AMERICUS
Free Books: Teresa Mansfield will give free children’s books to students at 8:15 a.m. May 8 at Sumter County Elementary School, 438 Bumphead Road.

Board of Education: The Sumter County Board of Education holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. May 9. Both are at the Sumter County Board of Education Building, 100 Learning Lane, and are open to the public.

Called Meetings: Furlow Charter School’s full Governing Board meets at 4 p.m. May 10 at the school to vote on the school’s application, as well as the adoption of Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports. The academics and curriculum standing committee meets at 3:45 p.m. May 16 to discuss a variety of service learning projects and programs. Both meetings are open to the public.

Called Meeting: The Sumter County Board of Commissioners has a called meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 14 to discuss board appointments at the Sumter County Courthouse in the Board of Commissioners’ meeting room. The Board will also discuss any other items that the Board deems appropriate. The meeting is open to the public.

ELLAVILLE
Called Meeting: Middle Flint Regional E911 Authority holds called meeting a 4 p.m. May 14 for the purpose of adopting the 2019-2020 budget. The meeting will be held at the Middle Flint E-911 Center, 222 Hayes Ave., and is open to the public.

PRESTON
Ask A Lawyer Day: The Columbus Regional Office of the Georgia Legal Services Program Inc. and the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley Inc. host a Free Legal Clinic for low -income Georgians in civil legal matters only. Attorneys are available to provide assistance with advance directives, child support, consumer disputes, credit/debt issues, custody, divorce, family violence, foreclosure, public housing, public benefits, private housing, simple wills, or unemployment. Ask-A-Lawyer Day will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 18 at the Webster County Community Center, 40 Cemetery Road. Light refreshments will be served. Walk-ins are welcome; however, to guarantee a spot, call to be pre-screened at (706) 649-7499, ext. 1223. The clinic is sponsored by an On the Table Action Grant from the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley Inc.

Ongoing
Americus
Produce Vendors Wanted: Produce vendors are needed by Downtown Americus for Lenny’s Farmers’ Market. For information call Qaijuan Willis 229-924-4411, ext. 247, or qwillis@americusga.gov

After School: Tutorial Services will be offered for students in grades 2 and 3 in the areas of reading and math from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays. If you are interested in these services, call 229-591-3824 or 229-844-8129 for more information. Services will be rendered on a first come, first-serve basis.

Grief Share: A support group for people dealing with grief meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays of each month at First Baptist Church.

Caregivers’ Companion: The monthly Caregivers’ Companion Support Group meets the at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of every month at the Roman Oven Pizzeria. All former and current caregivers for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia are welcome. Meals are Dutch treat.
Free Service: Americus Fire & Emergency Services offers free blood pressure checks from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Station 1 (South Lee Street).

Narcotics Anonymous: First Step Group meetings have moved to a new location at 126 Forest Street and are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.

Weight Watchers: Weight Watchers meets Thursdays at First Presbyterian Church, 125 S. Jackson St. Weigh-in is at 5 p.m., followed by meeting at 5:30 p.m. Visit weightwatchers.com

Mustard Seed House: Calvary Episcopal Church’s Mustard Seed House is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday on Brannan Avenue. Stop by for some great deals.

Al-Anon: You do not have to be an alcoholic to suffer from the effects of alcoholism. Al-Anon offers a safe place to recover from the effects of another person’s drinking. Meetings are 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at the AA Clubhouse, Ga. Highway 30. All meetings are confidential and open to interested persons.

A.A. Meetings: Alcoholics Anonymous meets from 3-4 p.m. Wednesdays at New Beginnings and the Addiction Recovery Center of Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare, 952 Anthony St. (across from GSW baseball field). Call 928-2201 for more information.
Friends of Bill W.: Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays at 702 Adderton St. Call 229-815-6991 for information.

GED Testing Hours: GED testing at the McClain Center at South Georgia Technical College is 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Tuesdays and the first Saturday of each month. Free GED classes are available. Call 229-931-7323.

Anonymous Crime Tipline: The Americus Police Department has an anonymous crime tip line 924-4102. Citizens can leave information for police about crime in their neighborhood or other areas. The calls are completely anonymous.

Drug Problems: Narcotics Anonymous meets 7:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays for members only. A meeting open to the public is held 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. All meetings are held at Williams Road Church of Christ. Call George C. 942-3752 or Charlie S. 938-0218 for more information.

