National Handwriting Day

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Today, January 23rd is National Handwriting Day! It was established in 1977 by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association to promote the consumption of pens, pencils, and writing paper. The date chosen is significant because it is the birthday of John Hancock, the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. Celebrate this annual event by putting a writing utensil to a writing medium: 

  • Journal
  • Send a handwritten letter to a friend or family member
  • Write a short story or poem
  • Try calligraphy
  • Write a love note for someone you care about

Plant a Tree in Pensacola

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Keep Pensacola Beautiful, the Arbor Day Foundation, and the International paper are working to plant over 70 trees in celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day tomorrow, January 23th! From 9 a.m. (EST) to 2 p.m. (EST), this free event will encourage citizens “to do their part in helping to reduce air pollution, conserve energy, and beautify the State of Florida by planting trees! Planting native trees protects the environmental balance and beauty of the Sunshine State by preventing the spread of invasive plants and offsetting some of the potential impacts of climate change.” – UF / IAFS Extension

Please note, you CAN NOT BE LATE to the meetup point at the KPB office, as groups are breaking off promptly at 9 a.m. and dispersing to different parks and locals. This event is free, will show you how to properly plant a tree, and provide a free KPB t-shirt. Please dress appropriately in layers, close-toed shoes, and a mask!

**AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED**
If you are serious about coming please sign up through Volunteer Match (linked HERE) or email Lauren Doubek at Lauren@KeepPensacolaBeautiful.org!

Resume 101: Virtual Workshop

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Looking to polish up your resume? CareerSource Escarosa is hosting a virtual workshop focused on the techniques and principles of writing a resume or sprucing up an existing resume. Learn the do’s and do not’s of how to create an effective tool that will help land you interviews. The event includes tips on what resume format is most appropriate AND offers sources for free resume templates. The How-To: Resume 101 (VIRTUAL WORKSHOP) will be held each Thursday, starting tomorrow, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Unable to attend this timeslot and hoping to catch a different workshop? Visit the CareerSource calendar HERE: https://careersourceescarosa.com/job-seekers/workshops

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!