Food distribution

The Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority will be distributing USDA surplus commodity foods to eligible area residents Sept. 26-28.

Any household whose total gross income is less than the State established poverty guidelines for the appropriate household size is eligible.

Persons picking up food are requested to bring a bag or box container. Anyone picking up food for someone else must present a completed and signed authorization form for each household; hand written notes will not be accepted. The forms must be current.

Food may be picked up for a maximum of two households, including the household of the person making the pickup.

New authorization forms (dated May 3) may be picked up from the Community Services Center at 208 North College Street in Pembroke. The forms will not be available at the distribution sites and old authorization forms will not be accepted.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Coastal GA Area CAA, Inc. is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national, origin, age, sex, handicap or disability.

Food will be distributed from the following sites: Wednesday, Sept. 26 and Thursday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Pembroke City Hall; Friday, Sept. 28 only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Richmond Hill Courthouse Annex, For more information, call Carolyn Frasier at 653-4993.

River cleanup

October is Rivers Alive Month, and the Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper has started the drive early, with some river clean-ups having already started in the beginning of September.

Bryan County doesn’t currently have a Rivers Alive River Clean-up scheduled, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get one started. The OCRK wants to see you be a hero in your community – help them reach their goal of 25 river clean-up events before May 2008.

OCRK Outreach Coordinator Melanie Hendrix has all the tools you’ll need to host a successful event, with trash bags, bookmarks, T-shirts, and other river clean-up necessities. Contact her at mhendrix@ocrk.org or 912-764-2017.

Make a Wish

The inaugural Statesboro Walk for Wishes to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, beginning at 10 a.m. at the M.C. Anderson Multiplex/Recreation Activity Center (RAC) on the Georgia Southern University campus.

Make-A-Wish supporters will participate to help raise $10,000 to grant the wishes of local children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Walkers can participate individually or team up with family, friends, classmates and co-workers. The course is a 1.07 mile loop around the multiplex, starting and finishing at the Pavilion.

A Finish Line Celebration will feature music and refreshments.. Pre-registration is encouraged; those who pre-register donate at least $15 per person or $30 for a family of four, with a special student rate of $10. Registration is also welcome at the event for an additional $5 donation per person.

To register, contact Jean Doliber at 912.330.0476 or jdoliber@ga-al.wish.org.

For more information about The Make-A-Wish Foundation® or the Walk for Wishes, visit www.ga-al.wish.org.

Clean up Day

The Community Clean Up Day for the Pembroke Senior Center is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Volunteers and donations of materials, snacks and drinks are still needed. A light lunch will be provided from 11:30 a.m.-noon. Those who plan on attending are asked to contact Sandra Fields, Bryan County Specials Services, at 653-5793 or sfieldsbryanco@aol.com.

Senior Olympics

Magnolia Manor's first ever Senior Olympics will be held Friday, Sept. 28.

The events, which include frisbee throw, darts and bocce ball are modified so all of Magnolia Manor’s 138 residents can participate.

Events begin at 8:30 am with an Opening Ceremony Torch Walk around the Magnolia Manor on the Coast lakes. The schedule of activities will follow.

In true Olympics style, awards will be given during closing ceremonies (complete with entertainment) at 3 p.m.. The event is open to residents only and all participants will receive a free T-shirt.

Rummage, bake sale

The Richmond Hill Historical Society is holding a Rummage and Bake Sale to raise funds for the Annual Christmas Banquet.

The sale will be at the Richmond Hill Museum located at Hwy. 144 and Timber Trail in Richmond Hill on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m.-noon.

Please come out and support the preservation of local heritage. For more information please call Banquet Committee Chairman Sally Pringle at (912) 660-1100 or email BryanHistory@coastalnow.net.

Buddy Walk

The Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society, a local support group for persons with Down syndrome and their families, will be hosting the Second Annual Buddy Walk Festival on Oct. 6 in Forsyth Park in Historic Downtown Savannah.

