Local notes: Girl Scouts receive scholarships

CBCO

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is partnering with Fayetteville First Responders in hosting two new Boots and Badges Community Challenge Blood Drives.

The drive in Fayetteville takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 at Cross Church, 2801 McMillan Drive.

The Boots and Badges Blood Drive is a community initiative designed to help alleviate a critical blood shortage, while at the same time honoring area First Responders for the great work they do every day. It also is a friendly competition between fire and police departments with a traveling trophy awarded to the department with the strongest showing.

All donors will receive a special Boots and Badges T-shirt, while supplies last. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome. Masks are required at this drive. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you. Donors can schedule an appointment on the website.

Information: cbco.org.

Hope Cancer

The Wellness Center for Hope at Hope Cancer Resources offers a yoga, meditation and fitness class for cancer patients and caregivers in person, via Zoom and YouTube.

Their team of counselors and social workers support cancer patients and their families every day with a focus on emotional health, no matter the circumstances.

A certified tobacco treatment specialist is available to support those looking to quit smoking with nicotine replacement therapy and counseling.

Those in need of medical supplies, liquid nutrition or durable medical equipment, such as shower chairs or walkers, are asked to reach out. Donations of new or gently used items are also accepted.

Information: (479) 361-5847 or hopecancerresources.org.

OLLI

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas announces the following classes for the upcoming week:

• June 6: "OLLI for Coffee" (Zoom), free and open to all, contact office for Zoom details.

• June 7: "Our Own Sweet Sounds" (in person). Join this historical exploration of homegrown music from Arkansas musicians. This class, based on the book "Our Own Sweet Sounds" by local author Robert Cochran, will introduce participants to a brief biography of, and listen to examples of musicians such as the Browns, Johnny Cash, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Louis Jordan, Ronnie Hawkins, William Grant Still, Conway Twitty and many more. $29 members, $44 nonmembers.

• June 9: "Touring With the Cats" (in person), $45 members, $60 nonmembers.

• June 10: "What is Courage" (in person), $29 members, $44 nonmembers.

Information: (479) 575-3541 or olli.uark.edu.

PBS KIDS

Arkansas PBS has announced winners of the 2021 Arkansas PBS KIDS Writers Contest. Students in grades K-3 across Arkansas submitted 155 entries for this year's contest, and all 14 winning stories will be available to read online at myarpbs.org/writerscontest beginning Friday, June 4.

Winners from Northwest Arkansas include:

• First grade -- Erika Robinson of Bentonville, third place, for "The Gem of the Butterfly Land."

• Second grade -- First place, Arielle Morris of Fayetteville for "In the Forest."

• Third grade -- First place, Elijah Whitaker of Bentonville for "The Adventures of John: The Underground City."

Entries were judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. Each winner will receive an Arkansas PBS prize pack. In addition, first place winners will receive a PBS KIDS Playtime Pad, which comes preloaded with educational games, music and videos.

The Arkansas PBS KIDS Writers Contest is designed to promote the advancement of children's literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The contest empowers children in kindergarten through third grades to celebrate creativity and build literacy skills by writing and illustrating their own stories.

Information: pbskids.org.

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas has awarded Lexi Daniel and Chloe Hudson of Rogers its Diamonds Graduating Senior Scholarship.

Daniel, daughter of Ashley and David Daniel, has been a Girl Scout for 12 years from Troop 5168. She will be attending the University of Arkansas.

Hudson, daughter of Pamela Hudson, has also been a Girl Scout in Troop 5168 for 12 years. She has committed to attending Missouri State University for her undergraduate studies.

Girl Scouts – Diamonds established the Diamonds Graduating Senior Scholarship Program to advance leadership opportunities for its girl members after high school. The education scholarships are available for graduating senior Girl Scouts who epitomize the Girl Scout Mission.

The number of scholarships available is based on current funding for the scholarship program. In 2021, Girl Scouts – Diamonds awarded five $1,000 scholarships. Recipients will be honored during the Gold, Silver and Graduating Seniors Ceremony portion of the Diamonds Award Ceremony on July 24.

Information: (800) 632-6894 or girlscoutsdiamonds.org.

Red Cross

The American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society have teamed up this June to encourage people across the country to Give Blood to Give Time and help ensure loved ones have the strength and support they need as they undergo cancer treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, many patient visits and procedures were forced to delay or cancel early in the pandemic to reduce the risk of exposure to covid-19. With procedures resuming, blood donations are critical for cancer treatments. Unfortunately, the Red Cross is seeing fewer blood and platelet donors give as the nation begins to climb out of this pandemic. This downturn comes at a time when the Red Cross continues to see strong demand for blood products by hospitals, causing concern for the sufficiency of the blood supply this month and throughout the summer.

Upcoming blood drives include:

• Bella Vista: 1-6 p.m. June 10, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1 Lambeth Drive

• Bentonville: 2-6 p.m. June 8, Northwest Church, 301 S.W. Unity Blvd.

• Gentry: 2-6 p.m. June 7, First Baptist Church of Gentry, 221 W. Main St.

• Lowell: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 7, Pinnacle Country Club Clubhouse, 3 S. Clubhouse Drive

• Eureka Springs: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 7, Faith Family Christian Church, 157 Huntsville Road

• Fayetteville: 2-6 p.m. June 7, Colton's Restaurant, 642 East Millsap Drive

• Springdale: 1-5 p.m. June 10, Cross Pointe Community Church, 1174 W Henri De Tonti Blvd.

About 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease – the most common inherited blood disorder in the country. The community is encouraged to join the American Red Cross Board of Northwest Arkansas by donating blood to help save lives from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 17 at the McLarty Daniel Dealership, 2201 S.E. Moberly Lane, in Bentonville. All who present to donate at this blood drive will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

Information: givebloodtogivetime.org or redcrossblood.org.

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