COMMUNITY HEADLINES – FEBRUARY 14, 2022

FEED A TRUCKER

(CONNECT SAVANNAH) Veteran Carriers and Enmarket kicked off the 2022 Feed A Trucker Campaign https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/veteran-carriers-and-enmarket-kick-off-2022-feed-a-trucker-campaign/Slideshow/17844133

VALENTINE’S KICKOFF VACCINATION EVENT

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah, YMCA of the Coastal Empire, Georgia Department of Health Coastal Health District, and JC Lewis Primary Health Care held Valentine’s Kickoff Vaccination Event on Saturday, February 12 at JC Lewis Primary Health Care Center, 5 Mall Way in Savannah. Flu and COVID-19 testing and vaccines were offered to eligible adults and children.

10th ANNUAL FIT KIDS FEST FEBRUARY 19

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) Healthy Savannah will be attending the 10th Annual Fit Kids Fest on February 19, hosted by the Junior League of Savannah at the Savannah Children’s Museum. This engaging event promotes overall wellness for K-12 students and introduces participants to academic resources in the community in addition to teaching how to make healthy choices and live an active lifestyle. The event includes free museum admission, swag items and raffle prizes. The Savannah Children’s Museum is located at 655 Louisville Rd, Savannah, GA 31401

COMMUNITY HEALTH WALK & FAIR FEBRUARY 26

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah and YMCA of Coastal Georgia team members will be attending 163rd Anniversary Family and Community Health Walk & Fair from 10 am – 2 pm, on February 26. This free event is hosted by Rev. Paul E. Smith at the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 1008 May Dr, Savannah, GA 31415-0914. In addition to a 2K walk, the event will include music and food and vendors will be handing out health information.

TACOS FOR A CAUSE CELEBRATES TIDE TO TOWN

(SAVANNAH, GA) Tide to Town, Savannah’s Urban Trail System, has been selected by Bull Street Taco as this month’s nonprofit for “Tacos for a Cause.” Every Tuesday in February members of the Tide to Town board of directors will be at Taco Tuesday handing out information and merchandise.

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP FEB 24

{SAVANNAH, GA) Shawntay Gadson, an international board-certified lactation consultant, will be hosting a “Mommy Moments Breastfeeding Support Group” on Feb 24 from 6-7 p.m. via Zoom. Register for the event at www.glowlactation.com or by contacting Shawntay directly at (912) 758-3438.

HOW TO GROW YOUR LINKEDIN NETWORK

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) In this video, LinkedIn expert Mandy McEwen walks you through a step-by-step strategy to cut through the noise and ensure that your requests are accepted. You’ll discover how to build a goal-driven connection strategy, including the general rules for engagement, when to send a request, what to say, and how to follow up with your prospective connection on LinkedIn. This process isn’t just for potential prospects. It will help you form more win-win business relationships, including with vendors and influencers, without being salesy.

CHATHAM CO. HEALTH DEPT RESUMES NORMAL OPERATIONS BY APPOINTMENT

(CHATHAM COUNTY, GA) The Chatham County Health Department has resumed normal operations, offering all routine public health services by appointment. In January, the Health Department limited some services while coping with staffing shortages due to COVID-19 cases and exposures. For more information about public health services offered by the Chatham County Health Department, visit coastalhealthdistrict.org/chatham. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 912-356-2441.

PEANUT NEEDS A HOME

(COASTAL PET RESCUE) Peanut is quite the friendly, but bossy, little girl, barking at her foster brothers to keep them in line. All the foster dogs in her home are small like her, and given her age and limited sight, bigger dogs and smaller kids probably wouldn’t be the best fit for her. Peanut loves sitting in a chair with a nice warm blanket, snoozing in her fluffy doggie bed, and going for rides in the golf cart. This sweet senior is looking for a home with a laid back lifestyle. She will need someone who understands her special needs, and will embrace them and spoil her rotten. She really is quite the charmer.

FARM TRUCK 912 SERVES RECORD NUMBERS OF SAVANNAH FAMILIES AS SNAP BENEFITS INCREASE

(SAVANNAH, GA) Farm Truck 912 continues to serve increasing numbers of Savannahians as demand surges. The mobile version of the popular Forsyth Farmers’ Market also participates in an initiative that allows SNAP participants to double their spending when purchasing fresh produce. Yet, 160,000 Coastal Georgians may qualify but only 37,000 are using SNAP benefits. https://carriagetradepr.com/farm-truck-912-serves-record-numbers-of-savannah-families-as-snap-benefits-increase/

SEMINAR FEBRUARY 15: REMEMBRANCE OR AMNESIA? THE POLITICS OF COMMEMORATING HISTORICAL TRAUMA

(SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL) Savannah Country Day School’s 2nd Annual Faculty Explorations Speaker Series continues on February 15 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. with Julia López Fuentes’ seminar “Remembrance or Amnesia? The Politics of Commemorating Historical Trauma.” The weekly evening sessions provide attendees the opportunity to revisit a classroom setting and explore a topic based on the faculty host’s area of expertise. All seminars are free and open to the public. For additional information, or to register, visit savcds.org/facultyexplorations.