The Buddy Walk Festival will include a one-mile walk followed by a day of family fun with rides, music, food, and entertainment.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. (but pre-registration is welcomed) and the walk starts at 10:30. The Festival lasts from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information or to register, call John or Candy Bogardus at 728-8505 or 663-8573 or visit www.LDSSGA.org.

Hospice Savannah

Hospice Savannah, your local non profit and United Way end-of-life care provider, will host training for volunteers interested in visiting patients in their homes in Bryan, Effingham, Chatham and Liberty counties.

The dates are Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Community Education Room, Hospice House, Eisenhower Drive, Savannah. For more information call Beth Logan, at 355-2289.

Attendance on both Saturdays is required and lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

Cooling help

The Coastal GA Area Community Action Authority, Inc. will assist eligible households with cooling bills. Georgia’s Cooling Assistance program will start Monday, Oct. 1, for all income eligible households in the Bryan County area. Payments will be made directly to the home energy supplier.

To participate in the program, the family must meet an income equal to or less than 150 percent of the poverty guidelines as follows:

For a one-person household $15,315; for two persons $20,535; three persons $25,755; four persons $30,975; for five persons $36,195; six persons $41,415; seven persons $46,635; eight persons $51,855 and for each additional person add $5,220 annual income.

Applicants must bring their most recent fuel bill or statement of service from their cooling provider. They must also have proof of income for all household members for the last 30 days. This may be a check stub or an award letter granting public assistance, social security, VA or unemployment compensation. Applicants must also bring social security numbers and proof of age for all household members.

Anyone wishing to apply for benefits in Bryan County should call 1-866-423-8081 for an appointment. Households will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program will close when funds are exhausted.

Pumpkin Patch

Richmond Hill Garden Club will hold their Seventh Annual Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the J. F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill.

The club will have pumpkins, mums, straw and corn stalks for sale. There will be face painting, pictures with Mrs. Pumpkin, a fish pond and a special appearance of "Mr. Magic." For more information call 727-3219.

Historian to speak

Buddy Sullivan, renowned historian, lecturer, and author, will present a program on "The Great Ogeechee River and Its Impact on Bryan County" at the Richmond Hill Historical Society’s monthly meeting on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.

Mr. Sullivan is an engaging and entertaining speaker and always makes learning about our rich, coastal heritage enjoyable. Mr. Sullivan’s book on the History of Richmond Hill will be available. The meeting will be held at the Richmond Hill Library, on 144, across from the Post Office. If you have any questions or need directions please call the Richmond Hill Historical Society Museum at 756-3697 or 756-2676.

The group's meetings are free and open to the general public. Come learn about the magnificent river that flows down the northern boundary of Bryan County and the effect it has had on our history.

Ladies luncheon

There will be a ladies luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at noon at Carey Hilliard’s Banquet Room, 11111 Abercorn St. Ext.. The cost is $9.75 inclusive. Call 925-3789 for reservations. For free nursery, call 925-6129. The Christmas Shop will display gifts and decorations. Eileen Newman will sing. Carolyn Ersig, from Hudson, Florida, will speak. Sponsored by Savannah-Chatham County Christian Women’s Club.

Prom reminder

Prom has been scheduled for RHHS students on April 12, 2008 at the Armstrong Center from 8 p.m.-midnight.

No one over 21 years of age will be admitted and I.D.s will be checked. Juniors and Seniors should pay their dues to Mrs. Tomlin. She will be in the main foyer on the last Thursday and Friday of every month during all four lunches.

Animal caregivers

The Bryan Animal Caregivers needs any and all interested volunteers. The group meets at the Richmond Hill Public Library the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. Find out how to help pets in the area, call 727-2694 and press "1" for more information.

Walk the Walk 5K

This year, United Way of the Coastal Empire’s "2007 Walk the Walk 5K" will be presented by SouthCoast Medical Group and held on Friday, October 19th at City Market in Downtown Savannah.

The 5K run will begin at 6 p.m. and the walk will begin at 6:05 p.m.

Bring the entire family to enjoy food, prizes and entertainment and promote healthy lifestyles within the Coastal Empire.

To register, visit www.active.com or contact Penny Cox at (912) 651-7720.