Events of Monday, March 8, 2021

American 1 Women’s Week, presented by American 1 Credit Union and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.  Today, featuring Women in Business:

8am | Morning Motivational Minute

Martha Fuerstenau

President/CEO, American 1 Credit Union

Video to Play on The Chamber’s Facebook Page at 8am

12pm | Women’s Week Proclamation-Kick Off

Derek Dobies

Mayor, City of Jackson

Martha Fuerstenau

President/ CEO, American 1 Credit Union

Janelle Merritt

Vice President of Community Partnership, American 1 Credit Union

Craig Hatch

President/ CEO Jackson County Chamber of Commerce

Broadcast on The Chamber’s Facebook Page Live at Noon

12pm | NOON ZOOM – Tips to Persevere

Linda Meloche

Instructor, Dale Carnegie Training

Add to Calendar

2pm | Two O’Clock Tutorial – The Art of Difficult Conversations

Maribeth Leonard

CEO, Lifeways Community Mental Health

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Our Town Meal Distribution Program.  4 PM to 6 PM.  Martin L. King, Jr. Center.  The Our Town Meal Distribution Program is ready to help anyone with a need.  Here are the key details community members need to know about receiving free meals:  Come to the MLK Center at 1107 Adrian St. in Jackson from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between Feb. 1 and April 9, 2021.

• Please do not line up in your vehicle before 3:30 p.m. the day of distribution.
• If you come in a vehicle, please stay in your vehicle and follow signs to the distribution area.
• Walk-ups are welcome, but please be prepared to wait in line and social distance.
• Healthy meals from local restaurants are given to anyone who needs a meal.
• Meals are available on a first come, first serve basis.
• Volunteers in the distribution area will assist you.
• Meals are pre-packaged and can be reheated at home.
• Vegetarian options are available.
• Monetary donations are accepted but not required.

Find out more at http://www.cityofjackson.org/1005/Our-Town-Meal-Distribution

VITA Free Tax Preparation.  Residents of Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale counties with household income of less than $57,000 can still schedule appointments to get their tax returns prepared for FREE through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Community Action Agency.  CAA is using an automated scheduling system in 2021 and while people may have been told appointments were filled, new appointments are frequently being added so people should check back often. “We are continually adding new appointment times based on the availability of our volunteers,” says CAA Program Operations Manager Tami Farnum, so please be patient and keep trying.” There are 3 tax preparation sites in Jackson County, so if one is full, please try the other Jackson sites. Lenawee and Hillsdale counties each have one site. To schedule an appointment call (517) 247-2099 or log on to: www.caajlh.itfrontdesk.com  If your preferred site is full, please call Laurie at CAA and leave a message to be put on a waiting list: (517) 435-4372.

Red Cross Blood Drives.  Following record-breaking cold and winter storms that forced the cancellation of more than 10,000 blood and platelet donations in parts of the U.S. in February, the American Red Cross is urging healthy individuals, especially those with type O blood, to give now to ensure blood products are available for patient emergencies when help can’t wait. Every day thousands of patients rely on lifesaving blood donations. The need for blood is constant, even during snowstorms and the COVID-19 pandemic. To help ensure lifesaving patient care isn’t impacted, individuals in areas unaffected by severe weather are urged to make appointments to donate by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

3/8/2021: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 743 West Michigan

3/10/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Columbia Central High School, 11775 Hewitt Road

3/11/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Grace Church, 2692 North Dettman

3/15/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Heart O The Lakes Church, 7031 Jefferson Road

Jackson YMCA 125th Birthday.  Celebrate with the Jackson YMCA during the 125th Birthday Week.  Membership special March 4 – March 11:  Join fees are just $1.25!  Save almost $100 when you join the Y!  Jackson YMCA, 127 W. Wesley Street, Jackson.  517-782-0537 www.jacksonymca.org.

Queens Men’s Club Spring Fundraiser.  The sun is more frequent, the snow is melting, so it must mean that Spring is on its way. QMC would like to announce that the 2021 Spring Fundraiser is now underway!  Need to improve the look of your walkway? End of the house looking drab? Need to get a jump on Mother’s Day? Look no further. This Spring Queen’s Men’s Club is taking orders for Boxwood and Arborvitae bushes to be delivered to the Queen’s parking lot on Saturday, April 24th (pickup between 10 AM and 1 PM). Please feel free to order as many times as you want.  https://forms.gle/N5o7dijoCMK4cJWE7

Little Acorns Nature Preschool Registration.  Registration is now open for Little Acorns Nature Preschool at Dahlem.  Now enrolling 3-year-olds for September 2021-May 2022.  A one-of-a-kind learning environment providing hands-on nature education.  Our STEM-focused curriculum will get your child exploring inside and out, every day, rain, snow, or shine!  Dahlem Conservancy, 7117 S. Jackson Road, Jackson.  Call 517-782-3453 ext. 107 or email jhoffman@dahlemcenter.org.  www.dahlemcenter.org.

Dahlem Outdoor Adventure Summer Day Camp Signups.  Nine 1-week themed sessions for children ages 3 to 12 years old.  For online registration and details, go to www.dahlemcenter.org or call 517-782-3453.  Camps run June, July, and August 2021.