Check out Art Bike on First Thursday

Boise Bicycle Project, the nonprofit group that rehabs donated bikes for people in need in the community, including kids, refugees and homeless men and women, hosts a fundraiser for lovers of bikes and art.

Art Bike, held First Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Modern Hotel, will feature 20 bikes painted by local artists, up for auction.

 Meridian High is the place for the dance team’s parking lot sale, fundraiser extravaganza. The time is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Aug. 1, at the corner of Pine and Linder in Meridian. The money raised will be used for travel, lodging, costumes and competition fees for the dance team Nationals Competition in March, 2010. Questions? Call Renee Jones, president of the Meridian High School Dance Team Parent Club: 761-4372.

Big crews are expected to turn out Friday to search for Robert Manwill, the 8-year-old missing for a week from the Boise Bench. United Way put out a call to its supporters Thursday afternoon, asking them to join one of the volunteer search parties on Friday, if possible.

You've read the specifics before, including in today's paper, but here they are again:

The search will be divided into three three-hour periods.

Volunteers can show up at one of three locations:

I never realized until recently that the Idaho Foodbank is able to accept donations of fresh, home garden-grown produce through its “Grow a Row” program. Turns out there's a place for those extra tomatoes, spinach, beet  greens, et al.

Bring your extra garden produce to any of the Foodbank’s three warehouses:

— In Boise at 3562 S. TK Ave., 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
— In Lewiston at 3600 E. Main, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
— In Pocatello at 555 S. 1st Ave. 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Got a good-looking hound or a handsome hedgehog? The Idaho Humane Society is looking for a few good beasts to grace the pages of their 2010 “Friends for Life” calendar.

Submit photos of the animals in your life to be considered — dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats, mice, birds and horses, etc., depicted in a humane and dignified manner. Entry fee is $10 per photo, and one lucky pet will be chosen to represent each of the 12 months.

The first wave of entries is in to “50 States for Good,” a national program from Tom’s of Maine, that aims to reward organizations focused on lasting positive change.

Thirty-one out of 50 states — note:  Idaho is NOT among them! — have submitted entries to this funding opportunity to help continue the good work.

Be part of "Do Something 101," a national school supply drive

DoSomething.org and Staples are teaming up for the second annual national school supply drive.

Boise teens can help their fellow students in need by collecting school supplies and dropping them off at their nearest Staples store, now, through Sept. 19.

In addition, people can help the effort by donating $1 at any Staples store. All the money will benefit local teens in need.  

DIRT Clods announce July’s DIRTy deed:

This month, one of our favorite crews of intrepid volunteers — United Way’s D.irect I.mpact R.esponse T.eam, is helping out Hays Shelter Home. The team needs you.  

The Hays Home provides 24-hour emergency care and crisis services to kids ages 9 through 17. While they’re at the home, kids participate in normal daily activities — school, chores, recreational activities and community outings, while getting counseling.

Here's the good news, the bad news, and the shot at redemption: 

Well, the good news was that a pair of tickets to the Slightly Stoopid show was up for grabs Saturday for the music fan who brought the biggest food donation to the Idaho Foodbank Saturday morning.

The bad news is that no one showed up at all. No one, and the tickets went unclaimed.  

The shot at redemption: The Indigo Girls concert, July 27 at Idaho Botanical Garden is also a food drive.

Then your ship has come in...

So many cats and kittens are making their way to the shelter each week, that the Idaho Humane Society is continuing a program started in June, which was Adopt A Shelter Cat month.

People can adopt a cat, or kitten (one per household) for a reasonable donation, and the shelter will spay or neuter, vaccinate and microchip the cat before it goes to its new home.

Dee Fugit, spokeswoman for the shelter said the promotion will continue until July 31.