To have an item listed free in The Potomac Almanac, send mail to 10220 River Road, Suite 303, Potomac, MD 20854, e-mail to almanac@connectionnewspapers.com, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all events are in Potomac. If you have any questions, call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6476.
Single Parents Raising Kids (SPARK) New Member Orientation has a monthly calendar of events including pot-luck dinners, outings to museums, concerts and theater, educational presentations and discussions on parenting concerns, adult social activities, and numerous activities that families can do together. The next meeting is Sunday, Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. at Bauer Drive Community Center, 14625 Bauer Drive; Rockville. 301-598-6395 or www.sparkinc.com.
DRADA (Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association), Potomac Chapter, will hold its only August meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Parish Hall of St. Raphael's Church, 1513 Dunster Road (Falls Road and Dunster Road) in Rockville. The meeting is for the families and friends of people who have been diagnosed with depression or bipolar illness. Free. For additional information, call 301-299-4255 or 301-570-9065.
The Montgomery County Volunteer Center in partnership with the Montgomery County Mental Health Association is offering Emergency Action Team members and interested volunteers special interactive training on communication skills useful in numerous aspects of disaster response. The training will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m—12 p.m. in the auditorium of the Montgomery County Executive Office Building, at 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Emergency Action Team members are a group of trained, dedicated volunteers who assist on information hotlines, at volunteer mobilization centers, in emergency shelters for displaced people, at animal shelters or wherever needed during an emergency on an on-call basis. For more information or to register for this training, contact the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600 by September 5.
Montgomery County Support Group on Thursday, Aug. 3 from 1:30-3 p.m. at Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Bring a pillow, mat, ice or hot pack to be comfortable. It is led by a clinical social worker and for those with chronic pain. 301-309-2444 or visit www.pain-connection.org.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross reports dangerously low inventory of types O and B blood, causing the organization to issue an urgent plea to blood donors throughout the Region to schedule an immediate appointment to give the gift of life. The Red Cross is reporting an inventory level for each of these blood types which is dramatically below the desired safe level of five to seven days worth of blood. Donors are urged to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE immediately to schedule a donation appointment. Addresses and driving directions for these Donor Centers, as well as a complete list of community blood drives can be found at www.my-redcross.org or by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
Chronic Pain Support Group meets Aug. 3, 1:30-3 p.m., Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda for anyone with chronic pain, their family and friends. Participants are welcome to bring pillows, mats, ice or hot packs to be comfortable. 301-309-2444 or www.pain-connection.org. for information and check out the other groups.
Stroke and traumatic brain injury survivors, as well as victims of degenerative neurological conditions, can now use new TWIST to speech therapy. Technology with Innovative Speech Therapy (TWIST) is among the first speech-language therapy programs to integrate computers and technology into an intensive rehabilitation program. TWIST features eighteen hours of intensive individualized speech therapy that specifically defines a patient's communication and cognitive strengths and weaknesses. It then matches those strengths and weaknesses with advanced computer software. TWIST gives people the opportunity to tackle their challenges head-on through technology. Visit www.innovativespeech.com or call 301-602-2899 for more.
Seminars, support groups and classes through Adventist Health Care take place at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, 9901 Medical Center Drive in Rockville, unless noted otherwise. To register and for a complete listing of available classes, call 1-800-542-5096.
*Support group for those wanting to learn more about Laparoscopic Band surgery and for those who have already had it on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at 15005 Shady Grove Road, Suite 400, Rockville. 301-251-4128.
*Support group for those experiencing pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Free. 301-279-6112.
*CPR course for teenagers on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. The class covers safety issues for babies and children, rescue breathing, CPR skills and choking. $60 and registration required. 1-800-542-5096.
* Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon. These groups meet every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Call 202-966-9115.
* Narcotics Anonymous. This group meets every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Call 1-800-543-4670.
* Sickle Cell Anemia Support Group. For individuals with sickle cell anemia, their families and friends. Call 301-972-2442.
* Healthy Hearts. Cardiac support program is designed to provide inspiration, motivation and education to patients and caregivers following a heart attack or stroke. Group meets on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Call 301-253-1502.
* Hepatitis Support Group. A group for people suffering from chronic hepatitis. For information, call 301-216-1367.
* Heart-to-Heart, a support group for people with heart disease and their spouses, meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m., at the Adventist Cardiac Rehab Center, 9715 Medical Center Drive, Room 130, Rockville.
* Amputee Support Group, "Ability with Mobility," meets the last Thursday of every month from 6-8 p.m. Call 240-864-6200.
Maryland Families for Stem Cell Research, a nonprofit education and advocacy group for stem cell research, invites citizens to share their stories of hope for a cure or treatment to debilitating diseases and injuries. By visiting www.marylandcures.org, you can tell your story, send a photo and voice your support of public funding for stem cell research. Web site visitors can also donate on-line to support the education and advocacy programs of the organization. The site also serves as a source of information about stem cell advocacy efforts in Maryland for patients, families, researchers, doctors, scientists and public officials.
Bethesda Help, a 35-year-old, ecumenical, nonsectarian organization, seeks volunteers for one day’s service per month. Officers of the day work from home handling cases provided through an answering service, and drivers take qualified (elderly or disabled) persons to doctor’s appointments and deliver groceries to clients' homes. Training and backup are provided. Call 301-294-4888.
Volunteer Opportunities at the National Institutes of Health:
Donate Blood. The NIH Blood Bank is in urgent need of donors with Type O blood. Donations are given at the Clinical Center, Building 10, on the NIH main campus in Bethesda. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Call 301-469-1048 for an appointment to donate.