Blank Park Zoo Conservation is announcing a partnership with a team of 27 Ugandan Chimpanzee Ambassadors from the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. One way the Zoo is assisting this team is by asking for the public to donate essential gear and equipment.  “We’re looking for everyday items we take for granted here in Iowa, but can be impossible to find in Uganda,” said Jessie Lowry, conservation coordinator for Blank Park Zoo. “We need items like hiking boots, flashlights, raingear, multipurpose tools, GPS units and cameras.”  The Ugandan team works in the African rainforest monitoring wild chimpanzee troops and other rare animals while protecting them from poaching and capture for the illegal pet trade. They also educate local communities about preservation of habitat and reforestation techniques.  Blank Park Zoo will be collecting and shipping these items to the team in Uganda by the end of the year. To donate items or money, please contact Blank Park Zoo at 515-285-4722. To learn more about the partnership, go to www.blankparkzoo.com/chimps.  To learn more about Pan African Sanctuary Alliance go to: http://www.ngambaisland.org

January 21-February 11

Campfire will kick off our annual Candy Sale with a candy sculpture contest this Saturday, January 21st at at 10:00 am at Merle Hay Mall! Make sure to come by and place your vote on the sculptures! We will be selling at Merle Hay Mall January 21st, 22nd, and February 11th.
This year you can purchase Almond Roca, P'Nuttles, Mint Patties, or Almond Caramel Clusters for $5.00 a box. Many of our kids sell candy for summer camp credit. Let's support them in their desire to camp by purchasing candy from one of our local youth. Other profits from the Candy Sale go towards Camp Fire Clubs, their activities, outings, and annual Club Overnight.
If you would like to purchase candy, contact a Camp Fire Club member. If you don't know a local member, you can stop by the Camp Fire Service Center (5615 Hickman Rd) to make a purchase. You can also purchase candy to send to the troops through our website.

February 3

Zearing Fire Department BBQ Pork Sandwich Day
Friday, February 3rd
Dakin’s Community Center – Main St., Zearing
11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Serving lunch and supper
Meal
BBQ Pork Sandwich
Potato Salad
Beans
Desert
Drink
$5.00 per person
Take Outs Available – Home Delivery Within City Limits
Call: 641-487-7478
Proceeds to go towards Firefighter training and equipment purchases.

February 4

VFW POST 738 BREAKFAST
2801 DEAN AVENUE
FEBRUARY 4, 2012
7 AM TO 10 AM
EVERYONE WELCOME
BREAKFAST MENU
BISCUIT & GRAVY
OR
TWO PANCAKES
TWO PORK SAUSAGES
TWO EGGS TO ORDER
TOAST
MILK
COFFEE
JUICE
COST $5.00
PROCEEDS SUPPORT THE VETERANS PROGRAMS IN DES MOINES
$4.00 FOR SENIORS (65+)
PHONE 263-7171

February 11

Dream Big Always for Emmalynn - Vendor Fair / Bake Sale
February 11th (9:00 am - 1:00pm)
DMACC-Boone Campus (1125 Hancock Drive, Boone)
Fundraising event for a 2 1/2 year old Boone girl named Emmalynn, was born with a rare, chronic, severe form of anemia known as Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA).   DBA is a form of bone marrow failure where Emmalynn does not produce her own Red Blood Cells (RBC). Emmalynn has had approximately 20 total RBC transfusions in her 2 ½ years, not including the two in utero. There are several long-term health effects from having frequent transfusions, some of which they are currently coping and battling with.  Some of the long-term effects can be fatal.  There are two other treatment options for Emmalynn, one of which was recently completed without success. The next and only other option is to do a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).  They currently have a BMT scheduled for May 2012 at Amplatz Childrens Hospital in Minneapolis.

