Enjoy a movie tonight

Several theaters around the state offer accommodations for movie-goers, such as captioning or descriptive services. www.captionfish.com  lists cinemas with access (AD/CC) features. Find theaters in your area by typing in your zip code. MoPix-equipped Rear Window Captioned Films are listed at cam.wgbh.org/mopix/nowshowing.html#mn

 

May is Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Month, recognized by many awareness-raising events across the country. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.

Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing; anyone can be affected. This includes neighbors, coworkers, friends, children, parents, siblings or other relatives. With proper treatment and support most people can recover from depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and other serious mental illnesses. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Minnesota offers free educational classes, support groups and resources for families and individuals living with a mental illness. FFI: NAMI, 651-645-2948 or 1-888-NAMI-Helps

 

Scholarships available

Courage Center has announced the EMPOWER Scholarships. EMPOWER Scholarships are open to ethnically diverse students for attendance at an institution of higher learning. Applicants must have demonstrated interest in medical or rehabilitation field by having some volunteer involvement related to a healthcare field. Selection is based on the applicant’s intentions, achievements, volunteerism and need. Applicant deadline is May 15 and applicants must be a resident of Minnesota or Western Wisconsin, and must identify how they will use their educational training. Volunteer involvement in the community is required. A minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. Request an application from Courage Center’s Volunteer Services Department, or download it. FFI: www.couragecenter.org/ContentPages/empower_details.aspx

 

SpinLife.com offers scholarship

Spinlife.com, the largest U.S. direct-to-consumer Internet retailer of durable medical equipment, provides one $500 Innovation Motion Scholarship to students who are manual or power wheelchair users enrolled at an accredited four-year institution. In May SpinLife will announce the theme of its 2012 Innovation Motion Scholarship and begin accepting applications on line. FFI: [email protected]

 

Give away that car

Autos for Arc can take old vehicles off your hands, give you a tax deduction and say “Thank you” for helping change the lives of people with disabilities. Autos for Arc accepts cars and trucks of any model and condition and other vehicles including boats (with trailers), RVs, ATVs, golf carts, personal watercraft, motorcycles and snowmobiles. Within the seven-county metro area, Autos for Arc can arrange to have a vehicle towed free of charge.

Call the toll-free Autos for Arc hotline, 1-877-778-7709, to arrange a pickup. Or drop off vehicles at a Value Village location. FFI: 1-877-778-7709, www.autosforarc.org

 

 

Volunteer with RSVP

Volunteers age 55 and older are eligible to receive free supplemental insurance, mileage reimbursement and other benefits through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) sponsored by Volunteers of America of Minnesota.

RSVP/Volunteers of America of Minnesota and AARP Foundation need volunteers with good budgeting and organizational skills to help manage finances of older or disabled low-income individuals. Have a few hours a month to volunteer? Money Management Program staff will train and match you with someone in the community. FFI: 612-617-7821