Community Briefs: ImagineIF Library earns youth literacy award

ImagineIF Youth Services Staff

| September 30, 2016 6:00 AM

The Northwest Montana Reading Council presented ImagineIF Library Youth Services its Friend of Literacy Award at the 2016 Back to School Conference in Kalispell.

The award honors organizations outside of the school district that promote literacy. Youth Services Librarian Martha Furman accepted the award on behalf of ImagineIF’s 10-person team that provides programs and services to children and teens in Flathead County.

ImagineIF libraries provide early literacy opportunities for young readers through story time interactions eight times per week in three locations. In addition, they offer hands-on experiences designed to encourage lifelong learning, as well as offer popular materials that stimulate imagination and curiosity in children and teens.

“It means a lot to us to be recognized by teachers because so much of what we do is designed to prepare kids for school success,” Furman said. “The award has provided inspiration for ImagineIF’s Youth Services team to keep on doing what they do best — create young readers.”

Halt Cancer at X grant offered

Halt Cancer at X, launched in 2012 by Sarah Broussard with the Event at Rebecca Farm, is an initiative that raises money for breast cancer research.

Halt Cancer at X is seeking applicants for its annual grant after raising $130,000 at this year’s Event at Rebecca Farm, the most successful fundraising campaign since its founding.

The deadline to apply for the grant is Oct. 1.

Local groups that benefited last year include Flathead Cancer Aid Services, Cancer Support Community Kalispell and the Flathead Valley Cancer Chicks, which now hosts an annual, overnight local wellness retreat for 10 cancer survivors. The initiative also awarded $50,000 to the Telomere study, a national research project that strives to prevent breast cancer progression through the study of mammary tumor cells.

Organizations or individuals can apply for the grant by visiting http://www.rebeccafarm.org/halt-cancer/#how.

Community Kitchen meals

Community Kitchen-Feeding the Flathead offers the following free meals in Kalispell during October. All meals are served at 6 p.m. and everyone is welcome.

Central Christian Church, 248 Second Ave. E. — Oct. 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20 and 22

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 S. Main St. — Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24

Christ Church Episcopal, 215 Third Ave. E. — Oct. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31

After-school code club meets

Montana Code Girls, a free after-school program to teach girls ages 9 to 19 how to code for computer software development, is forming a group in Kalispell.

The group will meet every Thursday at 4 p.m., starting Oct. 6 at Sykes’ Diner in the Lewis & Clark Room, 202 Second Ave. W., in Kalispell. Bring a laptop.

No experience is necessary. There are also groups in Bozeman, Missoula, Great Falls and Helena.