Camp Bow Wow’s Cupids and Canine Event

Historic Hyde Park businesses host “Have a Heart for Haiti,” during Valentines weekend

Visit Boise’s 13th Street on the 13th (the Saturday before Valentine’s), and enjoy special sales, food, and community events. We even hear rumors of hula hoopers and fire dancers, and a drum circle at 1:30 p.m. at Dunia Marketplace (with extra drums if you don’t have your own), 1609 N. 13th St.
Local businesses in the area will have a box for donations, and will give percentages of the day’s sales to Haiti relief efforts.

Catholic Charities of Idaho (CCI) has been awarded up to $5,000 to help local folks, including resettled refugees, in need of emergency rental assistance. For every $1 donated locally, the Home Partnership Foundation will match with an additional 50 cents.

Special Olympics Lions Club Fundraiser

The Boise Special Olympics Lions Club will celebrate its 1st year Anniversary Charter Party Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Holiday Inn, Boise Airport. “A Very Tiki Charter Luau” will raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Idaho and celebrate the Lions’ commitment to local athletes.

United Way and Bank of America will help Idaho families with tax form preparation

Did you know that working families can receive nearly $6,000 in tax credits through the federal Earned Income Tax Credit program? Every year, more than $11 million in tax credits goes unclaimed in the Treasure Valley, and once again, local agencies are trying to make sure it doesn’t.

Reach Out to Haiti is a nonprofit organization that provides a safe haven for single mothers and children living in the depths of Haitian poverty. Ruuska Village, the home of Reach out to Haiti, provides shelter, food, medical care, clean water and education to Haitians.

The earthquake essentially leveled the small community, leaving Ruuska Village inhabitants sleeping on the dirt, without crucial supplies.

The Ada County Emergency Food and Shelter Program board, made up of representatives from local groups like the Idaho Foodbank, St. Vincent de Paul, United Way, Catholic Charities and others, wants to get the word out: Congress has awarded $226,100 for distribution in Ada County in 2010.
Board member Ed Loggins from the Foodbank said awards in previous years have been between $30-60,000.

Bring your gently used and new clothing items to the Chateau de Boise retirement home, beginning at 10 a.m., this Saturday, 7250 Poplar St. in Boise, and you might win a $100 cash door prize.

But wait, there's more. 

Show up with your goods at 12:30 p.m., and you’ll get a free lunch. Free balloons, and an appearance by Bubbles the Clown from 10 a.m.-noon.

At 2 p.m., a representative from Boise Rescue Mission will be present to speak and present a certificate of appreciation to the guests and staff at the home.

Here are a couple great opportunities to consider:

Court Appointed Special Advocates:  

Abused and neglected children need a caring adult to speak for them during court proceedings to make sure decisions are made in their best interests. The Family Advocates Court Appointed Special Advocate program, aka CASA, is holding a spring training to train new volunteers to do this important work.

This is one event I can vouch for personally — the fourth annual  Gold’s Gym's Dance4Life Fundraiser to Raise AIDS Awareness begins at 8 a.m. this Saturday at the Fairview location (corner of Cole Road) in Boise.

It's an entire day of cardio dance classes, with a silent auction, and food for participants. The event is free, and open to the public, and the first 100 people who donate $10 will get a free goody bag. Everyone gets breakfast and lunch. A new cardio class starts every 50 minutes.