Giving help, getting help, April 11

GOOD NEIGHBORS

LEXINGTON COUNTY'S Green is Clean Month kicks off at 8 a.m.-noon Saturday with a Greater Lexington clean-up hosted by the Town of Lexington. Meet at Town Hall, 111 Maiden Lane. There will be an e-waste collection 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at the County Administration Building, 212 S. Lake Drive, Lexington. Limit eight items per visit.

THE WEST COLUMBIA SAFE CATS COALITION is made up of animal welfare organizations and individuals dedicated to reducing the number of homeless cats in the city limits. Stray and free-roaming cats will be trapped, vaccinated, spayed/neutered and returned to their neighborhood. The service is provided at no cost, but donations are more than welcome. If you would like to use this service, call (803) 543-6335safecatscoalition@gmail.com. A volunteer will arrange for a time to trap the cats, then they will be transported to Pets, Inc., where they will be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, ear-tipped and returned. Since the cats trapped by animal control and by Safe Cats Coalition are returned to their neighborhoods, volunteers are needed to help care for them. If you can assist by feeding, trapping, or permitting someone to feed and/or trap on your property, please call.

CHRISTMAS IN LEXINGTON COUNTY, a countywide one-day blitz to repair and improve the homes of the frail, homebound and low-income elderly, is slotted for April 26. The purpose is to make the home safer to allow the homeowner to remain independent for as long as possible. For information and how to sign up, call (803) 356-5111

SUDDETH AUTOMOTIVE is offering free car care inspections 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays through April 30 at 1410 N. Millwood Ave. Each multipoint inspection takes about 30 minutes, Each participant will receive a completed copy of the inspection form and an opportunity to review the results with a service director. Call (803) 256-2110 to set up an appointment; drop-ins are also welcome.

TAKE TIME TO BE HEALTHY is the theme of the Senior Missionary Society at First Calvary Church's annual health fair. The event will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the church, 1401 Pine St.

THE MEN'S MINISTRY at Bethel AME Church will hold a men's health fair 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the church, 819 Woodrow St. The event will feature health screenings, informational sessions on the Affordable Care Act, fitness, grooming, motivational speakers and vendors. A healthy breakfast will be served beginning at 10:15 a.m. in the El Bethel Cafeteria. (803) 779-0138

VOLUNTEERS

FIDO DOG RESCUE is looking for volunteer foster families to care for rescued dogs until they find permanent homes. (803) 796-2390

THE IRMO CHAPIN RECREATION COMMISSION is seeking volunteers age 18 and older to become nature interpreters at Saluda Shoals Park. Nature interpreters interact with and educate park guests in the Wetlands Preserve. Volunteers meet at 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays for training. No experience necessary; retirees welcome. Jeanette Wells, (803) 213-2051

DAYBREAK CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER is seeking female volunteers in several areas. The center needs volunteer counselors, hotline volunteers, teen volunteers, parenting/childbirth volunteer teachers, post-abortion class leaders, baby boutique volunteers, receptionists and office assistants. The center also needs male mentors and mailing clerical volunteers. Adults only; training will be provided. Daybreak has offices in downtown Columbia and Lexington and needs assistance at both sites. (803) 771-6634

FUNDRAISERS

A CHARITY YARD SALE will be 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2224 Augusta Road, Lexington. Proceeds will benefit a patient in need of a kidney transplant and a family who lost their home and its contents in a fire.

LOCAL WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS have banded together to hold a Wine for Water fundraiser, 6-8 p.m. April 22 (Earth Day) at Senate's End, 300 Senate St. Join the Gills Creek, Rocky Branch and Smith Branch watersheds to celebrate their vision for the streams and rivers they have pledge to preserve. Enjoy food from local restaurants, wines from around the world and great deals at the silent auction. Proceeds will benefit the associations, environmental nonprofits dedicated to restoring the Midlands watersheds through education, grassroots action and public and private partnerships. Tickets are $35; $25 for members; special ticket and membership packages, $40 and are available at http://ift.tt/1qnwq3I or call (803) 727-8326.

THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA will hold their state American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund benefit run April 26-27. The fundraiser will be based on pledges made for every mile each rider completes as well as donations from local businesses. The run will start in Abbeville in the morning of April 26 and go to Sumter for the first stop. From Sumter the ride will go to Rock Hill. After an overnight stay, the ride will continue to Woodruff and Chapin and then on to Columbia, winding up at the Veterans Memorial Park, Gadsden and Hampton streets, 4 p.m. April 27. The Legacy Scholarship provides scholarships for children who have had a parent die while on active military service since Sept. 11, 2001. All donations are tax deductible, call (803) 360-3830

BI-LO HAS LAUNCHED its 5th annual PAWS 'Feed the Love' donation program to benefit area food banks and nonprofits partners dedicated to eliminating hunger for pets in their communities. Through April 29, customers may purchase a $5 pre-packaged bag of pet food with their BI-LO bonus card or give a monetary donation of their choice at any BI-LO store register. Each bag contains a week's worth of dry and canned packages of PAWS Premium, BI-LO's brand of pet food. For every bag purchased, customers will receive an additional 5 cents per gallon in fuel perks rewards.

DONATE, DON'T DUMP, an initiative of the Salvation Army of the Midlands, encourages folks to drop off clothing, household items, furniture, etc. at the Family Store, 1312 Millwood Ave. Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. You can call (803) 748-9964 for items to be picked up.

REACH OUT AND READ, an early literacy program providing books for children age 5 and younger during well-child visits at Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, needs new book donations and contributions. Call Callee Boulware, (803) 434-2523.