Meals on Wheels fosters independence for seniors

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Every weekday, more than 200 homebound seniors in St. Mary's County get a visit from a Meals on Wheels volunteer. This visit is valuable in a variety of ways, said Bridget Maddox, program coordinator, on Monday.

"Meals on Wheels is important because it ensures that homebound seniors in the area are getting proper nutrition and also that they have contact with those coming in to deliver their meals," Maddox said. Also "it allows people to remain independent for longer."

This month a series of restaurant-sponsored benefits will help Meals on Wheel. The program receives funding from the state and the county, but it also depends largely on donations from the clients and the community to operate wait-list free, Maddox said.

The following restaurants will be offering a donation from the proceeds of dine-in or carry-out services to support Meals on Wheels when the program is mentioned:

ï Ledo Pizza in Leonardtown on Tuesday, March 9, from 4 to 9 p.m., call 301-475-9280.

ï CiCi's Pizza in San Souci Plaza in California on Wednesday, March 17, all day, call 240-725-0000.

ï Arizona Pizza in Leonardtown on Thursday, March 25, all day, call 301-997-1700.

The Meals on Wheels program also needs additional volunteer drivers. "Our costs are kept lower by the fact that we have volunteer drivers … a huge savings," Maddox said. The drivers are delivering generally between 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer driver, or for more information on Meals on Wheels, may contact Maddox at 301-475-4200, ext. 1060, or e-mail Bridget Maddox@stmarysmd.com.

Disability awareness day set for March 27

"High Hopes for Everyone" Disability Awareness Day has been scheduled for Saturday, March 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Leonard Hall Recreation Center in Leonardtown. Area residents are invited to learn about what county agencies and providers can do for them and loved ones with disabilities. Many agencies will be on hand to provide information to individuals about services in the area.

Activities, attractions and free drawings are planned. Individuals who participate in awareness activities qualify to receive a free kite (limited to the first 300 registrants) and a variety of door prizes.

For more information or to sign up as a vendor, contact Christi Bishop at 301-475-4200, ext. 1802.

Gallery to host arts council grant winners

The annual invitational show, which features the work of North End Gallery members and invited area artists, is running at the gallery in Leonardtown. The show, titled "River Romance" is being co-sponsored by the St. Mary's Arts Council.

At the March 5 First Friday event, the arts council will publicly recognize its grant recipients. The ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. The hours for the First Friday reception are 5 to 8 p.m.

The St. Mary's Arts Council Grant recipients are St. Mary's College of Maryland — Twain's Relevance Today; Sanford Concert Series — Mason Sebastian and Co.; Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions; Town of Leonardtown — Earth Day; COSMIC — finale concert; Town of Leonardtown Beach Party; Sotterley Foundation — 4th of July; St. Mary's County Public Library — summer children's performance series; Sanford Concert Series — Women of Note; Town of Leonardtown weekend concerts on the square; COSMIC — 13th annual season opener; College of Southern Maryland — Twilight Concerts; St. Mary's College of Maryland — movie and music nights; St. Mary's College of Maryland — Boyden Gallery; St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks — summerstock program; St. Clement's Island Museum — Jazz Festival; and St Mary's River Watershed Association – RiverFest.

For information on the North End Gallery call 301-475-3130 or visit www.northendgallery.org.

SMR athletic club to sell mulch

An annual mulch sale is being held by the Knights Athletic Club of St. Mary's Ryken, with three varieties available — hardwood, cedar (brown) and pine. All varieties are $4.50 per bag. Orders must be received by Friday, March 19. Pick-up will be on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21, at the high school. Delivery is available only in St. Mary's County with a $5 delivery fee and a 20-bag minimum order.

All proceeds benefit the SMR athletics department. Order and payment can be made online at www.smrhs.org. Click on the green "Athletics" tab in the blue box (or go directly to www.smrhs.org/page.cfm?p=1385). For more information contact Jim Sperbeck at jdsperbeck@md.metrocast.net or 301-994-9901.

Little Flower School to sell mulch

Little Flower School is holding its annual spring mulch sale. On March 20 mulch will be delivered (for orders of 20 bags or more) or available for pick-up from the school until 2 p.m. To place an order or for more information, call 301-862-4861.

Raffle to benefit March of Dimes

The Cedar Point Federal Credit union team will be sponsoring a Longaberger basket and pottery raffle throughout the month of April to benefit the March of Dimes. Tickets are $10 per chance. For a list of baskets and pottery to be won and to purchase tickets, call Lalitha at 301-863-7027, ext. 306, 301-737-0829 or 240-925-3462.

GiveCamp to benefit children's museum

Discover U Children's Museum announced it is one of the 19 area nonprofits selected to participate in the 2010 Southern Maryland GiveCamp.

GiveCamp will take place over the weekend of March 19 to 21 in the Schaefer Building on the campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland.

GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where software developers, designers, and database administrators donate their time to create custom software for local nonprofit organizations. GiveCamps have been held across the country, but this is the first one in this area.

GiveCamp is a nonprofit organization and is in need of additional technical and non-technical volunteers. For more information, visit www.somdgc.org.

For a complete list of all the organizations and agencies selected for GiveCamp, go to www.somdgc.org and click on "Projects."

Greenwell's spring riding registration period extended

Greenwell State Park has adjusted its spring horseback riding session to accommodate time lost to the recent snowstorms. Registration is now extended through March 8. The dates of the spring session are March 15 to June 12. Visit www.greenwellfoundation.org for a registration packet or e-mail info@greenwellfoundation.org for more information.

Non-Scouts invited to spring Scout camps

Girls in grades kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to participate in spring camps offered by the Girl Scouts.

There will be supervised hands-on activities, games, songs, crafts and more. Bus transportation is available. Animal Adventures will be offered March 29 through April 1 at William B. Wade Elementary in Waldorf. Frosty Blast will be offered March 29 through April 1 at Camp Winona in Hughesville. Adult and teen volunteers are welcome.

Registration is limited, so early registration is recommended.

For more information,visit www.gscnc.org/Camps_for_Non_Girl_Scouts.html or contact Lori Davis at 800-834-1702 or 301-638-5373 or ldavis@gscnc.org.

Volunteer literacy tutors needed

If you can read, you can help an adult with basic reading, writing and math skills or help a foreign-born adult learn English to better function in the community. Those interested in helping are invited to attend the next workshop on March 18 and 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and March 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lexington Park library.

For more information or to register, call the Literacy Council of St. Mary's at 301-863-4847 or e-mail stmalit@somd.lib.md.us.

scraton@somdnews.com