Get out your marching shoes: V4CF to participate in MLK Day parade Jan. 18

Want to show your support for equality? Join V4CF as we march in this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, scheduled Monday, Jan. 18, in downtown Fresno.

V4CF participants will have the opportunity to carry our 'Volunteers For Change-Fresno' banner and perhaps the 'CHANGE' sign shown on the Fresno Bee's front page after last year's event.

We plan to meet at 9:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, in front of St. John's Cathedral, 2814 Mariposa Ave. in downtown Fresno. While we will not have a more specific meeting place, participants should look for others wearing our new black-and-green 'Volunteers For Change' t-shirts. Please wear your own V4CF t-shirt and dress warmly.

Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., the march will proceed from the Cathedral to the Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, with a commemorative program honoring Dr. King's legacy to follow immediately at 10:45 a.m.

With the numbers of participants expected, carpooling or taking mass transit to downtown is indeed recommended. We hope to see you there!

MLK Day celebrations will include 'Mountain of Food' collection and distribution

In conjunction with Fresno's celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the Community Food Bank (CFB) invites V4CF members to participate in the 'Mountain of Food' collection and distribution.

Want to donate? Instead of bringing canned goods or nonperishables to the MLK celebrations, CFB asks that volunteers consider making a monetary donation. The food bank can achieve a greater distribution through its bulk food purchases than it can through donated food stocks.

To donate or for questions, contact Wendy Negri at (559) 299-5052. Wendy will collect any donations before and during the event, and will give them to the Community Food Bank representative.

Volunteers needed for two food distributions, scheduled in February in Firebaugh

Join Volunteers for Change-Fresno as we work with the Community Food Bank to distribute food in Firebaugh. Volunteers are needed for two sessions:

• Tuesday, Feb. 9- Coordinator: Wendy Negri (559-299-5052)
• Tuesday, Feb. 23- Coordinator: Kris Arden (559-978-1736 or kkarden@yahoo.com)

Each session is scheduled 8 a.m.-2 p.m., or until the food to be distributed runs out.

The distributions will take place in Firebaugh's Maldonado Park, located at 1601 Thomas Conboy Road. The coordinator will provide more details & contact each person who signs up closer to the date of the event.

Did you know that you can get a free ticket to Disneyland for helping out with this opportunity? For more information, visit http://www.disneyparks.com.