FREE CLASS: RESUME BUILDING

(SAVANNAHGA.GOV) Receive live instruction and personal assistance with writing and designing your professional resume. Please bring a list of your previous employment (name, job description and dates) as well as a list of your knowledge and top skills. The course takes place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16 at the Moses Jackson Advancement Center.

Learn more here: https://www.savannahga.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=5030&month=2&year=2022&day=16&calType=0

SAVANNAH REP TO ANNOUNCE 2022 SEASON LIVE

(SAVANNAH, GA) Two-time Tony Award Winner Michael Cerveris will be presented with Savannah Rep’s inaugural Trailblazer award and a retrospective of his genre-bending career at An Evening with Savannah Rep: The 2022 Season Announcement. City of Savannah Alderman Nick Palumbo of the 4th District will be presented with the Community Vanguard award for his contributions to Savannah and its residents. Rep’s 2022 Princess Grace Award nominee, composer and lyricist Sushi Soucy, will perform selections from their original work. The event will take place on Saturday, March 5th at 8p at Victory North in Savannah with tickets now on sale at http://savannahrep.eventbrite.com. Prices range from $35-$400 with higher tiers receiving access to special curated events before and after curtain time.

HOW TO SELL MORE WITH INSTAGRAM LIVE

(SOCIAL MEDIA EXAMINER) In this video, expert Nicky Saunders will walk you through a complete end-to-end framework for using Instagram Live for business. You’ll discover six fundamental steps for setting up, promoting, and managing your Live, even if this is your first time. Plus, you’ll discover insider tips and tricks to getting the most out of each stage in the process.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT DISCOVERY CENTER OPENS IN SAVANNAH

(WTOC-TV) February 7 was a big day on the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University. The first students were welcomed inside the Junior Achievement Colonial Group Discovery Center. This is a brand new facility focusing on immersive business education. Because the Discovery Center is designed for middle school students to help them better understand how business and their own community works.

ENROLLMENT IS UNDERWAY FOR FOOD FARMACY 912’S FREE NUTRITION CLASSES AND PRODUCE

(SAVANNAH, GA) Open enrollment for Food Farmacy 912 is now underway through April. This program of Forsyth Farmers’ Market takes place March through October. Participants attend classes on healthy living, nutrition and cooking and receive vouchers for fresh, local produce redeemable at the Forsyth Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and Farm Truck 912’s 13 regular stops.

FREE MONEY TALK: SAVANNAH, GA

(UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER) We’ll be heading to Savannah on February 22 at 12 p.m. to host a lunch and learn about the pathways you can take to create a technology-based company or engage in research and development to improve or create a new product, as well as the financial resources available to help your business through grants! Lunch will be provided to those that RSVP. If you’re interested and would like a separate one-on-one meeting with the UGA Startup team, we welcome you to schedule an individual meeting to discuss your individual situation: https://www.calendly.com/ugastartups/fast-savannah. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Kevin Wu (kwu@uga.edu).

SALES WON’T HELP YOU MEASURE PR SUCCESS, BUT THIS WILL

(ENTREPRENEUR.COM) An insight into the best tech tools for measuring the effectiveness of PR, and how to keep laser focused on its opportunities and payoffs.

CHOOSING TO LEAD CONFERENCE

(THE CURRENT) At an online panel sponsored by One Hundred Miles and moderated by The Current’s Mary Landers, three coastal activists on Tuesday shared how they’re working to remedy the ongoing harm from three coastal tragedies. Jannie Everett with Thiokol Memorial Project discussed her efforts to bring recognition to the victims of a deadly explosion and fire at a trip flare factory in Woodbine 51 years ago. Ron Johnson, President of Sapelo Island Cultural And Revitalization Society, Inc. (SICARS) talked about legal challenges affecting land ownership of the Gullah residents of Sapelo Island. Finally, Fletcher Sams, executive director of the Altamaha Riverkeeper explained that while the capsized Golden Ray cargo ship is gone, its effects linger. One Hundred Miles’ “Choosing to Lead” conference continues online each Tuesday throughout February. Registration is free and available here: https://onehundredmiles.org/ctl22registration/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=All+-+The+Current&utm_campaign=7542b55238-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_02_08_12_54&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a869d97c8b-7542b55238-165021960&mc_cid=7542b55238&mc_eid=6618160724

SRPI SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 24-25

(SAVANNAH, GA) Savannah State University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication is host to the Southern Regional Press Institute (SRPI). The two-day conference features keynote speakers, multiple concurrent workshops, contests, and a job fair. Through its workshops and speakers, SRPI provides training for elementary, middle, high school, and college students with an interest in mass media. This year’s theme is THE NEW ORDER: The World of News and Communication Post Covid and George Floyd. For more information, please contact srpi@savannahstate.edu or call (912) 358-3378.

