The Emily, Outing, 50 Lakes Lions are collecting used eye glasses to be recycled for foreign mission projects, used hearing aids to be recycled for our Hearing Foundation Projects, used cell phones to go to battered woman’s shelters, and used ink cartridges to be recycled for Pediatric cancer patients. If you have any of these items you would like to donate to the cause, please deposit these items in our donation boxes at these locations: Outing—Village Inn and Outing Station. Emily—Pine River State Bank, Ace Hardware, Kut & Kurl, Granny’s Bar and Grill, and the Emily Wesleyan Church

We and you Serve!!

Donate your used eyeglasses
Crosslake Ideal Lions are collecting used eyeglasses to donate to the visually impaired. Drop off sites are located at Crosslake Drug, Crosslake Community Center, Black Ridge Bank, First National Bank, Crosslake Clinic, Reeds,and Crosslake Lutheran Church.

Pine River-Backus Free Community Meals
The Free Weekly Community Meals initiative in the Pine River and Backus communities began on April 22, 2019. The overarching goal is to connect families with weekly access to restaurant quality food, prepared by area Chefs, and be a catalyst to continue building the solid network of support within our community.

Free Weekly CommUnity Meals are provided every Monday, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm, at the Riverside Church, located at 310 Norway Ave, in Pine River, and every Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 pm, at the Pine Mountaineer Senior Citizens Club, located at 131 Front Street North, in Backus.

These healthy meals are Chef prepared and open to the public. If you are interested in providing a monetary donation to support the CommUnity Meals they may either be mailed to: CommUnity Meals, P.O. Box 1, Pine River, MN or dropped off in person at the Pine River-Backus Family Center, located at 245 Barclay Avenue, Pine River. Your support and financial contributions to this valuable community resource are both respected and deeply appreciated.

Weekly Crosslake AA Meetings
There are three AA meetings in Crosslake held on different nights and in different locations. Those with a desire to stop drinking are invited to attend one or more of these meetings. They are all nondenominational and held as follows:

Monday Nights from 7-8 p.m. at the Crosslake Lutheran Church; 35960 County Road 66, Crosslake

Tuesday Nights from 7-8 p.m. at the Log Church; 37218 County Road 66, Crosslake

Thursday Nights from 7-8 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, 35208 Co. Rd 37, south of Crosslake.

Crosslake Ideal Lions Seek Donations
One of the missions of Lions, worldwide, is in the collection of eyeglasses and hearing aids. If you have any glasses you no longer use, please drop them off at one of our sites where we have collection boxes. The locations are as follows: Crosslake Drug Store, Crosslake Clinic, Crosslake Community Center, Blackridge Bank, First National Bank, and Crosslake Lutheran Church. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Outing Bone Builders
Bone Builders, the strengthening program for men and women to help prevent osteoporosis and rebuild bone density for vaccinated seniors. The hour-long classes, held every Tue & Thurs at the Crooked Lake Town Hall in Outing begin promptly at 9 am. There is no charge to participate. Hand and leg weights are provided in class or bring your own. New to the program? Contact Jack Schuller 218-792-5256 to learn more and find out how to get started. The program is sponsored by the Outing Seniors, serving Outing, Emily, and Fifty Lakes.

Emily Gymnasium Schedule
• Exercise (low impact to vintage music): Mon &Wed 9 -10 am
• Ladies Beginner Pickleball: Mon 10 - Noon & Fri 9 - Noon
• Beginner Line Dancing: Wed 10 - 11 am
• Men's Pickleball: Mon 2 - 4 pm
• Youth Activities: Wed 4:30- 6 pm
• Open gym times: Call 218-763-2480 for availability.
• Prescheduled activities and events take precedence. Dry shoes MUST be worn in the gym.

Saturdays: Emily Community Market
The Emily Community Market will be located in the Emily Wesleyan Church parking lot, 40142 State Hwy 6 from 9 am - 2 pm on these Saturdays: May 20, June 24, and every Saturday from July 22 through September 30. There will be local artisans, baked goods, jam& jellies, and local produce (when available).

