Lots of apples will be on future menus at the Haven of Rest Ministries, thanks to the generosity of management at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, which has donated bushels upon bushels of apples from its orchard.It was a win-win situation for all, with staff and clients from the faith-based organization supplying the apple-picking labor. Stan Hywet spokeswoman Donna Spiegler said 880 pounds of apples were carted off to the Haven of Rest kitchen.“After the apples are picked, volunteers, church groups and University of Akron volunteer groups peel, slice and process the apples for freezing or making into applesauce or apple crisp for our clients,” said Pam Hawkins, assistant volunteer coordinator at Haven of Rest.In the past, the apples would fall to the ground and become food for squirrels and birds.“I got in touch with Haven of Rest once we received clearance from the Ohio Department of Agriculture to be able to donate the apples. I am familiar with the organization and the good work that they do,” said Tom Hrivnak, the hall’s director of horticulture. “It’s a good feeling to know that, through Haven of Rest, we are able to help people in need in our community.”Irish girls help veteransBig, beautiful bouquets to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School’s girls soccer team, which recently presented a check for $700 to a Marine home from Afghanistan, for the Wounded Warriors Fund.“On Aug. 27, we opened our soccer season. As part of the opening ceremony, we welcomed back Staff Sgt. Major Rick Mathern,” writes Rob Yeaton, whose wife Elena is in charge of the Fighting Irish girls soccer parents committee. “Rick was away from his family for eight months serving our country.“Part of the pregame festivities was a tailgate party where we proudly wore a shirt with a shamrock flag logo. Since then, the girls’ soccer team has been selling the shirts at all of the soccer and football games, and the proceeds from the shirt sales are being donated to the Wounded Warriors Fund.”Bone marrow registryThe congregation at Akron’s Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 442 Bell St., is raising awareness about the National Bone Marrow Registry.The church is inviting the community to participate in its Be the Match registry 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5. “The Akron community has the chance to step up to save a life,” is the message in an announcement about the event. “A marrow transplant can be a cure for someone with sickle cell disease or other illnesses like leukemia and lymphoma,” the announcement says. “Most patients who need transplants do not have a match with their family and depend on the Be the Match registry to find a match. Many African-Americans, in particular, can’t find donors.”On Nov. 5, you will have a chance to change that by joining the registry at this event. For information, please call 330-253-3711.Organize a pajama drive“Danger Season for children is upon us,” said Patty Gillespie, Eastern Ohio chapter president of the Pajama Program. “It started Oct. 1 and continues through March 31. “We start now to ensure as many children as possible will be warm at bedtime as the temperatures drop. This is the most important time for the Pajama Program, whose purpose is giving new pajamas and new books to children in need all year long. “The Eastern Ohio chapter is working hard to serve the 33 receiving organizations and need your help to provide enough pajamas and books for these wonderful children.”Interested in organizing a pajama drive? Please contact patty@pajamaprogram.org or call 330-253-5109. Cancer fundraisersThe Falls Cancer Club is hosting three very different fundraisers to support its mission of helping Cuyahoga Falls cancer patients with their medical-related bills:• Tastefully Simple Book Party. The club is partnering with Suzanne Mineard for the party, with the club earning 25 percent from Tastefully Simple products sold. The sale runs through Friday. To place an order, please call 330-929-2796.• Night at the Races, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11. There are various ways to participate. Please call 330-929-2796. • Holiday Bazaar, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at First Christian Church, 2253 Third St., Cuyahoga Falls. Admission is free. Lots of crocheted and knitted scarves, hats, bath mats, afghans; other handcrafted items; homemade candies; baked goods; and more.The nonprofit Falls Cancer Club, which dates back to 1948, has assisted more than 1,131 patients with prescriptions, hospital and doctor bills, chemotherapy, radiation, food supplements, laboratory bills as well as durable medical goods like walkers, canes, portable toilets, wheelchairs and bath chairs.Domestic violence forumI’m Still Standing is the title of a free domestic violence workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Akron-
Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron.The event, planned to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is sponsored by Power of a Dream Sisters Helping Sisters Ministries Inc., in partnership with Father & Sons of Northeast Ohio to educate the community about the impact of domestic violence. The workshops (10:15 and 11:15 a.m.) include Shame Behind Closed Doors with Akron police Detective Joseph Wayne Smith; What Words Cannot Say (for men only) with Donald Lykes, Brenda Justice and Nadine Bates; and Enough (self-defense techniques) with Diversity in Motion’s Lamara Iverson, professional boxer and motivational speaker.A panel discussion follows at 1:30 p.m. with Meranda Hampton, first lady of First Apostolic Faith Church; neuropsychologist Martha E. Banks, Ph.D.; Che Thomas of the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina counties; and David Syko, Summit County domestic violence probation officer. Justice said the workshop is in honor of TaiShi Varner of Akron, who was sentenced last year to five years in prison for voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of her estranged husband. Justice said Varner, who was diagnosed as a battered spouse, “is the voice behind the wall. We must make our community aware that silence hides violence.”For information, please call 888-909-6723 or email dream.powerful@gmail.comRally against violenceHallow­SCREAM Out Against Violence, Akron’s inaugural Stop the Violence fall fest and rally, is planned for noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Lane Field, 650 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron.Several sponsorship levels (businesses, house of worship, volunteer, community leader, etc.) are still available. For information, please contact organizers Faniethia C. Beach at ninneyb@hotmail.com or 330-294-7472, or Ka’ra Johnson, licensed social worker with Community Outreach and Rehabilitation Initiatives Inc., at cori_inc@hotmail.com. Shelters receive grantCongratulations to the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties, which recently received a $20,000 grant from the Mary Kay Foundation as part of its annual $3 million national domestic violence grant program.“Not only does it contribute to the operating expenses of our three shelters, but it also gives us hope and strength to continue what we do,” said Leanne Graham, director of grants management. “Domestic violence is not going away and deserves very serious attention. Programs to help battered women and their children require a lot of resources. That’s why we are so thankful the Mary Kay Foundation is helping us help families in Summit and Medina counties.”Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.