community news Opportunities to give and get
Child abuse prevention, rent assistance, teen opportunities, family resources THERESA BAER
RAISING AWARENESS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION April is National Child Abuse Prevention month, and this year Realities for Children created a unique way to bring awareness to the issues of child abuse in the community with their inaugural Realities Rooftop Raise event April 7–8 at the Elizabeth Hotel. Townsquare Media will broadcast live from the hotel’s roof with live entertainment including music performances and interviews, an on-site donation bucket and a pulley system to the roof for collection, stories of triumph and survival and pinwheel distribution. Learn more online at www.realitiesforchildren.com/events/ realities-rooftop-raise and join in supporting youth who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, or are at-risk. FORT COLLINS OFFERS REBATES FOR WATER-WISE LANDSCAPES The City of Fort Collins is offering utilities rebates to residential customers for transforming part of their yard into xeric urban habitat. Through the Xeriscape Incentive Program (XIP), City of Fort Collins utility customers receive expert advice and a rebate on their Fort Collins utilities bill. Landscape and irrigation plans must be approved by XIP prior to project installation and an inspection of the project area must be completed prior to receiving a rebate. Starting this year, Nature in the City is partnering with Utilities to offer an additional bonus for plans that contain at least 80 percent native plants. To learn more or register for an upcoming online training on Saturday, April 3 from 9–11am or Friday, May 7 from 1–3pm, visit www.fcgov.com/utilities/ residential/conserve/water-efficiency/ xeriscape/incentive-program. 14
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SEEKING MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS’ VACCINE OPINIONS Parents of middle schoolers in Larimer County are asked to share their thoughts about vaccines for their child(ren) and experiences with communication about vaccination from your child’s school or school district. This five-minute survey, conducted by the University of Colorado, can be accessed online at https://tinyurl.com/yxqq6ta3 and you will receive a $5 gift card for your time. For more information, contact Myra Shanks, Health Educator, Larimer County Health and Environment at 970-498-6796 or mshanks@ larimer.org. OPPORTUNITY FOR GREELEY YOUTH TO SHAPE CITY’S FUTURE Greeley’s civic-minded youth can look to an upcoming position on the Youth Commission which “fosters a greater understanding of youth concerns and contributions, and encourages greater youth participation in the community.” The commission has 14 members including 11 appointed by the
city council and three adult advisers appointed by the commission. The city seeks applicants that are 11- to 18-yearold Greeley residents to serve a twoyear term with an average commitment of three hours per month. View open positions and learn more online at www.greeleygov.com/government/b-c. Though advertising for this position won’t begin until April 21, applications can be submitted at any time and will be kept on file until the recruitment process begins. The deadline to apply is 8am on Monday, May 3. BE READY FAMILY FUN FAIRS The Be Ready program of United Way of Larimer County will host free drive-thru school readiness fairs in three cities this spring. Families with children ages 0–8 years are invited to drive through any of the events below to receive take-home activities, book giveaways, and community resources. Learn more at www.bereadylarimercounty. org/events. • Loveland: Saturday, April 24, 9–11am, Zion Lutheran Church, 815 E. 16th St.
