April 2012 Human Services Newsletter

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April 2012

Join us for lunch
City Wide Garage Sales
Curbside Cleanup Begins
Still need your taxes done
Volunteer
Holocaust Survivor and Civil Rights Activist, Judith Meisel

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Join us for lunch!

Couponing & More

Interested in saving money and meeting a local celebrity? Have lunch with Erin Schneider, Cheap Chick from Fox 9 Monday, April 16, 11:15 a.m. at Creekside Community Center. Erin will share her tips and how-to's for thrifty deals, product reviews, and cost-saving things to do in the Twin Cities.

Reservation deadline is 12 p.m. Thursday, April 12 or until lunch is sold out. Cost is $0 – 3 suggested contribution for guests 60+ (NAPIS form required) and $6 for guests under 60. Make reservations by calling: 952-563-4948 or email: reservations@ci.bloomington.mn.us.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Be entertained by Ketzal Coatlicue an Azetc dance group while you enjoy a culturally inspired lunch Friday, May 4, 11:15 a.m. at Creekside.

Reservation deadline is 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 or until lunch is sold out. Cost is $0 – 3 suggested contribution for guests 60+ (NAPIS form required) and $6 for guests under 60. Make reservations by calling: 952-563-4948 or email: reservations@ci.bloomington.mn.us.

Submit your listing for the City Wide Garage Sales

The Bloomington Optimist Youth Foundation, with support from Human Services, will hold the 2012 Bloomington Citywide Garage Sales, Thursday, May 17 - Saturday, May 19. Listings are now being accepted. To advertise your garage sale on the official 2012 list, you will need to pay $22, or $27 for a listing and a yard sign.

For more information and/or an application, click here or call the Bloomington Optimist Youth Foundation at 952-831-3798.

Curbside Cleanup begins

The Citywide Curbside Cleanup is right around the corner. Seniors and disabled residents who need assistance in getting items to the curb can contact Human Services at 952-563-8733 or TTY 952-563-8740, for assistance. Requests for assistance must be made at least one week in advance of pick-up date.

2012 Clean up schedule

East of Portland - Saturday, April 14
Portland to Penn - Saturday, April 21
Penn to France - Saturday, April 28
France to Normandale - Saturday, May 5
West of Normandale - Saturday, May 12

Still need your taxes done?

Free tax preparation assistance available to those who qualify.

Human Services is partnering with AccountAbility Minnesota and AARP Tax-Aide to provide tax assistance to those who qualify and are available at Creekside on the following dates and times on a first come, first served basis. Taxpayers with complex tax returns are advised to seek paid tax assistance.

AccountAbility Minnesota

Qualifying guidelines: $30,000 or less for individuals and $50,000 or less for families.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, thru April 17

5:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Saturdays, thru - April 14

8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

AARP Tax-Aide

Qualifying guidelines: no income guidelines for taxpayers with middle to low income, with special attention to people age 60 and older.

Mondays and Tuesdays, thru April 17

9 a.m. - Noon

Fridays, thru April 13

9 a.m. - Noon

Spend a little time outside volunteering

Peace Run

Jefferson and Kennedy will be celebrating diversity the week of April 30. A Peace Run will be held Friday, May 4, 10-11 a.m. High school students will run, walk, or roll from Kennedy to Jefferson where a commemorative plaque is exchanged between the two schools. Adult volunteers are needed to assist along the run route from 9:30-11:15 a.m.

Kite Day!

Volunteers are needed Saturday, May 5 to help with distributing kites, set-up, registration, and more. Choose to help between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. for 2 hours or more at this fun event. This is a great way to give back to your community.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa, Human Services Volunteer Coordinator at 952-563-4950 or mwurstpersaud@ci.bloomington.mn.us or fill out a volunteer application form by clicking here.

Holocaust Survivor and Civil Rights Activist

Human Rights Commission hosts Judith Meisel

Meet holocaust survivor and civil rights activist Judith Meisel when she visits Creekside Friday, May 4 from 10:45 – 11:15 a.m. Judith will be serving as this year’s keynote speaker at both Kennedy and Jefferson High Schools Diversity Day presentations.

She will share her story as a holocaust survivor and how this experience led her to become a civil rights activist. Judith speaks across the country each year sharing her message “One Person Can Make a Difference”. Friday, May 4 she will be speaking at Jefferson High School from 7:50 – 8:55 a.m. and 9- 10:05 a.m. and at Kennedy High School from 12:29 – 1:19 p.m. and 1:30 – 2:20 p.m. Visitors are asked to sign in at the main office.

Human Services will be showing the film Tak for Alt which follows Judith’s life as a Jewish child living in a small village in Lithuania to her life in Philadelphia where she became a civil rights activist during the early 1960’s. The film’s title is Danish and means “Thanks for Everything”. The film will be shown at no charge at Creekside on Monday, April 23 and Monday, April 30 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. This film is open to the public and anyone interested in attending is welcome.