Pilgrim offers free food
Raven’s Nest Food Pantry in Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Hill St., will be open Sept. 13 from 8-9:30 a.m. or until all the food has been given away. Food will be handed out on a first come, first-served basis. Participants must bring a picture identification. The pantry is a U.S. Department of Agriculture distribution site and an equal opportunity provider, according to a news release.
VA sets virtual claims clinic
The Little Rock VA Regional Office will hold a virtual claims clinic for Arkansas veterans from 4-6 p.m. Sept. 25. To reserve a time slot, veterans should call (501) 370-3829 before 4 p.m. Sept. 24, according to a news release.
Veterans may speak one-on-one to staff of the Little Rock VA Regional Office regarding their claims for VA benefits. Staff will answer questions about existing VA benefits claims and assist with filing new claims. Details: http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ or call 800-827-1000.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Christian Women set luncheon
The Christian Women’s Connection luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Pine Bluff Country Club.
The speaker will be Sue Bohlin of Plano, Texas, who will discuss “How To Handle the Things You Hate But Cannot Change,” according to a news release.
Bohlin shares how God healed feelings of anger and poor self-image after polio.
“As a polio survivor, Sue shares the amazing realization that we’re the daughters of the King,” according to the release.
The luncheon costs $20 and includes the meal, drink, dessert, tax, and gratuity. Everyone is invited to attend.
For reservations and/or cancellations, contact Jennifer Keahey at (870) 540-9302. All participants are asked to honor their reservations.
AGFC offers schools grants
More than three-quarters of a million dollars is available for Arkansas schools to teach conservation education this year, thanks to a partnership between the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services to turn poaching violations into education opportunities.
All wildlife and fishing fine money collected in each Arkansas county last year has been set aside by the AGFC specifically for education grants that teachers may use to increase conservation education efforts in their schools, according to a news release.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioners in August approved $777,888 to be available through grants administered by AEDC.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the grant program was one of many catalysts to engage a new audience that will form tomorrow’s conservation champions.
In many rural school districts, money from these grants have played pivotal roles in offering conservation education programs that otherwise would have been cut due to a lack of funding.
The amount of money available in each county is based upon the fines collected in that county and any unused funds from previous years. Any school or conservation district in Arkansas may apply for these grants regardless of size or population.
Teachers and administrators have until Nov. 7 to apply for a conservation education grant at www.arkansasedc.com/rural-services/division/grants/wildlife-education-grant.
Visit www.agfc.com/conservationgrants for more information on the program, a link to the application site and a county-by-county list of grant money available.