The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area offers the following support group opportunities:
* The Springfield Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., at Greenspring Village, 7400 Spring Village Drive, Town Center Building, Music Room, Springfield. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients, family members and carepartners. The next meetings take place on April 28. For more information, call Michel Margosis at 703-569-2630 or Mitch Mills at 703-913-0270.
* Fairfax Little River Glen Group. The Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m., at Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. The next meeting is on May 19. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients, family members, and carepartners. No charge. For more information, call Leon Paparella at 202-966-4450.
* The Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the fourth Saturday of the month from 10-11 a.m., with an exercise class normally reserved at 11 a.m., at the Fair Oaks Sunrise Assisted Living Facility, 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients and family members. For more information, contact Bill Robbins at 703-830-3823 or e-mail wbr_yanks@cox.net) and Darryl Edwards at 703-378-9213. Visit www.parkinsonstories.com.
* Fairfax Little River Glen Exercise Class. The Parkinson's Disease Exercise Class meets weekday mornings at Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients, family members and carepartners. For class schedule and more information, call the LRG Senior Center at 703-503-8703.
United Ostomy Association, Northern Virginia Chapter presents its Annual Ostomy Products and Services Fair on Sunday, May 1, at 1:30 p.m., at Fair Oaks Medical Plaza Conference Center, 3700 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax. Free. For more, call 703-802-3457 or visit www.novachapteruoa.org.
St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church hosts a Community Health Fair on Sunday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Event includes health screenings such as cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure, display tables with information on breast cancer, dental hygiene, food allergies and other health issues, general fitness assessments, a taste-testing table and a children's puppet show. Glucose and cholesterol screening costs $10, the rest of the event is free. To register, contact Wanda King at 703-645-0756 or wlsking@yahoo.com. St. Matthew's United Methodist Church is located at 8617 Little River Turnpike. For more, visit www.stmatthewsumc.org.
The Springfield United Methodist Church hosts a blood drive on Monday, May 2, in the social hall, 7047 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. The church hosts blood drives on the first Monday of February, May, August and November. For more information or to register, call 703-971-2977 or visit www.springfieldvaumc.org.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) sponsors groups for injured victims and for relatives and friends of those who have been killed in drunk driving crashes. The next Injured Victim Support Group meeting takes place Tuesday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Free. For more information call 703-978-3025.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia sponsors the following bereavement support groups. HAVEN of Northern Virginia is located at 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org:
* Children Bereavement Group. Beginning Thursday, April 21, at 5 p.m., HAVEN offers an eight-week support group open to children ages 6 to 12, who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, relative or friend. Reservations are required.
* Suicide Survivors Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, meets the first Tuesday of the month. The next meeting takes place May 3 at 7:30 p.m.
* A General Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. Meetings take place the first and third Wednesday of the month. The next meetings take place on May 4, at 7:30 p.m.
* Widow/Widower Bereavement Support Groups, for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. Meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of the month or on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The next Tuesday meetings take place May 10 and May 24. The next Thursday meeting takes place and May 5.
Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group, a support group for adults diagnosed with seizure disorders and caregivers, meets Wednesdays on May 4 and May 11, at 7:30 p.m., and May 18 and May 25 at 7 p.m., at Falls Church High School, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail. For more, call 703-425-6660.
Mothers First – Fairfax is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' nights out and lectures. Next meetings take place May 4 and May 18, from 10:15 a.m. to noon at the Green Acres Elementary School, room 116, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers & More is a support group for women who have altered their career path to care for their young children at home. The group offers playgroups, children's and family activities, guest speakers, book club, mom's night out, movie night, chat group and more. For more information, call 1-866-716-7766 or visit www.novamoms.org. The group meets at the following:
* The first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Next meeting is May 5.
* The third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m., in the Braddock Hall at the Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. The next meeting is May 19.
Sunrise Assisted Living of Fairfax, located at 9207 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax, sponsors the following classes/workshops. For more information, or to register, call 703-460-6933.
* Mother's Day Red Hat Tea, with the Tea Lady, Friday, May 6, at 2 p.m.
MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers). Join other moms with children newborn through kindergarten who desire to be the best moms they can be. Activities include MOPS 411 night with speakers on sibling rivalry, infant issues and school choices. The next meeting takes place May 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Immanuel Bible Church, 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield. 703-941-4124 or www.immanuelbible.net.
Mothers First – Burke is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out, and lectures. An upcoming meeting takes place May 9 at 10 a.m. For more information and meeting location, call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group meets the second Thursday of each month at 1 p.m., at Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. The next meeting takes place on May 12. For more, call 703-913-0890.
The National Developmental Delay Resources organization sponsors an ongoing lecture series from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, 10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke. Cost is $20 per lecture for DDR members, $80 for the whole series; and $25 per lecture for non-members, $100 for the whole series. To register, call 800-497-0944.
* Using Energy to Heal Our Children, on May 12. Learn about allergy elimination and psycho-emotional healing. Speaker is Heidi Sankofa, PA.
The Alzheimer's Family Day Center, located at 2812 Old Lee Highway, Suite 210, Fairfax, sponsors the following programs/events. www.AlzheimersFDC.org or 703-204-4664.
* The luncheon, "A Tribute to Caregivers: The Many Faces of Alzheimer's," takes place on May 13, at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna.
Seminar for Caregivers of Older Adults, Spring 2005 Series, offers 10 different seminars through June 7. Program is free, registration not required, but recommended. To register, call 703-324-5205, TTY 703-449-1186. For a list of seminars, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/service/aaa.
The Lymphoma support group, a group for patients and their families, meets on the third Monday of the month from 6:30-8 p.m., at Sunrise Assisted Living at Fair Oaks, 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax. The next meeting takes place May 16. For more call 703-776-8786.
The Women’s Center of Vienna offers a number of classes and workshops designed to help navigate the different aspects of separation and divorce, starting in April and continuing through August at various locations in Vienna, Fairfax and McLean. Some of the program topics include Divorce Through Mediation, Divorce Without Litigation, Dollars and Sense of Divorce, Financial Planning for Separation and Divorce, Helping Your Child Cope With Separation and Divorce, Legal Aspects of Child Support and Understanding Your Right To Marital Assets and others. For more information about these and other programs, visit www.thewomenscenter.org or call 703-281-2657.
Birth Mother’s Support Group. Meets weekly in Northern Virginia. It is for any woman who has ever placed a child in adoption and would like to meet with others who have done the same. The group will be led by a licensed clinical social worker and a national certified counselor. Call Pat Cunningham or Stephanie Hayden at Catholic Charities at 703-425-0100. A modest fee is charged based on income.
Recovery Inc. A nonprofit support group for depression, bipolar disorder and other nervous disease meets every Friday at Boulevard Baptist Church, 7000 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Contact Lee at 703-777-1708.
Chapter 5300 of the AARP. Meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield in the theater at Village Square at 1 p.m.