Newsletter - July, 2008

UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY
July 15, 2008

Note: You can help us build this ministry for the faith community!  Please send information about programming and events within your church or community to champs@crossandheart.org or call Chris, 895-2224.


New items this week:

Book Your Flu Shot Clinic Now: Help keep your congregation healthy by scheduling a VNA flu immunization clinic at your church.  Flu shots will be available starting the first week of October and are available throughout October, November and December.  To schedule a clinic or for more information, please contact Andrea Witt, Flu Prevention Coordinator at 930-4222 or via awitt@vnaomaha.org. An online registration form is available at www.vnaomaha.org.

Caring for Your Parents: If you are concerned about a loved one over the age of 60 years old who is experiencing challenges with their health and safety, please plan to attend a special gathering at St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 13232 Blondo in the lower level Bronstad Youth & Learning Center on Thursday, July 17, 6:00-8:00 pm.  A light dinner will be served at 6:00 pm, highlights of PBS special "Caring for Your Parents" at 6:30 pm followed by a conversation with professionals with experience in the challenges and available resources to help families and their elderly loved ones now and in the future. Please RSVP by July 15 to Debbie at 493-2871 or Chris at 996-8444.  This will be offered again at St. Paul's Lutheran, 13571 Millard Ave, on August 14th.

Protect, Detect, and Love the Skin You're In!  During June and July the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) has partnered with Olay to sponsor free skin cancer screenings.  To find participating Nebraska physicians, visit Consumer Info at http://www.asds-net.org. 

Stages: Part Three: The third part of Stages, a four-part educational series hosted by the Olson Center for Women's Health at UNMC, will cover common concerns for women between 20-39 years of age on July 25 beginning at 5 pm. Health care providers in the Olson Center will cover the topics of depression and anxiety, weight management, pregnancy and pain management.  General registration is $10 which includes dinner; nursing registration is $25 and provides 2.25 contact hours of nursing credit.  The evening will conclude with dessert and a tour of the Olson Center for Women's Health.  Even though each event is focused on women of a specific age group, all interested women are invited to attend.  For more information or to register, please call 559-6345 or visit www.OlsonCenter.com.

Kountze Memorial 150th Anniversary Open House: On Sunday, July 20, 12:00-2:00 pm, Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church, 2650 Farnam St, will celebrate its 150th Anniversary.  The community is invited to tour this historic church, learn more about its ministries and programs, enjoy refreshments and help celebrate the anniversary.   For more information, please call 341-7761 or visit www.kmlchurch.org.


Continued Items:

Socks and Underwear Giveaway for Students: Holy Family and Together, Inc. will distribute new socks and underwear for students from kindergarten through high school.  Participants must preregister at either Holy Family, 1715 Izard from July 7th to July 10th or at Together, Inc. at 1616 Cass from July 14th to July 17th and July 18th.   The articles will be distributed on July 29th, 4-7 pm and July 30th, 9 am-12 Noon.

Help build a Playground:  Jackson Elementary School, 620 S 31st St, is the recipient of a new playground courtesy of a grant from the Chrysler Foundation.  Prior to this grant, the kids attending this school did not have adequate equipment for outdoor recess time.  However, it is going to take 250 volunteers to make this playground a reality!  Build day is July 17, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.  All volunteers must be over the age of 18.   Volunteers do not have to be skilled, trained or have any special tools; just willing to work hard and have fun!  If you are interested in participating in the playground build, please contact Lisa at 898-9862 or via email to lmaupin@bigmuddyumc.org.

Aid & Attendance Seminar:  For veterans who have served America, as well as their spouses, the government is offering a program to help them in their golden years.  Aid & Attendance is a benefit given to those veterans and spouses, who need the help (Aid) and presence (Attendance) or another person to complete their activities of daily living.  There are minimal criteria to be eligible for this benefit.  Aid & Attendance is one of the most misunderstood programs available to veterans.  A free informational seminar will be held on July 17, 6:30 pm at Westgate Assisted Living, 3030 S 80th St.  As seating is limited, an RSVP is required to 391-8566.

