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In This Issue
Quote of the Week
"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew." - William Shakespeare
Save the Dates
April 5 - Brenham's Annual Seniors Day

April 29 - Proud Of My Culture 16th Annual Early Childhood Seminar
Event Submissions
Listing your organization's information in the Community Information Digest is easy and free! To have information considered for inclusion in the Digest, please submit it to [email protected] no later than 5:00 pm Tuesdays. All events posted are for the following week, events submitted for the same week will not be included in the Digest.

Inclusion in the Digest is at the sole discretion of 2-1-1 Texas/United Way of the Brazos Valley and is dependent on their guidelines.
For Your Information
Does your organization have an ongoing program that you would like featured? Send it in! Briefly describe the program in 100 words or less. We will list your program in this section for up to two months, at which time you will need to resubmit the program information.

NAMI Brazos Valley Mental Health Support Groups

Free support group for loved ones of someone with mental health issues, and separate, free support group for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use disorders are held concurrently every Tuesday from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. For location(s) and more information visit www.namibv.org, send an  email [email protected], or call 2-1-1.

2-1-1 Brazos Valley would like to announce a new way to stay connected! To receive text updates on local resources including Back to School fairs, tax preparation sites, the Summer Food Program, and Holiday Assistance, simply text 211BV to 51555. Data rates may apply.  
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Spotlight
2017 State Employee Charitable Campaign Accepting Applications!

The State Employee Charitable Campaign is an open campaign and encourages any and all qualified organizations to apply. 
 
A charitable organization that does not spend more than 25% of its annual revenue for administrative fundraising expenses is in good financial standing, and has local or statewide presence is potentially eligible to participate in the SECC. There are other requirements in order to participate, however if the charitable organization fulfills the requirements mentioned above it is recommended to pursue completing a full application. 

The Local Employee Committee of the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) is accepting applications for Charities for the 2017 SECC Campaign.  Applications and instructions can be found here or contact United Way of the Brazos Valley at  979-696-4483  for information or an application packet. Applications may be mailed or delivered to United Way of the Brazos Valley, 909 Southwest Parkway East, College Station, Texas 77845 and must be received by  Friday, February 17th, 2017 at 5:00 PM .

For more information visit www.uwbv.org/2017-secc-applications
Events
Tickets Available for Art of Helping Children Silent Auction & Dinner - Voices for Children

Date:      Event Saturday, March 4, 2017
Time:     6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place:     Brazos County Expo Ballroom
              5827 Leonard Road
              Bryan, TX 77807
Cost:      Tickets are $100
 
Each year, Voices For Children hosts a silent auction and dinner to raise funds for its Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program and honor community members who dedicate their efforts to improving the health and well-being of children in our community. All proceeds allow VFC to continue to serve abused and neglected children who need a voice in court. Tickets are on sale through Friday, February 17, 2017 at  www.vfcbrazos.org.

And be sure to get a sneak peak of the auction items on our  website starting Monday, February 20, 2017!
Homebuyer Education Course - The City of College Station
 
Date:      Monday, February 13, 2017
              Monday, February 20, 2017
              Monday, February 27, 2017
Time:     6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Place:     College Station Fire Station No. 6
              610 University Drive East
              College Station, TX 77840
Cost:      None ($20 for course book but not required)
 
The City of College Station is offering a four part homebuyer education course in February covering topics such as credit, budgeting, mortgage loans, and shopping for a home. Register today at www.cstx.gov/homebuyer or call 979-764-3778!
Navasota Community Blood Drive - American Red Cross
 
Date:      Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Time:     11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Place:     First United Methodist Church
              Fellowship Hall
              616 Holland
              Navasota, TX 77868
Cost:      None, but registration is required.
 
Visit www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code Navasota or call 1-800-RED-Cross to schedule an appointment and get more information.
Success for Today and Tomorrow Conference Accessing Disabliity Resources - TAMU Center on Disability and Development
 
Date:       Saturday, February 25, 2017
Time:     8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Place:    Hildont Garden Inn College Station
              3081 University Drive East
              Bryan, TX 77802
Cost:      Free, but please RSVP by Friday, February 17, 2017
 
The Success for Today &  Tomorrow Conference  will feature local and state-wide vendors, a parent/student panel, and a world-renowned motivational keynote speaker Anthony Ianni , who was the first Division One college basketball player with Autism. We hope to appeal to all disability categories, age levels, and members of the community at this event.  Child care will be available for children ages 2-8 with  Project Sunshine.  Young people ages 8+ have the opportunity to experience a {free} session with  Fungineering  while parents are accessing disability resources in the exhibitor/vendor booth area. If you are interested in joining us as an attendee, please click on the following link >>  Attendee RSVP || FREE || Success for Today & TomorrowConference << and complete our short RSVP form. This will help us gauge the amount of coffee and snacks to provide as well as child care and the number of young people who will be attending the Fungineering session. 
Dining in the Dark  - Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living
 
Date:       Thursday, February 18, 2017
Time:     Social Hour at 5:00 PM
              Seating at 6:00 PM
Place:    College Station Hilton
              801 University Drive East
              College Station, TX 77840
Cost:      Cost varies depending on ticket option. Please see website for details.
 
