ANNOUNCEMENTS: (posted January 8, 2010)
"Prayer for the City" is an informal gathering of people who join together to pray for our community at 8 AM the first Wednesday of each month. Please join us for corporate intercession this Wednesday, January 6th at 8 am in Central Baptist Bearden's Prayer Room (6300 Deane Hill Dr Knoxville, TN 37919). The church is located just 1 block west of the intersection of Northshore Drive & Kingston Pike across from Krispy Kreme.
“Introduction to Compassion Ministry: Responding to God’s Call to Serve” is a course that will equip you with practical ways to reach hurting people in our city. This 5 week training series will be held on Tuesdays beginning February 2nd from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The training will be $20, which covers the cost of materials. Topics include: February 2nd, “What Does Scripture Say About God’s Heart of Compassion?” February 9th, “Know Your Community: Brokenness and Resources” and “Tools To Assist Churches in Serving.” February 16th, “Ideas for Service: So Many Opportunities, So Little Time!” February 23rd, “We’re the Volunteer State: Where Do We Get Them, How Do We Keep Them?” March 2nd, “Mercy is Messy: Lessons Learned.” To learn more about this series, contact Becca at 865-251-1591 x 1 or becca@compassioncoalition.org.
Don’t forget to tune in to “Drive at Five” on Joy 620 AM from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Monday evenings for conversations about Community Transformation. On January 11th, Grant Standefer will interview Steve Johnson with Open Doors TN. Tune in to hear about this local organization that is committed to providing inclusion opportunities, resources and accessibility information, and new programs for families of individuals with disabilities.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: (posted January 11, 2010)
Churches are invited to participate in Circles of Support, a faith-based mentoring program that connects small teams of volunteers with an individual as they transition out of homelessness. The individuals served are disabled and have been living on the streets for a long time. While work is already underway helping them into housing and linking them with needed social services, many of these folks don't have the support of a community or the life-skills needed to make it on their own. Being part of Circles of Support is a new way to engage the homeless—could you be a friend for a couple of hours a month? At Compassion Coalition we're constantly looking for volunteers to walk with folks as they get placed into housing. We offer training and support, and it's a year-long commitment. To learn more about this exciting ministry opportunity, please call 865-251-1591 x 8 or visit http://www.facebook.com/l/9c5c5; www.compassioncoalition.org.
Water Angels Ministries is in need of volunteers Tuesday through Thursday from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm to organize donations at 907 University Avenue. They also need participants in the Shining Star Club, an outreach to homeless and inner-city children the first Saturday of each month from 12 – 2 pm. Finally, they need churches to donate and serve lunch on Sunday afternoons at 3 PM. Please visit www.thewaterangels.com or e-mail Stephanie Mitchum at thewaterangels@gmail.com for additional information.
The revitalization of Alex Haley Heritage Square in Morningside Park is scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, January 16th. Volunteers are needed to pick up litter, pull weeds, plant perennials, and paint, among other projects. Gloves, plants, bags, and refreshments will be provided. To sign up, contact Matt Butzlaff at 865-755-3178 or mbutzlaff@cityofknoxville.org. Visit http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/parks/haley.asp for directions.
KICKO (Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach) is seeking willing hearts and hands to touch the lives of inner city children. Volunteers are needed after school for two hours (pick a day Tuesday-Friday that fits your schedule) for Sidewalk Sonday School. Spring semester starts at the end of February and runs for 13 weeks. To learn more, come to a Volunteer-Team meeting at Macedonia United Methodist Church (4630 Holston Dr 37914) on Tuesday, January 26th at 7:00 pm. Call Janice Clark at 865-523-4956 for additional details.
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LOCAL NEEDS: (posted January 11, 2010)
The Family Crisis Center, which offers domestic violence services for adults, children, and elders, desperately needs donations of towels and bed linens (twin & full size). They also need curtains, dish cloths, wash cloths, pillows, pillowcases, and hygiene items. If you can meet any of these needs, please contact Elisha at ejones@child-family.org, 865-367-8000, or 865-363-2035.