Makers’ Place of Emily
All makers - (artists, crafters, writers, musicians, etc.) are welcome to come to the Emily City Building to meet, share, create, learn and collaborate.

Bring a project you are working on or bring ideas or interest in learning something new. A place to meet and make new friends, work individually or share/learn an art/craft or work together on collaborative ideas.

New Schedule Open Studio Times:
2nd Tues. 4-8pm
Most Thurs. 6-9pm (check FB)
3rd Mon. 10am-Noon then lunch
4th Mon. 1-4pm

For questions or interest contact makersplaceofemily@gmail.com or find the Facebook group by the same name.

First Thursdays: Explore Crosslake Business Meeting
Join us for the monthly Explore Crosslake Business meeting of business owners, managers and key staff. Meet and network with others, learn more about events, activities and organizations in Crosslake, and share information about your business!

The event is Chamber facilitated, and all businesses are invited to attend regardless of Chamber membership. Always the first Thursday monthly beginning at 7:45 for coffee and networking, and the meeting runs from 8 - 9:15 a.m.

Businesses are encouraged to pick a month to host and can plan for 15-25 attendees monthly. Call Cindy at the Chamber if you'd like to host this meeting and highlight your business!

Fourth Tuesday: Dementia Caregivers Support Group
Caregivers, family, and friends of persons with dementia are invited to the monthly Dementia Caregiver Support Group in Crosby.

Meetings are scheduled the fourth Tuesday of each month. To learn more, contact Kent O’Grady at kent.ogrady@gmail.com or 612-868-7260 or CRMC social workers at 218-546-2357.

Last Mondays: New Area Mental Health Support Group at CRMC
People who need someone to talk to or listen are welcome to attend a new mental health support group, I.O.U. (Importance of Unimpaired), the last Monday of each month at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.

The confidential, non-religious based support group type environment of the gatherings will allow those attending to share, learn, inspire, and more regarding all concerns about mental health. Meetings are held from 2-3:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Earl Bedard Board Room on the lower level of the hospital.

“To be unimpaired means to be healthy. If talking, or even listening helps you help your own well-being, please come,” said Facilitator Christina Mullen, a mental health advocate from Crosby. She added that there will be no introductions and no standing in front of a crowd.

Mullen says as the I.O.U. implies, people owe it to themselves to keep their well-being healthy. Mullen’s son Conner was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, high anxiety, and depression. Born May 25, 1995, he died June 2, 2014, as a result of suicide. Mullen said although the group is not a cure-all for what ails individuals, together, those in the group can help those who may be in similar situations to Conner. She encourages attendees to feel free to share their thoughts, insight, inspirational quotes, and other information so that everyone may give hope to those who fear there is none and share knowledge with those in search of it.”

Registration for the support group is not required. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/groups/inhonorofconner

Volunteers Needed for Care ‘N Share Meals
Community Care ‘N Share in Emily (CNS) sends to-go meals to over 100 people in the Crosby area who are seniors, veterans or home-bound people. We also supply another 100 to-go meals closer to Emily, Outing and Fifty Lakes.

We need about 10 volunteers Wednesdays Noon to about 2 pm for a variety of tasks: help prepare and package to-go meals, wash dishes, clean up or help deliver boxes of packages of to-go meals to apartments in Crosby or other surrounding destinations.

Our chef could use 1 or 2 more on Tuesdays from 1 to 3:30 pm to help pre-make some of the menu. If you would like to volunteer, call Lori at 651-246-7292 or LoriNelson@brainerd.net.

If you need a meal, call 952-200-9108. Any amount of financial contributions are needed to help us cover expenses. Care N Share is a 501c(3) charity exempt from federal income tax.

Our kitchen is co-located with the Wesleyan Church in Emily on State Highway 6. Donations can be sent to Care N Share, PO BOX 354 Emily, MN 56447.

