in three weight divisions have signed up for the old-fashioned tug of war. David Camper, Jeff Copeland and Jackie Smith, long-time CHIP volunteers and Board Members, are co-chairing this year’s event.

Teams from local hospitals, corporations, public safety agencies and other major Roanoke Valley employers will participate this year. In the 2,000-pound lightweight division, the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Department will defend its eight-year championship reign. The Branch Group team will be back to defend their heavy-weight title. Each team has 10 members, including at least two women. The teams will be weighed as a group on a large scale before the competition begins. Several teams have expressed excitement over the opportunity to “tug” on Spartan Field’s synthetic FieldTurf–the playing surface of choice for numerous professional and collegiate venues across the country. This year’s “celebrity referees” understand what competition is all about! CHIP welcomes former VT and NFL football player Lee Suggs and former UVA and NBA basketball player Cory Alexander. They will join head referee, Paul Higgins, who is in his 17th year as head referee and Coach Joe Gaither.

The teams pay a $1,000 entry fee. Funds raised through the event will enable CHIP to continue to provide health care and family support services to low-income children in the Roanoke Valley. The public-private partnership is in its 25th year.

– Submitted by Nancy Fralin, CHIP of Roanoke Valley

Do you want to make a difference in your community? People count on the American Red Cross to help in times of crisis. You can make a difference by joining the Red Cross as a volunteer. It’s the power of its volunteer corps that enables the organization to deliver its mission of providing hope and help.

Volunteers are central to the work of the Red Cross in our community. These volunteers are people in action—whether providing comfort to a family whose home has been destroyed by a fire; teaching first aid, CPR and other lifesaving skills; supporting blood drives; or helping veterans, members of the military stationed overseas and their families at home.

Right now, the Red Cross especially needs people who are willing to respond to disasters. Each year, Red Cross volunteers bring food, shelter, comfort and hope to local families faced with rebuilding after disasters. Volunteers are needed to assist families with immediate needs after a disaster and help guide them on their road to recovery.

The majority of Red Cross Disaster Service volunteers are retired and searching for a rewarding experience by making a difference in their communities. There are even married couples searching for opportunities to do something together, and enjoy the volunteer experience. These volunteers are Red Cross Disaster Action Team (D.A.T.) members, responding to local disasters that occur, such as house fires, flooding and snow storms. Some also volunteer during national disasters like Superstorm Sandy.

People don’t have to have any special skills, only the desire to help others. It’s a simple process to become a volunteer and the Red Cross provides all of the training.

Join the movement. You might find your own life changed. People interested in volunteering can go to www.RedCross.org and type in their zip code to reach the local Red Cross office and find out more information about becoming a Red Cross volunteer.

– Submitted by Amy Whittaker, American Red Cross, Public Affairs Director

The Branch Group team will tug against an articulated off-road truck weighing 48,200 pounds on Tuesday, May 14 to practice for the upcoming annual Tug for Tots. Photo courtesy of Nancy Fralin

The Branch Group is excited to defend their title as the 2012 Heavy Weight Champion of CHIP of Roanoke Valley’s Tug for Tots. So much so that their 2013 team of eight men and two women have decided that they may need a little practice to make sure they are in good enough shape to take on the likes of Precision Technology and Allstate Insurance.

With the thought that practice makes perfect, The Branch Group team will tug against one of their heavy-duty pieces of equipment … an articulated off-road truck weighing 48,200 pounds on Tuesday, May 14 at 3:00 p.m.  The practice tug will take place at 3025 Nicholas Avenue, NE, Roanoke, VA 24012.

CHIP’s 17^th Annual Tug for Tots will be held on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Spartan Field at Salem High School.  Twenty one teams will take the field at 12:00 noon to begin their efforts to tug for children’s health.

CHIP of Roanoke Valley is a health-focused home visiting case management program providing over 450 home visits each month to low-income children and families throughout the Roanoke Valley. Nurses, Family Case Managers and Mental Health Case managers tailor visits to assist families in understanding their child’s development, parenting and medical needs. This includes coordinating the child’s physical, oral and mental health services, providing referrals to community resources and helping parents become their child’s best teacher and advocate.  The Tug for Tots event has raised over $385,000 to further CHIP’s mission over the past 17 years.

