Race for Cure seeks volunteers; Neighborhood Connections gets $4,500 donation from Eileen Fisher store; Drug Take-Back day nets 458 pounds

The 24th annual Komen Vermont Race for the Cure, which takes place this year on Saturday, July 23, at Riley Rink at Hunter Park, in Manchester — is looking for volunteers before, during and after the day’s events (a 5K walk, a 5K run, a 10K run, and a Kids Obstacle Course).

Volunteers can range from staffing a desk to cheerleading, pom-poms included. Students, alone or in groups, can earn community service hours for the work.

The positions most in need are: Course Monitors (help set up and break down the course, direct runners on the course and watch for runners that may need assistance); Parking and Traffic Management; Registration Desk (Comfortable with technology? Thrive in a fast-paced environment?); Kids Activity Tent and Fun Run Helpers (ideal for crafty-types who enjoy working with little kids) and Sponsor Tent Volunteers. Each position requires a three- to four-hour time commitment.

No experience is required for any position.

If you would like to volunteer, register online at komenvtnh.org by clicking Ways to Get Involved under the Komen Race for the Cure tab. And consider volunteering with friends and family. If you have questions please email Volunteer chair Mary Miller at racevolunteers@comcast.net, call her at 802-362-0108, or call the Race office at 802-362-2733 for further information

Eileen Fisher Co. donates $4,500 to Neighborhood Connections

Neighborhood Connections recently received a donation from the Eileen Fisher Company Store in Manchester.

The contribution of $4,539 will support health education classes and programs for women and girls. Programs will be led by Dr. Delores Barbeau, Neighborhood Connections’ community physician and health educator. The classes are designed to instill clear knowledge about women’s health issues, healthy self-perceptions and the strength to be individuals when faced with peer pressure.

“We are so grateful for Eileen Fisher generosity and support of our programs for women and girls. We wish to particularly thank Lana Prouty and all their staff,” said Executive Director Tom Dougherty.

The Manchester Eileen Fisher Company Store opened in June of 2014 and has taken an active role in becoming involved in the local community.

“We are thrilled to follow the continued success of Neighborhood Connections’ programs for women and girls,” says Lana Prouty, Eileen Fisher Store leader.

Drug Take Back Day nets 458 pounds of unused meds

Windsor County Sheriffs netted 458 pounds of medication during the April 30 National Drug Take-Back Day, led by the DEA. The drugs were incinerated.

“Take-Back” efforts began in 2012 as stand-alone disposal events occurring twice a year. Since then, police departments across Windsor County, the state and the nation have installed permanent drug collection units. As a result, the medications collected each “Take-Back” event have increased tremendously. The combined total of 458 pounds collected in April was the largest volume yet to be tallied in Windsor County, and 56 pounds greater than was collected a year ago, spring of 2015.

Windsor County Sheriff Michael Chamberlin has been instrumental in keeping the take back efforts going. Normally, the Sheriff’s Department collects the disposed of medication and brings them to DEA officials to weigh. They are then taken for incineration by the DEA. In April of 2015, the DEA briefly suspended community support for this event. Sheriff Chamberlin stepped in and arranged the collection and incineration of medications collected. “We have committed to keep this effort because it is a great service to the community. We want to encourage everyone to get rid of their medications, get it out of the house. The collection efforts help to keep dangerous medications out of the hands of people who struggle with addictions and commit crimes.”

The breakdown of the April 30 collection is:

• Hartford PD, 121.6
• Rochester Constable Office, 2.4
• Royalton PD, 25.4
• Weathersfield Transfer Station, 8.8
• Chester PD, 24
• Ludlow PD, 21.2
• Norwich PD, 4
• Woodstock PD, 53
• Windsor PD, 86.2
• Springfield PD, 106.4 ; and
• VT State Police in Royalton, 5.2.

Law Enforcement officials, health-care professionals and Windsor County Prevention partners encourage adults to lock their medications as they need them or to properly dispose of unused medications safely. For information on proper use, storage, and disposal of prescription medications, visit: www.twinstatesafemeds.org.

Permanent medication drop boxes and ongoing collection and incineration efforts across Windsor County has been made possible by funding through the Windsor County Prevention Partners and the Vermont Partnership for Success grant. For more  information on substance abuse prevention efforts, visit www.facebook.com/windsorcountypreventionpartners.