SAVANNAH BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL

(SAVANNAH, GA) The 33rd Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival is being held virtually through February 22. The Savannah Black Heritage Festival is free to attend. The festival is a showcase of Black American art and culture, with workshops, lectures, exhibits, and activities devoted to a variety of topics. The theme of this year’s festival is Celebrating Culture, Celebrating Heritage, Celebrating You. To view the full schedule and register for individual events, visit the Savannah Black Heritage Festival website and view the presentations each day on the Savannah Black Heritage Festival YouTube page.

GEORGIA ARBOR DAY TREE PLANTING AT WORMSLOE STATE HISTORIC SITE

(SAVANNAH, GA) The public is invited to help plant 30 new Live Oak trees on Wormsloe State Historic Site’s “Avenue of Oaks,” located at 7601 Skidaway Road. The event will start at noon on Saturday, February 19, 2022. A brief ceremony will precede the plantings near the brown fence by the Visitor’s Center. Holes will be dug in advance of the ceremony by SavATree, making it easier for volunteers to help plant the 12-foot-tall saplings. This event will happen rain or shine. Free Entrance that day.

SHE HUSTLES RETURNS ON FEBRUARY 24 AT THE FRONT PORCH IMPROV SAVANNAH

(SAVANNAH, GA) – SHE HUSTLES returns in 2022 for a live, in-person event from The Creative Coast! The SHE HUSTLES community offers Savannah’s women entrepreneurs and leaders a chance to network, learn, and inspire. Several times per year, the Creative Coast hosts gatherings that bring the community together for a motivational evening highlighting women in the Coastal Georgia region. This winter’s event will take place on February 24, 2022, at the Front Porch Improv (210 W. Victory Drive in Savannah). The doors will open at 6 p.m. for networking over wine and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets can be purchased online only for $20 per person.

HEALTHY SAVANNAH AND YMCA of COASTAL GEORGIA TO DISTRIBUTE $10,000 IN VACCINE EDUCATION GRANT FUNDING TO CHURCHES

(SAVANNAH, GA) Healthy Savannah and YMCA of Coastal Georgia are seeking proposals and applications for funding from African American and Hispanic faith-based organizations, churches and other places of worship located in the priority population communities served by Healthy Savannah for events and activities that focus on COVID-19 and Flu education, awareness, acceptance, and vaccine access. Individual organizational grant amounts may range from $500 to $1500. The funds were provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to broaden the initiatives of the current Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant. For more information, email Dr. Elsie W. Smalls at elsie@healthysavannah.org, referencing “Faith and Health Funds Grant Application” in the subject line. Proposals are due on or before Friday, February 25 and approved plans must be implemented, and activities completed between March 1 and June 30, 2022.

FAITH AND HEALTH COALITION

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) Are you a faith-based organization in Savannah/Chatham County interested in encouraging a culture of health among your members and the broader community?

Please join the Faith and Health Coalition at our next virtual meeting to discuss the importance of health within our community. Please email FaithAndHealth@healthysavannah.org for the meeting link. For more information visit the Faith and Health Coalition page on the Healthy Savannah website.

Meeting Dates:

March 30th @ 12pm

May 25th @ 12pm

July 27th @ 12pm

September 28th @ 12pm

November 30th @ 12pm

LOVE YOUR TRAIL DAY

(HEALTHY SAVANNAH) On January 29, Alderman Nick Palumbo and members of the Healthy Savannah, Bike Walk Savannah, and Metropolitan Savannah Rotary teams met on Police Memorial Trail for Love Your Trail Day, an afternoon of trail cleaning, maintenance, and care. The completion of Police Memorial Trail joins Truman Linear Park Trail as the early phases of Tide to Town. Tide to Town, Savannah’s Urban Trail System, is a planned 30-mile protected network of walking and biking trails connecting all of Savannah’s neighborhoods. To learn more about Tide to Town and attend a future Love Your Trail Day, visit the Tide to Town Facebook page and the Healthy Savannah website.

SAVANNAH’S COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE PROGRAM ANNOUNCES THE FIRST 10 GRADUATES

(SAVANNAH, GA) Members of the first graduating class of Savannah’s Community Advocate program share candid conversations about vaccine concerns and acceptance in Black and Hispanic communities. The program is administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, through a supplemental CDC grant. The program is intended to broaden the initiatives of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grant by increasing vaccine awareness and acceptance in communities at high risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19 or flu.

SAVANNAH PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS AWARDS $30,000 GRANT TO LOOP IT UP SAVANNAH

(SAVANNAH GA) Savannah Philanthropic Partners, a giving circle founded in 2021 by four Savannah women, has awarded its inaugural grant of $30,000 to Loop It Up Savannah, a 501©(3) nonprofit that brings creative art experiences to children and families of Savannah.

FINANCIAL FUNDAMENTALS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

(RICHMOND HILL AND HINESVILLE, GA) The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia, offers a NEW IN-PERSON class for small business owners on February 16 in Richmond Hill and March 2 in Hinesville from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The program content is designed to educate business owners on the importance of good financial data and how to use that financial data for both tactical and strategic decision making. Visit https://www.georgiasbdc.org/training/southern or call (912) 651-3200 for more information.