Community In The Know

Food donations needed at The Salvation Army

Due to a contaminated food donation, the volunteers at the local branch of The Salvation Army had to dispose of most of the organization’s pantry donations. The Salvation Army is in dire need of dry food donations such as cereal, rice and pasta. The increase in the price of food is resulting in a higher number of families requesting food assistance. It is helpful when donating to check that the items are either not on a recall list or are not expired or past the best-by date.

Donations can be brought from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to 2120 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte. You can call the office at 941-629-3170.

For more information about The Salvation Army, see SalvationArmyUSA.org .

Florida Friendly Garden Fest set at Centennial Park

The Florida Friendly Garden Fest is scheduled for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Centennial Park Recreation Center, 1120 Centennial Blvd., Port Charlotte. The event is sponsored by UF/ IFAS Extension Charlotte County. Florida Friendly Garden Fest is free to attend and features family-friendly activities and vendors. Master Gardener volunteers will have a plant sale and there will be many vendors with plants, garden art, upcycled and recycled items, and food trucks. There also will be drawings and prizes. The first 100 attendees will receive a free tote bag.

For information, contact Holly Bates at 941-764-4340 or Holly.Bates@charlottecountyfl.gov .

Camp counselor hiring event April 30

Charlotte County Community Services will host a hiring event for summer camp counselor positions only from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Centennial Park Recreation Center located at 1120 Centennial Blvd., Port Charlotte. Interested applicants can also apply online at CharlotteCountyFL.gov/jobs. For more information, contact Cathy Kerallah at Cathy.Kerallah@CharlotteCountyFL.gov or 941-235-5013.

Puppet Show planned at Harold Avenue Regional Park

Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center will present the classic “Rumpelstiltskin” at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at 23400 Harold Ave., Port Charlotte. The show will be acted out by marionette puppets performed by the Stevens Puppets group. Registration is required by Saturday, April 27. The cost is $20 per person. Call 941-627-1074 to register.

REC2U Spring Safari

Charlotte County Community Services will host a Spring Safari themed “REC2U” from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 4, at Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park, 6791 San Casa Drive, Englewood. There will be a safari scavenger hunt, face painting, a live animal show, games and crafts. This is a free, family-friendly event. For information, contact Lisa Smithson at 941-681-3760 or Lisa.Smithson@CharlotteCountyFL.gov .

LMCU announces $50K Home Makeover Sweepstakes

Lake Michigan Credit Union announced the launch of its 2024 $50,000 Home Makeover sweepstakes, running through Friday, July 5. Any Michigan or Florida resident 18 years of age or older can enter LMCU’s $50,000 Home Makeover sweepstakes. You can enter daily online at LMCU.org/50K or in one of LMCU’s branches. For complete sweepstakes rules, see LMCU.org/50K.

The cash prize can be used however the winner desires: Renovate your kitchen, repair your roof, take that dream vacation or save it for your child’s college fund. The possibilities are endless.

Lake Michigan Credit Union, established in 1933, is the largest credit union in Michigan and 16th largest in the country, with 21 convenient branch locations across Central and Southwest Florida. To find out more, see LMCU.org .

Temporary residential RV, mobile home extension

After Hurricane Ian made landfall in Charlotte County, the Charlotte County Commission voted to allow residents displaced by the hurricane to live in RVs or temporary mobile homes on developed residential lots for up to two years. Since that time, 2023 House Bill 250 was signed by the governor, which extends that time period to three years from the emergency declaration. Those extensions are as follows:

• For homes damaged and rendered uninhabitable from Hurricane Ian, the emergency declaration was signed on Sept. 23, 2022; therefore, RVs and temporary mobile homes will be allowed until Sept. 22, 2025, for those properties.

• For homes damaged and rendered uninhabitable from Hurricane Idalia, the emergency declaration was signed on Aug. 23, 2023; therefore, RVs and temporary mobile homes will be allowed until Aug. 23, 2026, for those properties.

If owners haven’t registered their temporary RVs, see bit.ly/RVRegistration to review qualifications and other regulations. For owners who haven’t obtained a permit to set a temporary mobile home, visit the Community Development Department at 18400 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, to fill out necessary paperwork and provide plans.

For questions about the RV registration, call 941-743-1201.

Andes Clinic earns NAFC Gold rating

Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic Inc., 21297 Olean Blvd., Unit B, Port Charlotte, earned a 2024 Gold rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Quality Standards Program.

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics’ mission is building healthy communities for all through quality, equitable, accessible health care. The NAFC and its members are dedicated to ensuring that patients receive access to quality health care.

To quantify and qualify the care provided at the Free and Charitable Clinic network, the NAFC formalized a set of Quality Standards for member organizations. NAFC Members voluntarily submit information to the NAFC on the various policies and procedures in place to attain their standards rating and attest/pledge that they successfully incorporate these standards within their organization. NAFC Quality Standards elements include policies and procedures related to the following areas: Administrative, Clinic/Pharmacy Responsibilities, Credentialing and Privileging Systems, Patient Care, and Risk Management Systems.

The rating reflects the VBA Clinic’s commitment to providing quality patient care.

For more information on the NAFC, see www.nafcclinics.org .

For more information on Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic Inc., see www.volunteercare.org . ¦

The post Community In The Know first appeared on Charlotte County Florida Weekly .