The Willow Glen Resident

Around The Glen

Special Olympics coaches are needed

The Santa Clara County Special Olympics program is in its 30th year, and training has begun for yet another season. Ice skating has just been added to the list of winter sports, and practice for soccer, power-lifting and long-distance running is just getting under way. Many talented athletes eagerly await new volunteers who can help them succeed in their events.

For those who would like to become volunteers, there is an orientation on Tuesday, Sept. 8 , at 7 p.m. at the Special Olympics office, 5730 Chambertin Dr., San Jose.

For more information, call 267-2734.

--Rochelle Lee

Lions provide job- training for legally blind via SF group

San Francisco Vocational Services, a new affiliate of the Lions Blind Center, is offering free job-training and -placement services to the blind people of Santa Clara County. Representatives of the nonprofit organization will be at the center, located at 101 N. Bascom in San Jose, every Friday.

SFVS was recently awarded a five-year "Project With Industry" grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support its programs, including vocational evaluations and skills training.

Recent studies have established that the disabled, including the blind, receive above-average job-performance evaluations in 90 percent of all cases and that 96 percent possess average or better safety records.

For more information about SFVS programs, call the center at 295-1398.

--Puneet Jain

SOS: county streams need some cleanup

Thanks to winter storms and litter from heavy park use, the streams in the county are in need of help, so the Santa Clara County Parks Department is looking for volunteers who want to "Save Our Streams" on Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, Sept.19, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The department, along with the Creek Connections Action Group, is looking for help removing litter and debris from the Coyote Creek Trail in South San Jose, Lexington Reservoir County Park outside Los Gatos, and Stevens Creek County Park above Cupertino.

Volunteers will be rewarded with a light lunch, refreshments, and a thank you gift. More than 300 volunteers removed 15 tons of trash from creeks in the three parks last year.

Creek Connections Action Group is a group of public and nonprofit organizations in the county.

For more information, or to find out about other volunteer programs, call the parks department at 354-6583.

--Metro Newspapers

The local Red Cross seeks volunteers

The Santa Clara Valley chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking adult and youth volunteers. All volunteers receive training and are placed in a position that most suits their interests.

Community representatives build and maintain collaborative relationships with local community groups and agencies, especially those representing culturally specific populations. They also work in disaster response resources.

Data entry clerks create and maintain files and work on computers. Disaster volunteer trainers prepare and supervise other volunteers responsible for various relief services in case of natural disasters. Health and safety workers use administrative and customer service skills to assist the Red Cross with a wide range of duties and special projects. For more information, call 577-2016.

--Puneet Jain

Arthritis Foundation seeking volunteers

The Arthritis Foundation is offering a three-day training session for those interested in volunteering as an Arthritis Self-Help Course leader.

Leaders will be trained to give people with arthritis knowledge and self-management skills they need to take a more active part in their own care. The program is designed to complement, not replace, professional health-care services. The training will cover such topics as exercise, relaxation, pain control, medication and nutrition.

The training session is set for Sept. 17, 18 and 25 at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. For more information, call the Arthritis Foundation, Northern California Chapter at 800/464-6240.

--Puneet Jain

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