Feeding the Gulf Coast

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West Bay Advent Christian Church of Panama City Beach is hosting a free Feeding the Gulf Coast event tomorrow, January 20th! Tomorrow is forecasted to be mostly sunny with a high of 70, so dress for a cool day. West Bay Advent Christian Church is partnering with the agency Feeding the Gulf Coast to help those in need. Starting at 11 a.m. (CST), they will be handing out boxes of food to those in need. The program volunteers will load your vehicle, so please stay in your car and stay safe! The event will continue while supplies last. 

Easy Flow Chair Yoga in Lake DeFuniak

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Amy Meyer of the Lake DeFuniak Yoga Studio is hosting an Easy Flow Chair Yoga. This particular chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that can be done while sitting. Additionally, some poses can be done while standing and using a chair for support. This form of chair yoga can improve flexibility, concentration, strength, reduce pain, reduce stress, reduce joint pain, and improve 

mood.

Brushes & Booze at Rain Dothan

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Looking for some Friday fun? Today, January 16th, Southern Strokes Art of Dothan will be bringing back Brushes & Booze! The creation of the night is beautiful door hangers themed just in time for Valentine’s Day. The event starts at 5 p.m. CST and ends at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be bought at Rain’s Eventbrite event HERE – happy Friday everyone! Have a fun and safe weekend!

 

Yoga with Puppies

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Friends Of The Escambia County Animal Shelter and the Yoga Alliance are coming together to host a Yoga with Puppies event tomorrow! Although the in-person class is full (and therefore the ability to cuddle with puppies is no longer available for this date), the online class is open to one and all!

This is a gentle yoga class led by Kim Corley, RYT. Kim is certified through the Yoga Alliance. All levels of experience are welcome. The online event will be live-streamed for a suggested donation of $15, although the stream is free. Visit the Facebook event page HERE to participate in the live stream on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST. 

Invasive Plant Removal

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Eager to find an event that allows you to volunteer, learn, and get outdoors all in one fell swoop? Check out the upcoming Invasive Plant Species Removal event in Tallahassee! Hosted by UF/IFAS Leon County Extension, this educational experience will occur on Saturday, January 16th from 9 a.m. CST to 11 a.m. CST (although you are welcome to leave early as needed). This cool morning event will teach you how to identify and efficiently remove invasive plant species such as camphor, coral ardisia, and more!

Coral Ardisia

Participants must wear masks during the entire event, although it will be held entirely outside and social distancing will be a natural part of spreading out to cover the work area. Please meet by 9 a.m. at Gil Waters Reserve at Lake Munson. This is a lake that drains into Ames Sink and then makes its way to Wakulla Springs. By participating in this invasive species removal, you are helping native plants and animals thrive as well as improving water quality! Children and families are welcome; please bring gloves, water, buckets, and removal tools if you have them. 

Farm Share’s Story and Their Upcoming Free Food Distribution

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Founded in 1991 with the goal of eliminating food waste, Farm Share has grown to accommodate community hunger. Did you know that most large groups collecting food donations from the public charge a per-pound “shared maintenance fee?” This means local churches, soup kitchens, and more must pay up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year! Farm Share gives food to their recipient agencies without fees of any kind which helps agencies that cannot afford the maintenance fees as well as small, grass-root organizations.

This Saturday, January 16th from 7 a.m. CST to 10 a.m. CST, Farm Share is having a Free Food Distribution event at Rise Institute in Tallahassee. This is a FREE event that will be held at 1200 W Tharpe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303-4608, United States. 

Visit the official Farm Share website HERE for more other food distribution events, how to volunteer, how to support, and to donate!

Crafternoon Tea in Dothan!

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The Dothan Houston County Library System will be hosting their monthly Crafternoon Tea event tomorrow, Wednesday, January 13th. Starting at 3 p.m. (CST), January’s craft will be sewing-based. This is a free event that has been adapted to the safety standards encouraged against COVID. This month’s sewing project is a prepackaged project with instructions to take home. The packet will also include the tea of the month, and instructions on how to brew it! 

PLEASE NOTE: (1) packets available while supplies last and (2) packet pick up is at the WESTGATE BRANCH only! For more information or to connect with people to share your finished project with, visit the event page on Facebook by Clicking Here!

 

 

 

College Football Championship

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Today is the college football championship game between Alabama and Ohio State! The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EST. Looking for somewhere to watch the game? If you’re close to Pensacola, visit the Coastal County Brewing Company to enjoy interesting beers, home-style comfort food, and a giant big-screen TV! If you wear your team’s gear, you will be rewarded for your team spirit with special pint discounts. Please note that doors open at 4 p.m. and there is a maximum occupancy in effect due to COVID. If you live closer to Tallahassee, consider visiting The Brass Tap in Midtown to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. There will be endless food and drink options but please note that the Tap will continue to follow social distancing guidelines. 

National Cut Your Energy Costs Day

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National Cut Your Energy Costs Day is an annual event occurring on January 10th that encourages consumers to keep up with scheduled maintenance and improve the energy usage of their homes. Did you know that Florida’s energy prices are on the high side for the United States? Florida residents pay an average monthly electricity bill of $126.44 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That’s 13% higher than the national average of $111.67(source). If you’re looking to lower your energy bill, consider some of the ideas and suggestions below:

  • Check seals on windows, doors, and appliances; a bad seal allows energy to seep out.
  • Fix leaky ductwork.
  • Adjust your fridge and freezer temperature; set the fridge to 38 degrees and the freezer to 0-5 degrees. These temperatures keep your food fresh without stressing out your fridge. 
  • Take shorter showers; did you know that taking just two minutes off your shower time can cut your water usage by five gallons?!
  • Replace your showerhead; choose a water-efficient alternative to reduce your water usage by up to 2,700 gallons per year. Look for a WaterSense label(certified to meet efficiency criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency). 
  • Don’t wash clothes in hot water; use either cold or eco-warm (if your machine has the option).
  • Fix leaky faucets.
  • Adjust the temperature on your water heater; most water heaters have a standard-setting of 140 degrees. Lowering it to 120 degrees can reduce water heating costs by up to 10%!
  • Purchase energy-efficient appliances.
  • Ask your utility providers about discounted rates.
  • Swap out your lightbulbs; save up to $75/year by swapping out the bulbs in your most-used light fixtures with compact fluorescent or LED bulbs that bear the Energy Star label.
  • Install dimmer switches.
  • Use smart power strips.
  • Give your thermostat a nudge; set your thermostat back 10-15 degrees when you’re asleep/away from home. Hate changing the thermostat? Consider a programmable thermostat to do the work for you. 
  • Do an energy audit; this allows utility providers to identify additional ways to reduce your energy usage.

 

Jackson County Extra Food Day

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Attention Jackson County residents! Innovative Charities of Northwest Florida is having a mobile food distribution event today from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event is FREE to Jackson County residents, and will not count against the normal monthly food allotment. The event will be drive-thru only to encourage safety, and there is a limit of one box/bag per household. Please be aware there will be someone directing you to where you should park. After parking, please open your trunk and DO NOT get out of your car; volunteers will be by to take care of you.

Check out Innovative Charities Facebook page to view their address, RSVP for the event, and more! Click here.