Beat Cancer at the Gold Gala!  Saturday, February 11th, 7PM doors open at the Iowa Ballroomat Adventureland Inn in Altoona.  Cocktail Attire..Be Bold, Accessorize in Gold!
Gold Gala ticket prices will increase to $30 single and $55 couple on February 1st.  Reserve your tickets now at www.beatcancertoday.org.
We have great silent auction packages including tickets to Feb. 24th George Straight and Martina McBride concert, a Weber Grill, concrete services from Absolute Concrete, tickets to UNI, ISU and Iowa athletic events and much, much more.
Join us for this fun event, filled with gold surprises throughout the evening, as
 we raise money for three wonderful children's cancer charities.

February 11-12

What can you do with a few loaves of bread and fish? Quite a lot!!  This is the miracle described in all four of the Gospels of the New Testament in which Jesus directed his disciples to feed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. And you can watch it performed in the musical Table for Five . . . Thousand!, to be performed by the youth of Faith Lutheran Church, 10395 University Avenue, Clive, Iowa on Saturday, February 11 at 4 and 5 p.m. and at 10 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, February 12.  Over sixty children will sing, dance and act out this musical, by Tom Long and Allen Pote, based on Matthew 14: 13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15. The performance of the musical is an annual tradition for Soli Deo Musica, the fine arts ministry of Faith Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran Church. Other musicals performed by the youth at Faith Lutheran Church include Survivor Babylon (2011) Once Upon A Parable (2010) and Are We There Yet? (2009).

February 15

WHO: Christian Vocalists Matt Maher (rhymes with CAR) and Audrey Assad (uh-SOD)
(Matt is a GRAMMY Award nominee for the ceremony that airs February 12.)
(Audrey is fast-rising star, honored as one of iTunes “Best of 2010”)
WHAT: Matt and Audrey are bringing their acclaimed and inspirational music to Central Iowa
WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6:30pm
WHERE: Ames Middle School Auditorium, 3915 Mortensen Road, Ames
WHY: St. Cecilia Catholic Church is sponsoring this ecumenical event for the benefit of the entire Central Iowa community.
HOW: Tickets are $16.50 each and may be purchased online at www.iTickets.com.

February 18

National MS Society’s 18th annual Taste of Generosity on February 18th, 2012. National MS Society's 18th annual Taste of Generosity! This premiere wine tasting event features a silent auction followed by dinner and a live auction. Tickets are $100 each (or $50 for young professionals 21-35 years old!), or $750 for a table of 8. To purchase tickets or for more information please contact Andria Battaglia at 515-270-6369 or at andria.battaglia@nmsss.org. To purchase tickets on-line please visit http://tinyurl.com/6ghp8zl. Proceeds benefit the National MS Society.  Event starts at 6:30 PM and ends at 10:30 PM.

February 23

The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) announces the third annual fundraiser, Backstage Ball, to be held on Thursday, February 23 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Gas Lamp at 1501 Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines.  Fred and Charlotte Hubbell and Business Publications are hosting the event. Join DMMC as we honor volunteers, outstanding area musicians and members of the music industry for their special contributions to the growth of the Des Moines music culture. This year, DMMC is proud to introduce a new award, which will recognize the support of the Greater Des Moines music scene by a community leader or organization.  The public is invited to help us celebrate with live music, beverages and hors d'oeuvers. The event will include a performance by Dead Yellow Canaries, featuring Jay Byers, Mark Davitt, Aaron Tinder and Mark Juffrenbruch.  A $75 contribution is requested ($65 DMMC paid-members). Tables for groups of six may be reserved for a $400 contribution.
Proceeds from the event will support the 2012 Greater Des Moines Music Coalition programming.  Tickets can be purchased at fundraiser.desmoinesmc.com or pay by cash, check or credit card at the event. All donations are tax deductible.