Dining in the Dark is a unique, multi-course experience taking place in complete darkness. Guests are invited to wear eye masks, although the room is completely "light-locked", there is still some light which comes in through open doors and exit signs. The dinner consists of a secret menu kept quiet until the end of the event with a big reveal. Guests utilize their other available senses throughout the dinner while getting to know their server, an individual with a visual impairment or blindness. Before and during the dinner, we have live music, a silent auction, raffle, cash bar, and sensory room experience. The event itself is like non-other in our community and is appreciated by all. The event is an awareness effort for our community about the abilities of people with blindness or visual impairments. All proceeds go to the programs at Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living and future awareness events.

Get your tickets today before they sell out!  For more information, and to purchase tickets  www.DiningInTheDarkBCS.org  or 
call 979-776-5505.
Stampede for Need 5K Run/Walk - St. Mary's Catholic Center
 
Date:       Saturday, February 25, 2017
Time:     Registration starts 8:00 AM
              Race Starts 9:00 AM
Place:     Central Park
              1000 Krenek Tap Rd
              College Station, TX 77840
Cost:      Registration is $20 before the race, $15/person for group of 4 or more, $25 on the day of the race
 
All proceeds of the event go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Bryan/College Station, providing emergency financial assistance in the community.  For more info or to pre-register online, visit  www.aggiecatholic.org/stampede4need
Call for Entries for HAT'S OFF TO BRA ART - Health For All
 
Date:       Deadline February, 24, 2017
Time:     10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Place:    The Village
              210 West 26th Street
              Bryan, TX 77803
Cost:      None
 
For the last two years Health For All has hosted the BRA ART EVENT as an annual fundraiser. This year we are expanding the event to include hats and want to introduce  HAT'S OFF TO BRA ART!  This fundraiser will include the auction of HEALTH COUTURE ART (both HAT ART & BRA ART) to help raise money for our free clinic serving the uninsured of the Brazos Valley.

We're calling all professional and amateur artists, designers, nonprofits, organizations, businesses, jewelers and community members to submit entries for HAT'S OFF TO BRA ART benefiting Health for All. All ART entries (hats and bras) can incorporate any medium. For entry rules and guidelines visit www.hlth4all.org/Bra-Art. Get creative for a good cause and help us help our neighbors in need. 

Submit original works of HEALTH COUTURE ART (hats & bras)  on or before February 24th , 2017. All entries will be displayed from 2/27/17 to 3/28/17 when they will be auctioned off at an event filled with music, entertainment, belly dancers, color, and most of all - fun.  All HEALTH COUTURE ART is auctioned with 100% of the proceeds going to Health for All to help with local  health needs.
Silver Ring Thing - Hope Pregnancy Centers of Brazos Valley
 
Date:       Saturday, February 18, 2017
Time:     7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place:     Margaret W. Rudder Performing Arts Center
               Rudder High School
              3521 Austins Colony Parkway
              Bryan, TX 77808
Cost:      Event is free and optional ring available for $20.
 
The live concert-style event will be held February18, 2017 at the Margaret W. Rudder Performing Arts Center at Rudder High School from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is a free event and an optional ring is available for $20. There will be a parent's session beginning at 7 p.m. The Silver Ring Thing tour team, a group of 20-somethings from across the U.S., encourages students to control their bodies and wait for sexual intimacy within the bonds of marriage. During a high-energy, action packed event, tour team members share their stories of success, failure, forgiveness and hope using skits, humor, drama, commercial parodies and personal testimonies.

Fore more information or to register, visit their website at www.silverringthing.com.
Job Opportunities
Do you have a job opportunity with your agency? We want to list it! Please send submissions to [email protected]. Include a brief description of the position and further instructions for those interested in applying or getting more information about the opportunity.
Executive Director (Full Time) - Voices For Children, Inc. CASA of Brazos Valley

Voices For Children, Inc. CASA of Brazos Valley is seeking candidates to fill the position of Executive Director.  Resume, Letter of Intent and three references may be submitted to  [email protected] on or before  February 13, 2017

For a description of the position or for more information, please visit  www.vfcbrazos.org
Program Director (Full Time) - Twin City Mission

Youth & Family Services; Full Time; Master's Degree required; Program Mgmt. experience A plus! Supervision of 10-County area;  Send resume' to Doug  Weedon; PO Box 3490, Bryan,  TX 77805 or email at:  [email protected] Twin City Mission is an E.O.E.
Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPCS) - Twin City Mission

Twin City Mission is looking for  A Licensed Professional  Counselor Supervisor (LPCS).   Staff supervision preferred!   Send resume' to Doug Weedon:  PO Box 3490, Bryan, 77805  or email:  [email protected] Twin City Mission is an E.O.E.
Quick Links
Fact of the Week
Approximately 114 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged industry-wide (not including packaged kids' cards).
Dates & Holidays
February 12 - Darwin Day

February 13 -   World Radio Day

February 14 - Valentines Day

February 15 - Gumdrop Day

February 16 - Do a Grouch A Favor Day

February 17 - Random Act of Kindness Day

February 18 -
Battery Day
Donations
Homeless Hygiene Drive

Grind4God Ministries is having a Homeless Hygiene Drive! Most needed items include deodorant, tooth paste, shampoo, conditioner, baby wipes, diapers, lotion, tissue rolls, bar soap, razors, socks, and bottled water. They are also accepting restaurant gift cards. The drop off location is located at Grind4God Ministries at 307 South Main Street, Suite 108, Bryan, TX  77803. For more information call 979-703-2975.
Clothing and Diapers Needed

SingleMoms Created4Change assists single mothers and married mothers who are parenting by themselves. They are always in need of and accept all brands and sizes of diapers. Other items such as clothing are accepted on an as-needed basis.  For more information, please call Raquel at (979) 575-1034. 
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