ANNOUNCEMENTS: (posted November 17, 2009)
Ecumenical Community of Faith Thanksgiving Service
Believers from various denominations are invited to Central Baptist Church of Bearden (6300 Deane Hill Drive) on Sunday, November 22nd, 5:00 pm. Come and worship the God of every good and perfect gift by demonstrating oneness in Christ. The service will feature liturgy, reflections, special music, and congregational songs led by clergy and laity from a number of different churches. An offering will be taken for "Tent of Hope" which provides a Thanksgiving Meal for the homeless of Knoxville through Knox Area Rescue Ministries. This service is sponsored by the Bearden Sequoyah United Ministries Churches.
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 November 16th, Grant Standefer will interview Bill Keeler of Fountain City Presbyterian Church and Mark Moreland of Central Baptist Church of Bearden. They’ll discuss utilizing the Salt & Light Guidebook as a tool in their efforts to minister to the hurting people of our community.
Partner with Knox Area Rescue Ministries’ Baskets of Hope program, which provides families in need with a complete Thanksgiving dinner for up to six people. Your church, Sunday School class, civic club, office staff, neighborhood association, or maybe just a group of friends can make a lasting difference in someone's life. All you have to do is fill a box! Contact Bruce Anderson for additional information at banderson@karm.org or 865-673-6540.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: (posted November 17, 2009)
Christmas Wrap Party
Knoxville Inner City Kids Outreach (KICKO) has scheduled their annual Christmas Wrap Party for Saturday, November 28th, 10:59 am at Park West Church of God (7635 Middlebrook Pk). They provide wrapping paper and presents and ask that volunteers bring scissors and tape. They have over 1,100 gifts to wrap, but as the old saying goes, "many hands make light work." Join them as they pray over and lovingly wrap Christmas presents that will brighten an inner city child's holiday...you can make an eternal difference in the lives of Knoxville's inner city children! Call Janice Clark at 865-523-4956 for more information.
Bell Ringers Needed
The Salvation Army still needs volunteers to assist with the 2009 Red Kettle Campaign. Volunteers ring bells Monday - Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at nearly 50 locations around Knoxville. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least a two-hour time slot. Recruit your friends, family, church, or business and adopt a kettle location for a day, a week, or even more. For more information, call 865-971-4907 or e-mail knoxville_volunteers@uss.http://www.facebook.com/l/bcda7;salvationarmy.org.
Friends of Literacy invites volunteers to wrap shoppers’ gift purchases at Barnes & Noble and Borders this holiday season. Proceeds will support adult education GED and literacy programs. Opportunities are available beginning on Monday, November 30th and ending on Thursday, December 17th. For more information or to find out available times and dates, e-mail Mickayla Eldridge, Outreach Coordinator, at mickayla@friendsofliteracy.org.
Children thrive when they receive one-on-one time with a volunteer. Grades, behavior, and self-esteem improve when kids know they are cared for by someone outside of their own family. If you have one hour a week or every other week that you could share, would you consider becoming a tutor at Wesley House? No experience is needed. Contact the office at 865-524-5494 or e-mail sharon@wesleyhouse.com to get involved.
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LOCAL NEEDS: (posted November 17, 2009)
Help Around the House -- A disabled young man on an extremely low income needs help around his house. His leaves need to be raked, he has some plumbing leaks under the sink which has caused the wood to rot, and the floors in his trailer are creaking badly but he can't get under the trailer to evaluate the problem. If you can help with any of these issues, please call Carolyn Hansen at 865-251-1591 x 5 or e-mail carolyn@compassioncoalition.org.
A group of Denison University students will be working with the Knoxville Housing Authority over their winter break, but they need a free place to stay. They need accommodation for fourteen students, a kitchen, and showers from January 9th – 16th. They are a respectful and considerate group of students and they are willing to do volunteer work in the evenings if necessary. If your church or organization could help, please contact Melissa Henry at henry_m@denison.edu or 724-925-8788.
Wesley House is currently taking names of those individuals, families, and groups who would like to sponsor a child, senior or family for Christmas. If you are willing to help, please contact the office at 865-524-5494 or e-mail sharon@wesleyhouse.com.
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RESOURCES:
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.
Free Medical Exam Table
The Pregnancy Help Center has a medical exam table that they no longer need. It has a small tear on the top, but is in otherwise good condition. They would love to donate this item to another community organization that can use it. If you are interested in claiming this resource, please contact Mary Beth Unthank at 865-212-4942.
Time of Encouragement for Single Moms
Do you know a single mom who would enjoy a free dinner and childcare? The Well provides just that, as well as a time of encouragement for single moms. Some of the women are divorced, some are widowed, and some have never been married. The next meeting will celebrate the beginning of the Holiday Season on Friday, November 20th, 6 pm, at First Baptist Concord in Farragut. A wonderful photographer is going to be taking FREE 5 X 7 portraits so be sure to dress up! E-mail Leanne at lnewman@fbconcord.org or call 865-671-5585 by Tuesday the 17th to sign up.
The West Knox Free Clinic (11201 West Point Drive, Suite 102 Knoxville, TN 37934) will be held on December 12th from 8:00 am until 12:30 pm. Dr. Russell and his team of volunteers offer social services/crisis management assistance and serve uninsured or underinsured persons in need of general care as well as women who need pap smears. Anyone in need is welcome to schedule a no cost appointment by calling Farragut Family Practice at 865-675-3743.
NEEDS:
Blankets Needed
The East Tennessee chapter of the National Kidney Foundation needs help from the community. They need new or clean, used blankets that they can give to kidney patients who are on dialysis. If you are interested in donating a blanket, call 865-688-5481 or e-mail jennifer.kuechenmeister@kidney.org.
Laptop Needed
Tribe One, an outreach ministry that works with at-risk urban youth, is in need of a laptop computer. It would assist them in areas of programming such as weekly meetings, grant writing, and presentations in the community. If you can offer any assistance in helping Tribe One obtain a laptop, please contact Kippen O'Hara, Youth Outreach Coordinator, at 865-546-4131 or kippenohara@gmail.com.
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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