Volunteers Needed: Phoebe Sumter Hospice, a local nonprofit, is looking for volunteers to serve as a member of the hospice team by sharing skills and interests in a manner that provides comfort and enriches the quality of life for those served. As a volunteer, you serve with patients or help in the office with staff. If you are interested please call Belinda Bond at 229-931-7421/ the office 229-928-4000 or email nfranklin@phoebesummter.org

Volunteers Needed: The Mattie Marshall Center is looking for volunteers to help do activities. Do you play an instrument, sing, dance or have a club or group that would like to come visit? We need volunteers of all ages and types for parties, Bingo, exercise, church services, snacks, etc. For information call Charlotte Watts 924-9352, ext. 3089.

Free Classes: Free GED classes are 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays in Sumter, Schley, Marion, Macon, Webster and Crisp counties. For information call 931-7323.

Support Group: The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group meets from noon-1:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the Magnolia Room at Magnolia Manor Retirement Center. A light lunch will be served.

Substance Abuse: Love and Mercy Outreach programs presents Alpha and Omega Substance Abuse and Awareness Program from 6-7 p.m. every Saturday at 511-D W. Forsyth St. All people with alcohol and drug addiction issues and their friends and family are welcome. For more information or for a ride, call James Ross 229-331-4746 or William Wallace 229-331-8160.

American Legion: American Legion Post 2 meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month.

Lodge Meeting: M.B. Council Lodge No. 13, F&AM meets at 7 p.m. first and third Tuesday of every month at the Masonic Temple, 1209 Crawford St.

Pilot Club: The Americus Pilot Club meets (focuses on brain-related injuries and disorders) meets at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the Magnolia Room, Magnolia Manor Retirement Center, South Lee Street.

Soup Kitchen: The Soup Kitchen, at 437 S. Hampton St., is open at 6 p.m. every Wednesday to all in need.

Volunteers Needed: SOWEGA Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), office serving a six-county area, needs volunteers to work with abused and neglected children who are involved in the court system. A CASA volunteer advocates for the child’s best interest before the court. Training classes are available soon. For more information, call 931-4488.

Adult Reading Skills: Adult Literacy Action Inc. has several openings for adult individuals interested in improving their reading skills. The organization is affiliated with the Lake Blackshear Regional Library. Volunteer tutors are available to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. Generally, sessions are held one or two times a week for about an hour. Training materials are furnished at no charge. If interested, call 924-9010.

Recovery Program: Doing things the same never brings change. Got problems? Drugs, divorce, alcohol, porn; it doesn’t matter. Join us at 7 p.m. every Monday at 245 Southland Road for Celebrate Recovery. Contact us at 924-7409 or 937-2966 for more information or visit www.cornerstoneamericus.com and click on Celebrate Recovery.

Al-Anon: You do not have to be an alcoholic to suffer from the effects of alcoholism. We offer a safe place to recover from the effects of another person’s drinking. Meetings are 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays at the Carswell House, Calvary Episcopal Church, 133 Brannan Ave. All meetings are confidential and open to interested persons.

Plains
Lions Club: The Plains Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Call President Bill Johnson at 703-851-2136 or information.

Free Classes: GED prep classes are offered from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Boys & Girls Club. Classes and books are free. Participants can study independently. Practice GED tests are given. Call 229-931-7325 or South Georgia Technical College Adult Literacy for more information.

Ellaville
AA Meetings: Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the John Gill House, 2237 S. Broad St. between Ameris Bank and Ellaville United Methodist Church. Call for 815-3001 for more information.

Montezuma
Al-Anon: The Macon County Al-Anon Family Group has changed its meeting time from Wednesday nights to 1:30 p.m. Sundays at St. Mary’s, 608 Rawls St. Parking is in front of the church. Call 478-472-6518 to confirm meeting.

Albany
Mental Illness Support: NAMI Albany, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, offers support, education and advocacy, and regular programs and support groups meet at the Advocacy Resource Center, 3005 Old Dawson Road. Look for the NAMI signs. Night Education Program, open to the public is from 6-8 p.m. p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Connection group for adults in recovery; Family group for family and close friends meet from 7:30-8:30 p.m. the second Tuesday. Family & Connection groups meet 6:30-8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month. Call for information: (229) 329 1444 or albanynami@gmail.com