FYI 4-15-12

Local Girl Scouts collecting hygiene items

Spring Showers is a communitywide campaign to collect personal hygiene products that will be provided to children participating in the BackPacks for Friday feeding program. The Southeast Missouri Food Bank would like to expand the BackPacks for Friday program to include personal hygiene items, personal care items, and nutrition educational materials. Girl Scouts distributed bags to residences throughout Cape Girardeau Saturday. The girls are asking that people donate any items they can and place the bag by their door. The Scouts will pick them up Saturday. Donors may also drop their donation off at Southeast Missouri Food Bank from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today through Saturday. For questions about BackPacks for Friday or Spring Showers, call Amanda Winschel at 651-0400 or email her at awinschel@feedingamerica.org.

'Messy Morning' to be held at Show Me Center

To celebrate "Week of the Young Child," a community event called "Messy Morning" will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. This event emphasizes the importance of play in the overall development of a child and shows parents and caregivers the simple things they can do to help their child develop to their fullest potential. The event consists of numerous, messy, hands-on activities and is free for all to attend. In addition to the activities, there will be information about services in the community that are available to families. For questions, email messymorning@hotmail.com or call the United Way at 334-9634.

Kiwanis Club skips a meal for children

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Jackson will skip a meal during the week of April 22 and donate the cost to the Kiwanis International Foundation's Children's Fund. The funds raised will be dedicated to meeting the special needs of young children. For more information about the Kiwanis Club, call Susan Jespersen at 573-683-0515 or visit www.kiwanis.org.

Buckhannon memorial RN scholarship offered

The Ruth A. Buckhannon memorial RN scholarship will be awarded to a 2012 graduating senior of any public high school in Scott County who plans to become a registered nurse. The total amount of the scholarship is $4,000. Ruth A. Buckhannon's daughters set up the scholarship through the First Baptist Church of Chaffee, Mo., in memory of their mother. Although she did not have formal training as a nurse, she took care of her husband in their home by herself for 10 years after he suffered a debilitating stroke, while raising their daughters. The 2012 applications and guidelines are available from Chaffee High School counselor Brandi Ritter at 573-887-3226. Completed applications with supporting documents must be returned to Ritter no later than Thursday.

Commerce Museum opens today

Lois Ledue of the Commerce Historical Society is to open the Commerce Museum, 203 Missouri St., Commerce, Mo., today. The museum will be open every weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Books are for sale along with T-shirts and other items. Proceeds from the items sold goes to keeping the musuem open.The Commerce Historical Society is looking for pictures of the flooding, in any year, in Commerce and the surrounding area. There is a resource library in the museum and they are willing to help people find long-lost families. For more information, call Lois at 573-264-4188.

2012 MMS UCC Labyrinth Retreat

"The Labyrinth: A Spiritual Tool for Such a Time as This" will be held from 7 p.m. April 27 to 3 p.m. April 28, at Abbey Road Christian Church. It will be led by Dr. Marc A. Wessels, associate conference minister with the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ. Registration fee is $30, which covers lunch and resources and is due by Friday at: MMS-UCC, Laura Errante, 483 E. Lockwood Ave., Suite 15, St. Louis, MO 63119. Payable to MMS-UCC and add "Labyrinth Retreat" to the check's memo line. For more information, call Wessels at 877-877-5884 or Abbey Road Christian Church at 335-3422 or visit www.mmsucc.org.

Lighthouse Bible Baptist hosting revival services

The Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church will host revival services today through Friday. Services will take place at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. today and at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Evangelist Chris Dallas of Jacksonville, N.C., will preach at all services. Dr. Dean Miller Jr. of Hattiesburg, Miss., will also preach at today's services. Each service will have special music, and a nursery will be provided. For more information, call the church at 334-8546 or pastor David Pringle at 335-1629.