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RESOURCES:
The West Knox Free Clinic (11201 West Point Drive, Suite 102 Knoxville, TN 37934) will be held on February 13th from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm. Dr. Russell and his team of volunteers serve uninsured or underinsured persons in need of general care and women who need pap smears. They now also offer social services and crisis management assistance. Anyone in need is welcome to schedule an appointment by calling Farragut Family Practice at 865-675-3743.
The East Tennessee Technology Access Center would like to give away a TV converter box to someone who cannot afford one and has a TV that hasn’t worked since the airwaves went to digital. To claim this resource, please call ETTAC at 865-219-0130.
Low/No Cost Hispanic Clinic
The Cherokee Health Systems Broadway Clinic (511 North Broadway) offers a clinic on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month for Hispanics who are without medical insurance coverage. There is a reasonable sliding fee scale for those with low income, and waivers for those with no income. The clinic is manned by an all-volunteer medical staff, Spanish/English interpreters are available, and children are welcome. The next clinic is Saturday, November 21st from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Please contact Nancy Douglas for more information at the clinic, 865-525-2104, or on her cell, 865-223-9803.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:
An estimated 4,045 children in Knox County have a parent in prison, but caring adults can step in and provide a positive role model for these children. On Thursday, January 14th from 6 - 8 pm, John Turnipseed, director of the Urban Ventures Center for Fathering in Minneapolis, will talk about how mentors can help break the generational curse of incarceration. Hosted by Knoxville Leadership Foundation’s Amachi program, this free event will be held at the Knoxville Museum of Art (1050 World’s Fair Park). Guests will also view “Turnipseed,” the first in a series of groundbreaking films about the life and redemption of Mr. Turnipseed, once a feared gang leader who spent 10 years in prison. To join in this story of hope and transformation, please RSVP to registration@klf.org or 865-524-2774 by Wednesday.
Bicycles sized for all ages are available for rental at the foot of the pedestrian bridge on Volunteer Landing, just across from Calhoun’s. Costs are $10 per person for a two-hour rental, and $30 per person for a day rental.
The bicycle rentals are located in the center of a 16-mile greenway route, which includes Morningside Greenway (begins at the Alex Haley statue), James White Greenway (runs between Morningside Park and Volunteer Landing), Neyland Greenway (Volunteer Landing to the mouth of Third Creek), Second Creek Greenway, (runs north from Neyland into World’s Fair Park), Third Creek Greenway (mouth of Third Creek, through Tyson Park, and passed West High School), Sequoyah Greenway (runs south from Third Creek Greenway into Sequoyah Hills), and Bearden Village Greenway (picks up at east end of Third Creek Greenway and ends at Bearden Elementary School).
Bicycle rental patrons will receive an adventure map of this greenway route through Knoxville. The map shows points of interests to stop along the way, including the Alex Haley Statue, the Sunsphere, the Knoxville Skatepark, and a Native American Burial Mound in Sequoyah Hills.
The map also shows a bicycle route to reach Ijams Nature Center and its 3.6 miles of greenway, which is not yet connected to the 16-mile connection of greenways. Here, bicyclists can view bird exhibits and overlooks of the French Broad River and Meade’s Quarry.
The hours for the bicycle rental facility are Monday – Thursday, 3 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fridays 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. The facility will be opened at any time for bicycle rental groups of four, provided that staff is available.
To rent a bicycle or obtain additional information, please call River Sports at 865-523-0066.
Knoxville Zoo is proud to be among the "Top 60" zoos in the country featured in a new book, America’s Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families by Allen W. Nyhuis and Jon Wassner.
Released in 2008, the book outlines the animals, attractions and exhibits featured at the top zoos throughout the country. The authors visited all sixty of the zoos featured in the book, share their experiences and what makes each zoo special.
Knoxville Zoo also landed on the "Author’s Pick for the Top 25 U.S. Zoo Exhibits." Author Jon Wassner rated Black Bear Falls at Knoxville Zoo number 13.
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