February 25

Who:  Law enforcement agencies and many other members of the community.
What:  A fundraising event with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Iowa to  continue providing year-round sports training and competition to nearly 11,000 Iowans with intellectual disabilities, participants and Unified Sports Partners.
When:  11 a.m. (Registration); 12:00 p.m. (Plunge); 12:30 p.m. (Post Party) on
Saturday, February 25.  Pre-registration is encouraged on Friday, February 24 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Courthouse (115 N. Howard St.)
Where: Lake Ahquabi in Indianola
Background:
Special Olympics Iowa is hosting a Polar Plunge in Indianola.  When a “plunger” raises a minimum of $75 in pledges they receive an official polar bear long-sleeve t-shirt and admission to the post-plunge party. Incentives are offered to plungers and chickens who raise a minimum of $250. Special prizes will be given to: the Polar Bear who raises the most money, the team with the best costume, Polar Bear with the best costume.  For those who do not want to plunge, you can register as a “chicken.” For $75, you receive a “Too Chicken to Plunge” long-sleeve T-shirt and admission to the post-plunge party.  Register online and start raising money now by visiting www.firstgiving.com/soiowa.

February 29-March 3

First-ever Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW)  On Wed, Feb 29, speaker Shannon Cutts will present "Beauty Undressed" at the Great Hall in the Iowa State University Memorial Union, Ames.  On Fri, March 2, EDCI will hold a silent auction beginning at 6:30 pm at Walnut Hills United Methodist Church in Urbandale, followed by Shannon's presentation "Beauty Undressed" from 7:30-8:30 pm.  On Sat, March 3, EDCI will sponsor educational seminars between 9-11:45 am and a walk beginning at 12:30pm at Waukee South Middle School.  We request free-will donations at these events.

March 1-4

Heartland Swing Festival and Collegiate Jitterbug Championships
March 1-4, 2012
Des Moines, IA
4 days of non-stop swing dancing.  Over 40 swing dance classes for Beginners to Advanced dancers.  Live Music. After hours dancing.  Contests with the nations best amateur swing dancers.  We already have 200 dancers from 20 States signed up to dance and compete but we want to see more people from central Iowa represented.

March 5

PRAYER FOR LIFE
Monday, March 5, 2012
9:30 a.m. — 1 p.m. Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church 1552 Maple Street, Des Moines
3 p.m. - State Capitol Rotunda 1007 East Grand Ave, Des Moines
WALTER B. HOYE
*Keynote Presenter*

March 14-17

The Work of Our Hands in Pella couples with Bunyaad, a fair trade rug company, as it hosts a special Fair Trade Oriental Rug Event March 14-17 featuring over 300 hand-knotted rugs, from intricate florals to hand-spun wool natural dye tribals.  Bunyaad works with over 850 families throughout 100 villages in Pakistan. Working with artisans in their homes, increasing employment opportunities for women and paying a living wage, Bunyaad is making lifetime changes in so many families across Pakistan.  During this event, the The Work of Our Hands store will host a special one-hour Introduction to Oriental Rugs seminar on Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m., covering topics from how rugs are made to tips on care and room design. Reservations strongly encouraged at 641-628-8687 or email workofourhands@iowatelecom.net.  These rugs come to The Work of Our Hands in Pella from the Bunyaad rug collection at Ten Thousand Villages in Ephrata, PA. For more information about these rugs or the upcoming rug event, go to rugs.tenthousandvillages.com.

 March 31

On March 31, Child Serve will be hosting their second annual gala event called the Bubble Ball. The main attraction of the night will be a bubble wrap inspired fashion runway show featuring bubble wrap designs (and some stationery items, too) created by local talent such as Sticks, Dornink, Badowers, Three Dog Bakery, Reynolds & Reynolds, and more. 
This year’s goal is to raise funds for a Pediatric Imaging Program so that medically-complex, fragile children will not have to be transported to outside centers for x-rays. Some children served by ChildServe have neuromuscular disabilities and as a result, have developed osteopenia, or brittle bones. Simply moving them to change clothes or placing them in wheelchairs can be agonizing and cause their bones to break. The Pediatric Imaging Program will also allow specialty physicians to establish outpatient clinics at ChildServe so that more children in need may be reached.  Individual tickets and sponsorships are available and can be purchased on our website at http://donate.childserve.org.
 

Have an event or community resource to share?  Please email the details to Bonnie and we'll let people know about it.