– Submitted by Nancy Fralin, CHIP of Roanoke Valley

Walkers will go around the clock in the battle against cancer when the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Salem gets under way with teams of residents gathering in the Roanoke Valley.

Relay For Life events are held overnight as individuals and teams camp out at an athletic track, park or other gathering area, with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the evening. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups . . . people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping them get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.

Relay For Life of Salem

June 14, 2013 at 7:00PM to June 15, 2013 at 10:00AM

Salem High School

Survivor Reception at 5:30PM in the Salem HS Cafeteria

www.SalemRelay.org

Relay is a unique opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease. Many of the participants are cancer survivors, which serves as a reminder that the Roanoke Valley is not immune to this disease and that by participating in Relay, the community is joining with the American Cancer Society’s efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Read more »

Helping the hungry in our region is as easy as leaving a letter in your mailbox.

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) is teaming up with Feeding America Southwest Virginia and Kroger to conduct Stamp Out Hunger, an annual food drive on Saturday, May 11, when letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations as they deliver mail along their postal routes.

It’s part of the nation’s largest single-day food drive, held in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Last year letter carriers in the region collected a record 410,427 pounds of food along their postal routes – placing Roanoke first in the nation in metropolitan areas of its size.

On May 11, letter carriers will collect donations that residents leave near their mailboxes as they deliver mail. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday.

“We’re honored to be able to help people in need by leading an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans,” said Chris Russo, president of the NALC Branch 524 in Roanoke. “Six days a week, letter carriers see first-hand the needs in the communities where we work throughout southwest Virginia, and we’re committed to helping meet those needs with the public’s help.”

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is more important than ever. Pantry shelves that filled up over the holidays often are bare by late spring. And, with most school meal programs suspended during summer months, thousands of children in our region must find alternate sources of nutrition.

“The timing of the food drive is important, and that’s why we selected the second Saturday in May,” added Roanoke Postmaster Ed Schaben. “This is a convenient way for everyone to give back and help those in need.” Read more »

Photo courtesy of Susan Birckhead

The Women’s Ministry at Fellowship Community Church held a Royal Baby Shower hosted by Patti Hogeboom. All the ladies brought baby shower gifts to donate to the Blue Ridge Women’s Center.

The ladies pictured are as follows:

Back row: Melinda Hartley, Susan Birckhead, Kathy Walker, Patti Hogeboom, Peg Ambrosio, Margaret Bishop, Karen Jones

Front row kneeling: Christy Jones, Peggy Funk

– Submitted by Susan Birckhead

– Submitted by Jenny McCormick

Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Land Conservancy

The Blue Ridge Land Conservancy is pleased to announce the fifth-annual Race for Open Space 5K Classic and 3K Run/Walk on June 1 at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County with special support from Coca-Cola. All proceeds benefit the land preservation efforts of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy.

The 3K Run/Walk is perfect for children, families and active adults looking to spend some time outdoors. In addition to our 3K Run/Walk, we have a 5K Classic for more competitive runners or those wanting to try a longer distance race. Both courses are relatively flat, running along the picturesque Roanoke River Greenway and on shaded trails. The 5K Classic begins at 8:30 a.m., and the 3K Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. Before and after the races, children’s activities will be provided by Mountain Castles Soil and Water Conservation District and the Western Virginia Water Authority. Refreshments after the race will include Homestead Creamery ice cream!

Special awards by Appalachian Ironworks will be given to the top three male and female finishers of both races. Awards will also be given to the top three male and female finishers of each age group in both races. Entry is free for children ages 13 and younger if registered by May 17 and $10 on race day. Entry is $25 for participants ages 14 and older if registered by May 17 and $30 on race day. Visit www.blueridgelandconservancy.org to download the registration form or to sign-up online. Pre-race packet pickup will be held from 5-7 p.m. on May 31 at Fleet Feet Sports in Roanoke. Registration and packet pickup will begin at 7:30 a.m. the day of the race. All participants ages 14 and older who pre-register will receive an organic cotton race T-shirt. Read more »