published: Friday, November 28, 2008

Community notes

n Marine Corps Reserve has begun the annual "Toys for Tots" drive. Please deposit any unwrapped, new toy at your nearest fire station, police office and other select locations. The donations will help make what could be a bleak Christmas much nicer for those children in need and there will be many this year. For more information, call Ted Antone at 988-4599.

n Heart House Ministries has started the fifth annual toy collection for children whose parents are incarcerated throughout the south Lake County area. Boxes have been distributed to businesses such as Barnie's Coffee & Tea, Kim's Cabbage Patch, Nelson Dry Cleaners, Green Valley Country Club and Haley's House Thrift Store. Please make it a point to visit one of these businesses and make a donation of an unwrapped toy to brighten the Christmas of a child who is without one or both parents. For more information, call 243-7505.

n The FAITH Neighborhood Center is a non-profit organization, part of the Human Care Network, and is the lead agency in South Lake for providing aid to the needy. All services are free to those who are income eligible throughout south Lake County including the cities of Clermont, Minneola, Mascotte, Montverde and Groveland, and all points between and south to the Polk County line.

Approximately 800 families per month are presently being served and with the down turn in the economy the number is growing every day. Because of the increased need, the shelves are emptying faster than the donations are coming through the door. FAITH is sending out a plea for help - any donation of non-perishable food will go a long way in easing the crisis we are currently facing.

Donations of clothing and small household items are also appreciated as these items are provided to clients who may need them. For further information, call the Center at 429-1200 during operating hours: from 9 a.m. - noon Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. The Center is located at 7432 SR 50, just east of Groveland.

n South Lake Art League has scheduled a series of adult art classes at the League's Gallery, W. Montrose St., downtown Clermont:

Acrylic Painting from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. every Monday

Beading & Jewelry from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday

Acrylic Painting from 10 a.m. - noon every Wednesday

One Stroke from 1 - 3 p.m. every Wednesday

Acrylic Painting from 10 a.m. - noon every Thursday

Drawing from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. every Thursday

Oil Painting from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. every Friday

ONGOING:

n Downtown Clermont Farmer's Market, scheduled from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. every Sunday featuring fresh produce, Yalaha Bakery bread, outdoor plants, honey and many other wonderful items. Shop the stores along Montrose or take time for a lunch at the three terrific restaurants in the area. For more information or to become a vendor, call 394-8618.

n Give a Kid a Backpack relies solely on donations and contributions to fund the backpacks and school supplies for the 115 million children in need around the world. $12,000 is required to provide 1000 backpacks with school supplies. The Backpack Foundation is selling coffee from Honduras, Ecuador and Dominican Republic in order to raise money, 100% of the proceeds from each bag of coffee will go directly to help purchase backpacks and school supplies. Call 877 452-7225 or email info@giveakidabackpack.org.

n Clermont Pet Therapy Group - 2 to 3 p.m. - every fourth Saturday - training in Pet Therapy at hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Meg King at 243-2098 or visit http://pettherapy.meetup.com/157