WCMU Community Outreach  
Q: What is community outreach at CMU Public Broadcasting?

A: Great public broadcasting programming coupled with committed community partners and public      broadcasting staff who share their expertise and resources to affect positive change.
 

Kids Dance! DVD Project
Mentor Michigan Project
Healthy Weight for Kids Project


WCMU's 5th Annual Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood Sweater Drive

will run from Saturday, October 8 through mid-December. Last year, over 8,500 new and gently-used sweaters were distributed to neighbors in need. Collection boxes will be available at various locations throughout Northern, Central and Southeast Michigan. Donated sweaters will be distributed by local organizations free of charge in the communities in which they were given.

Visit the following locations to donate new or gently-worn sweaters through mid-December:

Alpena: First Federal of Northern Michigan (both locations), the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan,
Jerry's Barber Shop, Alpena County Library, and Child and Family Services of Northeast Michigan.

Cedarville: Les Cheneaux Community Library

Clare: Jay’s Sporting Goods, Witbeck’s Family Food, Apple Tree Lane

Flint:  All nineteen locations of the Genesee District Library

Freeland: Apple Valley Yarn Company

Gaylord: Jay’s Sporting Goods, Glen’s Market and Otsego Memorial Hospital

Harbor Springs: The First Presbyterian Church of Harbor Springs and the Woolly Bugger Roaster of Fine Coffee

Houghton Lake: The Houghton Lake Resorter office and the Houghton Lake Public Library

Midland: Eastman Party Store, Midland Montessori School, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland,
Members First Credit Union (West Wackerly Street Office), Little Forks Outfitters, Molly’s Bistro, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Children’s Therapy Corner and ETC

Mount Pleasant: WCMU, Isabella County Commission on Aging, Biggby Coffee at both locations on Bluegrass Road and Mission Street, CMU Volunteer Center, Central Michigan University Off-Campus Programs and CMU Child Development and Learning Lab

Petoskey: Petoskey Public Library, Oleson’s Food Stores, Crooked Tree Arts Center and Grain Train Natural Food Co-Op

Traverse City: Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Trains and Things Hobbies, Oleson’s Plaza West,
Oleson’s Plaza East and The State Theatre

Additional Sweater Drop-Off locations will be added as they become available.

Sweaters will be distributed to those who need a little warmth this winter in Mt. Pleasant by the Salvation Army, Mt. Pleasant Community Church, Commission on Aging Gold Key Volunteers, and Christmas Outreach; in Midland by Midland County United Way; in Traverse City by Goodwill Inn; in by the Secret Santa Program and The Cedar Post Thrift Shop; in Petoskey and Harbor Springs by The Manna Food Project; in Alpena by  “Friends Together”; in Houghton Lake by Project: Help Our People Eat (H.O.P.E.); in Gaylord by The Clothing Room; in Flint by Carriage Town Ministries, Outreach East and the Salvation Army; in Freeland by Saginaw County United Way; and in Clare by The Seventh Day Adventist Church. 

• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive Press Release

• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive Kick-Off Event Flyer

Sweater Knitting Contest Helps Kids
Stay Warm this Winter

CMU Public Television is bringing you the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child through its 2nd Annual "Mister Rogers' Sweater Contest." Now in its second year, the contest provides an opportunity for Michigan's knitters to create sweaters for youngsters who need help staying warm next winter. Knitters throughout the state are eligible to participate in the contest.

Knit on your own or attend a social session with knitting help available at:
 
• Apple Valley Yarn Company in Freeland, Mondays, 3 - 9 p.m., and Fridays, August 26 and September 23, 7 - 11 p.m.

• Fairview Inn in Midland, Wednesdays at 7 - 9 p.m.

• Grand Traverse Pie Company in Midland, Fridays at 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

• Apple Tree Lane in Clare, Thursdays, 4 - 7 p.m.

For information on becoming involved with these groups or having your own knitting group become involved (regardless of location), call Jean Krause at 989-631-1050 or Linda Dielman at 1-800-727-9268. Sweater kits for a wide range of skill levels, put together specifically for the contest, are available (but not required for the contest) through Apple Valley Yarn Company.

Sweater entries must be submitted to CMU Public Television by Friday, October 7.

Contest prizes include:  First Place Prize - $100 in Yarn and Knitting Accessories; Second Place Prize - $75 in Yarn and Knitting Accessories; and, Third Place Prize - $50 in Yarn and Knitting Accessories.

Contest rules and entry forms are posted below. Sweaters collected through the contest will be distributed to children in need of warm clothing.

• Knitting Contest Press Release

• Knitting Contest Entry Form

• Kintting Contest Eligibility & Entry Guidelines
Healthy Weight in Preschool Children

Discover information and resources for families who are facing the challenge of raising fit, healthy kids. Articles, recipes, activities, radio interviews, video clips and much more!

www.healthyweightforkids.org
Caring for Your Loved Ones ... and You!

•Caring for Your Loved Ones... and You! event held at Central Michigan University

• "Caring for Your Parents" - Watch the program and discover resources

• "Depression: Out of the Shadows" - Watch the program and discover resources

• County by County Resources in Michigan
“The Forgetting”

Learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease and the support systems that exist in central and northern Michigan for patients and their caregivers.

Contact Information for Alzheimer’s:

County by County Resources in Michigan

State and National Resource Directory

Professional Development for Physicians
"Quality Matters: Best Practices in Dementia Care."

www.pbs.org/theforgetting