We are financially supported in part by Essentia Health St Joseph Foundation; Second Harvest North Central Food Bank; Crow Wing Power Round Up; Hallett Foundation and generous individuals like you.

USDA Accepting Applications to Help Low-Income Individuals and Families Buy or Repair Homes
USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for very low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area.

The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very low and low-income applicants that are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as one percent with a subsidy. Applicants must meet income and credit guidelines and demonstrate repayment ability. The program is available in rural communities of generally 35,000 people or less.

The maximum loan amount is $40,000 at a one percent interest rate, repayable for a 20-year term and can be used to improve or modernize homes and do essential repairs. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to homeowners 62 and older and must be used to remove health or safety hazards, such as fixing a leaking roof, installing indoor plumbing, or replacing a furnace.

Contact a USDA Rural Development Housing Specialist in your area today, to see if you qualify.

USDA Rural Development loans and grants provide assistance that supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and highspeed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mn.

Promedica Hospice Volunteer Training
Heartland Hospice is looking for caring and dedicated people with an interest in serving  terminally ill patients and their families in Crosslake, Breezy Point, Nisswa, Outing and the outlying communities. Volunteers provide services such as friendly visiting, pet therapy and musical enrichment. Volunteer classes are available to fit each person’s schedule. Please call Keshia Kettler at Promedica Hospice at 218-829-1252 for further information.

Volunteers Needed for Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity
Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity is in need of volunteers to help us complete two current build projects, as well as in our bustling ReStore. If you want a rewarding volunteer experience, many of our volunteer say that they receive more by volunteering than they feel they give…and that there is so much to learn! Here are the areas where we need help right now:

Construction
Get hands-on experience on with Habitat! You’re never alone building with us; a professional staff member is always on site to teach new skills or put your expertise to best use. Construction volunteers perform a variety of skilled and unskilled tasks including framing, vinyl siding, sheet rocking, painting, flooring, and installing trim. We work alongside each partner family for each home, so you will see and know the lives you are changing firsthand.

Opportunities change day-to-day, occur indoors and outdoors, and are typically four-hour shifts (morning or afternoon). Participating in build projects is an excellent opportunity for church and youth groups, local businesses looking for VTO, individuals in need of volunteer hours, or anyone with a desire to get involved with our community.

We are currently building two homes in the Brainerd/Baxter area and have several projects coming in 2023.

ReStore
Is HGTV your favorite channel? Our Brainerd ReStore is a retail outlet that deals in recycling new and like-new building and home improvement materials sold at discounted prices. We prevent quality items from crowding the landfill and reuse, repurpose, and recycle appliances and furniture, too.

Regular, weekly volunteers are needed to provide support to the ReStore staff, donors, and customers. Whether you’re a people person or you love seeing all the interesting things that come in, you’ll love the ReStore.

If you're a people person, your key responsibilities will be:
• Greet customers and answer questions
• Answer the phone/light office tasks between customers
• Assist customers in making purchases/cashier
• Help maintain a clean and attractive store

If you love to see all the donations that come in or like to fix things, your key responsibilities will be:
• Receive and organize donations
• Clean, repair, sort, and stock donations
• Help donors unload vehicles/trailers
• Fill out donation receipts

Pickups/Salvages
We tear apart, too! Pickup volunteers take our trucks and trailers throughout the Brainerd lakes area, collecting new and gently used home accessories, appliances, and building supplies. Pickup volunteers go out daily (on a planned route, scheduled ahead of time) and deliver donations to our warehouse.

Salvage volunteers go to a site and save reusable, quality materials from demolition. All these items stock our ReStore, which is open to the public and sells merchandise discounted up to 75% off standard retail prices. All net proceeds support our mission to build affordable homes for working families. Plenty of volunteers like to do both! We need pickup volunteers every weekday and salvage volunteers roughly once per week.

For more information on how you can help, you can contact us at:
• Heidi Gould, Volunteer Director, heidi.gould@lakesareahabitat.org, 218-454-7021 Lakesareahabitat.org > Volunteer