Well, hello again. In bestselling, inspirational author Max Lucado’s book, “Every Day Deserves a Chance: Wake up to the Gift of 24 Hours,” he wrote: “Today is your big chance. Doesn’t every day deserve a chance, a shot, an audition, a swing at the plate, an opportunity to be a good day?”
Our positive word this week is “helping.” Of helping, Lucado wrote: “Once we see the world for what we are, we can help. Once we understand ourselves and begin to operate from a posture of compassion and concern, we can look at the world with extended hands. We can realize that the lights are out and a lot of people are stumbling in the darkness, so we can light a candle.”
In helping others, all around the community on our volunteer path, if whatever we say or do comes from a place of love, it will be a blessing. Guided to say the right words and actions, we can lend a hand in many varied ways.
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Our Citrus County Chronicle is filled to the brim these days with volunteer opportunities to help the people that the hurricane’s strong winds and rain in the Fort Myers, Orlando, St. Pete area destroyed their homes. We can be an expression of unconditional love.
Our prayers bless our friends and family, linking us heart to heart, as we offer our helping hands and encourage and comfort them in times of sorrow.
Every day is comprised of 1,440 minutes of opportunities to be of help to others. Someone once said: “Never get tired of helping others. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.” Little things create a flow of love and gratitude when we offer our help.
Something as simple as a smile can help make an unhappy day turn into a pleasant one for someone. A listening ear is also a great help to a volunteer friend struggling with decision making concerning a huge club or church project.
Volunteers
Relief Share of Citrus County needs volunteers to help sort and inventory medical supplies donated by area hospitals and health care facilities at the Technology Conservation Group in Lecanto storage space for Relief Share. The volunteers will work alongside local high school student volunteers. Visit relief-shareflorida.org.
Citrus Springs Library, at 1826 W. Country Club Drive, is looking for volunteers for a three-hour shift once a week now that it has extended its hours to 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Call 352-489-2313.
Take Stock in Children seeks mentors for students in middle and high school as they prepare for college. Call Pat Lancaster, Student Services coordinator, at 352-344-0855.
HPH Hospice seeks volunteers for companion visits with patients. Call 352-359-8373.
Donations
CASA (Citrus Abuse Shelter Association) needs donations of milk, cheese, rice, flour, kid-friendly snacks, Gatorade, juice, shaving cream, ethnic hair-care products, men’s shorts (large and extra-large), and planners. Drop off items at the CASA Outreach office, 1100 E. Turner Camp Road, Inverness. Call 352-344-8111.
Church Without Walls needs hurricane relief items, such as: tarps for roofs, Visqueen plastic sheets, trash bags, gas cans for generators, rubber gloves, mops, bleach, cleaning products, flashlights, matches, coolers, latex gloves, brooms, batteries, cellphones and chargers, work gloves, buckets, cleaning rags, shovels, paper towels, detergent, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, canned food, pet food and can openers. Drop-off hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 300 S. Kensington Ave., Lecanto.
Providence Baptist Church, at 4471 W. Sanction Road in Lecanto, is also collecting the above-mentioned hurricane relief items with drop-off at the church. Call 352-746-4595.
VFW Auxiliary Post 4337 is collecting school supplies for Inverness Primary School. Drop the items off at the box at the post.
HPH Hospice in Lecanto is collecting the following items for its patients at Hospice House: paper goods, cleaning supplies, paper towels, dish soap, air fresheners, towels and washcloths, toothpaste and toothbrushes, body lotion, deodorant, shampoo, bar soap, body wash, blankets, mouthwash, razors, shaving cream and facial tissue.
Spotlights
The Knights of Columbus Council 6168 blood drive is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the council’s Our Lady of Grace hall, 2389 W. Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto. Call LifeSouth Blood Bank at 352-527-3061.
The Ladies of the West Citrus Elks Arts and Craft Festival is from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the lodge, 7890 W. Grover Cleveland Blvd., Homosassa. Call 352-586-8886.
Heroes Walk for Life begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Liberty Park in downtown Inverness. The event is sponsored by the Pregnancy and Family Life Center and will feature a bake sale and hotdogs for the walkers and the public. Go to partnersofpflc.org and click on events.
A “Pumpkin Painting and Spooky Stories” event, sponsored by the Kids Corner and Crafternoons, will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Depot in downtown Inverness. Call 352-341-6428.
The Citrus Walk Aware for Alzheimer’s is Saturday, Oct. 15, in Floral City on the Withlacoochee Trail, or take the historic tour of Floral City. Call Janice 352-477-1866.
St. Timothy Lutheran Church’s Granny’s Attic is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, to benefit mission projects. The church is at 1070 N. Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River. Call 352-795-5325.
Teens Night Out for grades 6-10 will feature food, music and games from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Depot Pavilion in Inverness. Call 352-726-3913.
Beverly Hills Civic Association Clean Up Day is Friday, Oct. 21, to help residents who are physically challenged or with mobility issues and cannot take their items to the county dump. Call Mike Belkin at 352-513-5368.
West Kiwanis Club Field Day is Friday, Oct. 21, at Crystal River High School with 300 intellectually and developmentally disabled children and adults competing in athletic events. Call 352-795-5541.
Music at the Museum, featuring the Hernando Harmonizers, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the Old Courthouse Museum. Call 352-341-6428.
The Citrus County Library System Mega Book Sale is Friday through Monday, Oct. 21-24, at the Citrus County Auditorium at the Citrus County Fairgrounds in Inverness.
Rob Phillips Fishing Tournament begins at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Crumps Landing, with a weigh-in at 5 p.m.
The Black Diamond Invitational Car Show and Ride begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the County Road 486 Lecanto Trailhead Park, 2832 W. Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto. The event is sponsored by the Citrus Hills Cycling Club. Go to blackdiamondinvitationalcarshow.com.
There will be a charity basketball tournament from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Alexander Park, 2552 N. Railroad Way, Hernando. The event will go to benefit upgrades at the park. Visit tinyurl.com/2x4f492e.
The Veterans Golf Tournament, sponsored by the veteran members of the Inverness Moose Lodge, will take place Saturday, Oct. 22, at Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club, 509 E. Hartford St., Hernando. Call Kelly at 352-586-0780.
The Citrus County Blessings Monster Mash is Saturday, Oct. 22. There will be a Halloween Costume Ball presented by the Suncoast Credit Union featuring a costume contest, D.J. Trae, fortunetellers and a silent auction. Call 352-341-7707.
Until next week, stay positive and be helpful.
Ruth Levins participates in a variety of projects around the community. Let her know about your group’s upcoming activities by writing to P.O. Box 803, Crystal River, FL 34423.
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