Christmas is a little more than two weeks away, and toy drives around the country are in full swing. A North Dakota organizer shares some things to keep in mind if you're planning a donation in the coming days.

Willy Soderholm, executive director of the Community Action Partnership office serving a seven-county area in the state's Minot region, leads a team that carries out an annual holiday effort to provide toys for low-income families. He said that a common struggle most years is a need for gifts for teenagers, citing things you can get for this age group that shouldn't cost more than $20.

"They always like electronics," he said, "you know, headphones, earbuds, mini speakers you can get."

He said room decorations or body-care gift sets also work for older kids. This year, Soderholm said his office needs more toys for boys between ages 5 and 10. If you live in an area with a diverse population, he recommended considering culturally appropriate gifts.

Organizers urge checking messaging sent out by local toy-drive leaders, to find out which donations are in demand and what age groups they serve.

While most people might buy a gift and drop it off at a nearby donation bin, Soderholm said there have been instances of used toys being donated in his region. The thought is appreciated, but he said kids in need should always feel the joy of opening a brand-new gift during the holidays. And something used isn't easy for the staff, either.

"We don't have the capacity or the ability to repair some of these toys," he said, "and typically, you know, they would have to be sanitized."

Community Action Partnership's toy drive in the Minot region allows eligible parents to schedule an appointment and come and choose gifts for their children. The office anticipates helping 250 families this year, with Soderholm noting many households are struggling with high rent costs and grocery bills.

AARP Connecticut is awarding funds to seven groups through its Livable Community Grants program.

Some projects awarded funding include the new internet café at the West Haven Senior Center, shade sails for the outdoor seating at Thrive 55's Active Learning Center and outdoor benches for the Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust's new pavilion.

Kelli Lefler, associate state director of community outreach for AARP Connecticut, said deciding which projects will receive funding is challenging.

"Part of what we look at is how is it impacting the community," Lefler explained. "For a community to really be livable, we want it to be livable whether you're 8 years old or 80 years old. So, if it's just helping one piece of that population, that might not make the cut."

Other considerations are how much impact a project will have, specifically if it benefits a niche audience or the broader community. This year, there were 80 submissions for projects, which Lefler noted all had merits. Once the organizations receive the funding, they have a year to complete the projects with a follow-up report due to AARP Connecticut to see how the project is being used.

Since beginning in 2018, 45 projects in the state have received funding through the program. Typically, the group sees 50 to 75 applications annually, although some are disqualified for not being filled out properly. Lefler added many projects submitted this year were grant-worthy, although they did not make the final cut.

"There was a request for basically like a ramp that a wheelchair can use," Lefler observed. "They place it on the beach and it goes into the water so that wheelchair users have more access to get over the sand and to actually enjoy the water."

She added projects receiving funding can help municipalities make spaces accessible for seniors to age in place.

A champion of rights for older LGBTQ+ people has received recognition for her volunteer work in Oregon.

Liz James is the winner of the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, thanks to her engagement in a number of efforts to improve the health and equity of LGBTQ+ residents of the state. She said volunteering is a vital part of her life.

"Volunteering gives me purpose, social connection, opportunities to learn and grow, and to make a difference."

James lives in southern Oregon. She is chair of the Oregon LGBTQ+ Aging Coalition, chair of the Rogue Valley Council of Governments Joint Senior Advisory Council, and a volunteer with AARP Oregon.

James stressed LGBTQ+ people are not a monolith and they exist everywhere, not as a single community but many communities. She acknowledged there are specific health risks and needs for LGBTQ+ people and discrimination affects their living conditions. She added poverty and suicidal ideation are higher for them.

"Data shows we're twice as likely to be single and living alone," James noted. "We're more likely to be estranged from family. We're half as likely to have a relative to call. We're four times less likely to have children and almost one and a half times more likely to be primary caregivers."

James was instrumental in passing Senate Bill 99, which established a bill of rights in long-term and community-based care facilities for LGBTQ+ residents and residents living with HIV.

"First of all, it prescribes very specific nondiscrimination protections that have to be physically posted and provided to all residents and adhered to," James outlined. "And there is an accountability for violations built into it."

She added the bill requires training for staff in long-term care facilities. James is serving on the LGBTQ+ subcommittee of the Governor's Commission on Senior Services, which was established by Senate Bill 99 and started this year.

As powerhouse Hurricane Milton nears the Florida coastline, communities in the Tampa Bay area are extending relief efforts initially launched for Hurricane Helene.

The Demps Law Firm at Wesley Chapel, north of Tampa, is one of many organizations leading relief donation drives for Hurricane Helene.

Cornelius Demps is now grappling with the daunting possibility of widespread devastation from Hurricane Milton. He said he would ask people to pray for all in the storm's path as they adjust to the ongoing need.

"The hurricane relief donation drive was supposed to end this Friday," Demps explained. "Instead, we're going to do it the rest of the month of October and we mainly need people just to donate what they can."

The law firm has been collecting essential items such as cleaning supplies, food and clothing with help from local groups like the NAACP in St. Petersburg and the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel. The firm is also working with Carmel Friendship Church to create an Amazon Wishlist so people who do not live in the area can donate as well.

As Hurricane Milton intensifies, Tampa Electric is prepared for widespread outages and extended restoration efforts.

Mary Lou Carn, a company spokesperson, noted their readiness, but warned Milton could cause more disruptions than Hurricane Helene.

"A storm of this magnitude will bring more outages and a longer restoration time than we had with Helene," Carn cautioned. "It's just a bigger, more powerful storm, so that is what we anticipate. Our customers should be prepared for widespread and extended outages."

Residents relying on life-sustaining equipment should have backup power ready and Tampa Electric advised unplugging nonessential devices to prevent surge damage. Tampa Electric has more than 5,000 utility workers in Florida from out of state, staged and ready to begin repairs once it is safe.


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