More than 8 tons of food and personal care items will be distributed Saturday, February 27th, to area families in need through the first annual Faithbridge Church food drop.

About 150 volunteers are expected to meet at 9 a.m. at Faithbridge Church, 885 College Blvd, Osage Beach (behind Hy-Vee) to load the groceries and hygiene boxes onto trucks and semitrailers for delivery to seven area nonprofit agencies.

Faithbridge is partnering with the international hunger relief organization Feed the Children to provide the items for the Food Drop. Other groups volunteering with the loading include Lake Ozark FD, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers and Rotary. The following organizations and neighborhood groups will help coordinate food distribution to individual families, in addition to receiving food for their own kitchens and pantries:

In Eldon: Eldon Food Pantry
In Lake Ozark: Hope House
In Osage Beach: School of the Osage
In Camdenton: Camdenton Schools, Lamb House, Citizens Against Domestic Violence
In Greenview, Sunrise Beach: Share The Harvest

According to Buck Cueni-Smith, Faithbridge’s Senior Pastor, “The Food Drop was timed this year for the tough months of January and February, when donations typically drop off and the need is greatest.” The food drop is part of Faithbridge’s 2009 Christmas Offering.

Feed the Children is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to children and families in need in the United States and internationally. Founded in 1979 by Larry and Frances Jones, Feed the Children shipped 129 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and families in all 50 states and in 43 foreign countries. For more information, visit feedthechildren.org.

Church is a new church in the Lake area designed to use what is cultural and say what is timeless.

Faithbridge Church, a ministry of the United Methodist Church, is all about making things simple, because church had gotten complicated. Faithbridge meets every Sunday at 9:45 a.m. All are welcome to check them out, a membership not needed and no perfect people allowed. To find out more about Faithbridge, take the time to visit http://www.faithbridgelakechurch.com The idea behind the name, Faithbridge, is that the members want to bridge the gap between God to People, People to God, and People to People. Many of the members of Faithbridge are everyday members of the community, but the church also welcomes guests and passersby who need a place to worship for the weekend. Faithbridge's worship is provided through traditional scripture, media, and drama performances.

The Morgan County Library has officially launched a brand-new, first-ever website for the use of patrons and friends of the library.

The website, accessed at morgancountylibrary.org contains information about Library Programs, upcoming events and general library information. It also has a section for Friends of the Library, including Friends monthly minutes, and a Children’s library page.

“We also want to begin posting suggested reading,” says Librarian Nita Loganbill. “People are always asking us what’s good, so watch for our picks to be posted in the coming weeks.”

The new website was a gift to the Library from the Friends of the Library, an organization that exists to support library staff and programs. The Friends’ main fundraiser is the annual Friends Book Sale, to be held this year on April 29 and 30. For more information – watch the website!

The Missouri State Water Patrol Dive Team was recently awarded the “Silver Fin” Award for 2009 by the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists (IADRS). This award is handed out annually for the most improved dive team in the nation.

The Water Patrol Dive team has seen considerable advancement in the technology of the equipment they use over the past few years. Divers use underwater cameras, scanning sonar, voice communication, and metal detectors in the course of their work. These new technologies have greatly increased the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of dive recoveries.

The Missouri State Water Patrol Dive Team first formed in 1979 with eight divers and the most rudimentary equipment. Today the team consists of 10 officers and is available to assist local agencies throughout the state of Missouri. Lt. Wayne Talburt, dive team supervisor for the Water Patrol said, “Our divers were very deserving of receiving this award due to their expertise, dedication, and the use of modern technology to perform the best job possible in an environment that is not at all conducive to the human body.”

Are you a fifth-grade student in Missouri interested in protecting the environment? If so, you can share your ideas with Missouri and the world.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is conducting a slogan contest through Feb. 28. The winning slogan will be used during the department's annual Earth Day celebration in Jefferson City. Along with the slogan contest, a new video contest is underway. Entries for both contests must be based on the theme "Earth Rocks!"
The winning slogan will be the theme for Earth Day activities to be held Friday, April 23 on the south lawn of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. The student who submits the winning entry will be honored during the Earth Day celebration and will receive a certificate for a $100 savings bond, donated by Central Bank in Jefferson City.
"Our slogan is an important part of our Earth Day celebration, and sharing stories through video can be a fun way for students to help educate others. Missouri children are smart, creative and eager to learn about and to share ways they can help protect our environment," said Mark N. Templeton, DNR Director. "We look forward to receiving contest entries from every region in our state."
Videos can be instructional, inspirational or testimonial. Videos that call others to action might be funny or serious, entertaining or educational, quirky or enlightening. Television quality videos are not necessary. Use a video camera, cell phone, or create a presentation on a computer and convert it to video and you could win prizes for you and your classroom. Two videos will be chosen as the top to finalists, and five members from each of the finalist's schools will qualify to participate in an on-stage game of Environmental Survivor during the Earth Day celebration in Jefferson City.
Both contests are open to all Missouri fifth-graders. No purchase is necessary. The deadline for entry is Feb. 28, 2010. Winners will be announced in March and their names will be posted on the department's Earth Day Web pages. Winning videos will also appear on the department's YouTube channel and Earth Day Web pages.
Earth Day activities are tailored to fifth-graders, but all ages are welcome. Information booths, educational games and displays about the environment are part of Missouri's celebration. Many other state and federal agencies participate through educational displays and exhibits.
Earth Day turns 40 this year and the department's 16th annual Earth Day celebration will be held Friday, April 23, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the south lawn of the Missouri State Capitol. Check the Web for more information about Earth Day and the contests at http://dnr.mo.gov/earthday/.

The Lake West Chamber invites you to “Go, Go Green for the Environment” at the 19th annual St. Patrick’s Parade on the Water, Saturday, March 13. A lot of work goes into this first event of the year and everyone looks forward to getting their boats out and decorating them for the parade.
It all starts at Ozark Bar-B-Que (TT-75 by land or the 10.5 mm by water) with a breakfast buffet beginning at 9 a.m. The Captains meet at 10:30 a.m. for instructions and the parade will begin at 11:00a.m.

The Tropic Island Cruise Boat is available for those who just want to cruise the day relaxing on the water. Traveling up the Gravois Arm of the Lake, stops will be made at Jolly Rogers, Richard Knoggin’s, and Coconuts.

The awards ceremony will take place at Coconut’s returning to Ozark Bar-B-Que around 4:30 p.m. New this year is an After Parade Party at El Capitan Mexican Grill (13 mm or Shawnee Bend 2) beginning around 5 p.m. with live music and specials for parade participants.

Tickets are available now for the breakfast buffet and Tropic Island Cruise and souvenir Long Sleeved Tees are available at the Chamber office. Call 374-5500 for pricing or go online at www.lakewestchamber.com to find out more information.