Nebraska Disaster Behavioral Health Conference: Learn to recognize and prepare to respond to the psychological effects of disaster and mass casualties at the Nebraska Disaster Behavioral Health Conference at the Embassy Suites, 555 South 10th St, on Friday, July 18, 8:00 am - 4:15 pm.   The registration fee before July 2nd is $45 - after July 2nd the fee is $55.  For more information or to register online visit http://www.disastermh.nebraska.edu or contact Janell Walther at 472-5678 or via jwalther2@nebraska.edu

Seven Oaks of Florence Fundraiser:  Seven Oaks of Florence. 3439 State St next to the Notre Dame Convent, will be having a Fundraiser on Saturday, July 19, to help support activities for the Affordable Housing Community.  There will be a garage sale, silent auction, bake sale and hot dog lunch.  The event will run from 9:30 am to 11:30 am with the hot dog lunch to follow.  Funds raised will help provide transportation to the grocery store, activities, daily lunch service and ceramics.  For more information, please call Julie at 451-4477 or Kaminskij@seven.omhcoxmail.com.

Summer Fun Day:  Project Hope Food Pantry, 42nd & Boyd, will be having a morning of fun from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday, July 19th. There will be face painting, clowns, games and treats to hand out.  All activities are free.

Course for Caregivers:  Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational program designed to provide the caregiver with the tools needed for taking care of themselves.  When a caregiver takes care of themselves, everyone benefits!  This course is available at Baptist Presbyterian Church, 218 West Gardiner St, Valley, NE on Wednesdays from July 23 to August 6, 9:00 am - 11:30 am or at Desert Ministries, 2205 South 10th St on Thursdays from July 24 to August 28, 9:00 am - 11:30 am. Complete course cost is covered by Life Span Respite Resource Center and the Faith in Action in the Heartland Network.  There is NO CHARGE to the attendee. A Caregiver Handbook is provided to each participant.   Pre-registration is required and class space is limited.  For information or to register, call 402-522-7934.

Alzheimer's Videos:  Please check out the videos on Alzheimer's that are available at http://www.aboutalz.org/#.  These videos will be posted on the CHAMPS website as well.

BBB Senior Line:  The Better Business Bureau Foundation has established a dedicated, toll-free telephone line where older adults, their caregivers, and family members can receive reliable information on businesses, scams and frauds.  Older adults are often vulnerable to offers of prescription drug assistance, insurance and home maintenance assistance. The number to call is 1-877-637-3334.

HIV/AIDS and Older Americans: Did you know approximately 15 percent of newly diagnosed HIV infections are among Americans over age 50?  However, older Americans do not always realize that they may be at risk for HIV infection.   For more information on HIV in older Americans, and HIV testing, visit www.aids.gov.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program:  CFSP is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program which provides foods purchased and distributed by the USDA to infants, children, women and seniors.  Persons could be eligible if they have had a baby within the last 12 months, have a child less than 6 years, are pregnant or are 60 years old or better.  To determine eligibility for the program, contact the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services at (402) 471-2781 or visit www.hhs.state.ne.us/nutrition/csfp.htm.

CPR and First Aide Classes:  CHAMPS and Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church are offering CPR and First Aid Classes to churches.  Dawn Koenig, an Authorized Provider of the Red Cross, has volunteered her time to teach these classes.  Classes must have at least 4 people but no more than 12.  Dawn needs a two week notice in order to reserve all the supplies.  For more information, please call Dawn at 637-6309 or 452-3196.  The costs for the classes are as follows:
            Adult CPR/AED - $32                            Adult, infant, child CPR, 1st Aid - $50
            Adult CPR/1st Aid - $40                          Infant, child CPR - $30

            Adult, infant, child CPR - $45                 Infant, child CPR, 1st Aid - $36
            1st Aid - $25

Ongoing - Free Meal, Food & Clothing:  Every Monday night anyone in need of a hot meal, free food or clothing may come to the Assembly of the Saints Church, 4224 N 24th St.   For more information, call 402-453-2671.


Please contact Chris at 895-2224 or to champs@crossandheart.org  if you would like a copy of the available flyers.

If you have events you would like added to upcoming email newsletters, please email flyers or information to champs@crossandheart.org  or call Chris, 895-2224.

Thank you.