MLK food drive planned

MLK food drive planned

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be commemorated this year by a food drive to feed The Mahoning Valley.

Organizers at the HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley — formerly the Volunteer Services Agency — will team up with the Mahoning Valley Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Planning Committee on Jan. 19 for the “Honor the Dream” food drive. Items collected will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Youngstown in honor of Dr. King.

Nonperishable items may be donated at the First Presbyterian Church at 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and Warren Harding High School at 860 Elm Road NE, Warren, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Other community organizations are being asked to set up drop-off sites at their locations to aid in the collection. On Jan. 19, they will bring their donations to either of the two sites.

To make donations directly to Second Harvest, drop-offs may be made at 5500 Market St., Youngstown.

Someplace Safe appeal

WARREN — Someplace Safe, a domestic violence agency based in Warren, is running its annual appeal for donations. The nonprofit group provides lodging for abuse victims, legal advocacy, teen dating education, support groups and emergency services. To donate, mail a check payable to Someplace Safe, Inc.,1540 Tod Ave., N.W., Warren, OH 44485 and include in the note “Annual Appeal.”

Last year, Someplace Safe provided 7,020 clients with those services, helping more than half of its clients move to healthier living situations. Visit www.someplacesafe.org for more information.

Park reservations

BOARDMAN — Boardman Township Park will accept reservations for its indoor meeting rooms, open-air pavilions and St. James Meeting House beginning Jan. 2. The park accepts reservations one year in advance, but the first two weeks of January are set aside for township residents, who also receive a discount on the reservation fees.

Reservations can be made by calling the park office at (330) 726-8105, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For a complete description of park facilities and the reservation fees, visit the park’s Web site at www.boardmanpark.com. Reservation requests may also be submitted through the Web site.

Learn to handle finances

AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Community Church, 249 S. Canfield-Niles Road, will sponsor Financial Peace University, a 13-week program taught by Dave Ramsey.

Sessions will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 5-March 30. Registration is required by Dec. 31. Contact Brad Bloomster at the church at (330) 799-4214 or through e-mail at bbloomster@youracc.org for more information or to register.

The program teaches families and individuals how to handle their money through common-sense principles and small-group accountability.