Public Service Announcements

NAMI also offers a Peer to Peer Recovery Education Course on Thursdays at Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, same hours as above, starting Oct. 8 and continue until Dec. 17.

"Road to Recovery" is an American Cancer Society service program that provides transportation for cancer patients to their treatments and then back home. Transportation is provided according to the needs and available resources in the community.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer driver, please call 410-933-5130. The American Cancer Society will provide a simple training program and an opportunity for you to meet other volunteers throughout the year. Whether you can drive on a regular basis or only have a few hours a month to donate, the American Cancer Society will appreciate your help.

Meetings on this topic are held on the first Monday of every month. The convenor is Bill Harvey, who has been active on this issue since 1989 and works with HealthCare Now of Maryland (formerly Maryland UHCAN: Universal Health Care Action Network. For more information, call or e-mail Bill Harvey at 410-467-7756 or bharvey@smart.net.

Co-sponsors of Forum events include Simplicity Matters Earth Institute, Baltimore Climate Action Network, Green City Baltimore, Baltimore Jewish Environmental Network, Hooked on Nature, Parks & People, Network of Spiritual Progressives in Maryland, and MD League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Inc.

To volunteer, contact Dejanelle Peterkin at 443-573-0926 or e-mail peterkin@mowcm.org.

With 25,000 foreclosures expected in Maryland this year, and one in every 200 homes now in some stage of a foreclosure proceeding, many families across the state face losing their homes. To help these thousands of people, especially in light of new state foreclosure laws, the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) has just released a newly revised foreclosure proceeding legal information guide and is giving it away free to Maryland consumers as a public service.

MSBA’s "Foreclosing Proceedings in Maryland" public awareness brochure offers assistance to consumers facing or fearing a foreclosure. This free pamphlet provides legal information to help the public better understand the new foreclosure law, effective April 4, 2008, which offers new protections for homeowners. It explains the new law in basic terms and outlines the steps of the revised foreclosure process, including new notice requirements and extended time periods for foreclosure sales, so consumers know what to expect when facing a foreclosure situation.

"Foreclosing Proceedings in Maryland" is one in the series of 24 legal information guides offered by MSBA’s Public Awareness Committee; all are free to the public.

"Foreclosing Proceedings in Maryland" is also available online or in print; to obtain print copies of the brochure contact Jason Zeisloft, Communications Assistant, jzeisloft@msba.org or call (410) 685-7878 x 3028.

The Maryland Science Center seeks volunteers to serve as greeters, assistants in exhibit areas, science demonstrators, and IMAX Theater ushers.

Orientation will be provided. Benefits include free parking, a 30% discount in the Science Store, a 25% discount in Beakers Café, and free admission for volunteers and their families to the St. John Properties IMAX Theatre and Davis Planetarium.

Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age and available to work a minimum of one four-hour shift per month for at least three months.

For more information, call Tony Washington at (410) 545-5894 or email twashington@marylandsciencecenter.org.

30% of Baltimore City Residents can’t read but you can help! The Greater Homewood Adult Literacy Program is seeking volunteers to tutor adults in math, reading, and/or writing. Free training and materials. Located across from JHU in Charles Village. Call (410) 261-0022 for more details.

What is the punishment for drunk driving? What happens during a divorce? Why do you need a will?

If your group would like a lawyer to discuss these or other legal issues, the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) will provide a lawyer as a free service to the community. MSBA Speakers’ Bureau is a collection of over 200 volunteer attorneys, throughout the entire state, who are willing to speak to the public about numerous legal issues. The Bureau’s 41 topics range from adoption, bankruptcy, wills and estate planning to taxes and the legal needs of senior citizens. MSBA attorneys are willing to speak and inform the public about the law.

Any group interested in having a member of the Speakers’ Bureau visit their organization should contact Jason Zeisloft of the MSBA at jzeisloft@msba.org, or 410-685-7878. For more information on the MSBA or the complete listings of topics, visit the MSBA website, msba.org.

Maryland consumers seeking basic information about the law--wills, bankruptcy, nursing home admission, automobile accidents, divorce, child custody, etc.--should call the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) at (410) 685-7878 or (800) 492-1964. Twenty-four legal information pamphlets are available free of charge as a public service. They are also available online at msba.org, by clicking on public resources.

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults is presenting a six-week series of educational topics and conversations for young adults affected by cancer. Professional speakers, community educators, and young adult survivors will discuss issues that young adults living with cancer face today. All sessions will be held at the Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center in Baltimore, MD, and are free of charge. Registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Esther Ehrmann, Volunteer Coordinator, at 410-964-0202. Visit this webpage for more information.

Parents Without Partners, a non-profit, non-sectarian, volunteer educational organization of single parents who are bringing up their children alone, offers a balanced program of educational, family and social /recreational activities for both adults and children. Orientations are held on the second Thursday of every month at the White Marsh Public Library, 8133 Sandpiper Circle, from 7 to 8pm. The registration fee is $28. Please direct questions to Jeff Newberry 410-667-0275 or Ben Hall 410-282-0655.

8000 children in the city of Baltimore are in and out of home placements each year because of abuse and neglect. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) provides a voice for these children, ensuring their placement in safe, permanent homes. CASA's trained advocates inform the court regarding the child’s placement as it pertains to their educational, medical and mental health needs and overall well being.

Volunteers are trained and supervised to advocate for the best interests of the child. An advocate must be at least 21 years of age, attend 30 hours of training, have a background check, and make a commitment for a period of at least one year.

Please visit http://www.casabalt.org or call 410-244-1465 and ask for Cindy.

The Twelve Step Recovery Workshop is an open meeting, free of charge, for people suffering from any sort of compulsive problem, including alcoholism, compulsive overeating, anorexia-bulimia, codependency, emotional compulsions, etc. The meeting is at Ascension Lutheran Church, 7601 York Rd. (Towson), every Thursday at 7 p.m. Call (410) 880-2439.

Adult residents, ages 18-64, without health insurance, can gain access to health care through a grant program in the Baltimore City Health Department. Seven federal and one state Community Health Centers in the City are accepting patient referrals. Clinic fees are based on a sliding scale. Residents should call 410.396.9996 to get an appointment at a health center.

Approximately one million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis of the upper spine, which causes severe pain attacks and slowly decreases neck mobility. In the new magazine Arthritis Info, the American Arthritis Society has compiled practical tips from spinal experts. For a free copy, visit americanarthritis.org or write: American Arthritis Society, 28 State Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02109 (please enclose a 37-Cent stamp for return postage).

Wishes on Wheels makes available power wheelchairs for non-ambulatory senior citizens (65 years old & up), usually at no cost if they qualify. No deposit required. This service may also be available to the permanently disabled of any age.

Call 1.800.823.5220, or visit threewishes2.com