The annual Market Day event at Wicomico Parish Church (Episcopal) will be held from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon on October 13, 2012. Shoppers will find fresh bakery items, specialty foods, chili, jellies, jams, pickles, a Great Finds yard sale, art, jewelry, handcrafts, produce from local vendors and a Silent Auction. The church is located at 5191 Jessie Ball duPont Highway (Rte. 200), Wicomico Church.

Each year, all church profits raised at Market Day, are distributed to local charities such as the Interfaith Service Council, the Haven, the Free Health Clinic, RGH Cancer Clinic, Northern Neck Hospice Support Services, Northumberland YMCA and local Fire and Rescue services.

The Bay Center at 31 Noblett Lane in Kilmarnock is hosting their 5^th Annual  “Helpers and Healers Gathering” on Friday, June 22 from 5:30-7:30.  This gathering is for members of our community to meet and mingle with others who hold common interests and clientele – those who provide medical, psychological, spiritual, legal, and complementary services in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.  Complementary services include a wide range of caregivers, hospice volunteers, first responders, massage therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists, school counselors, youth leaders, pastors, food bank volunteers, etc.

Diana Jamison, chair of the Helpers and Healers Gathering committee, board member at The Bay Center and a psychotherapist in practice in Kilmarnock,  is pleased that Rappahannock General Hospital is sponsoring the evening. Jamison says, “The Bay Center anticipates a lawn full of “Helpers and Healers” who will meet and develop contacts and a network within our community for their well-being and that of their neighbors.  The Bay Center believes this type of collaboration increases community spirit and promotes their mission of offering hospitality.”

As Diana and the planning committee agreed, “a gathering such as this enhances the outcome of referrals and builds our community by bringing together all those “Helpers and Healers” who offer so many diverse types of services.”

Those who come are asked to bring a lawn chair and business cards to share.  Refreshments will be provided. Donations to The Bay Center for their ongoing work will be appreciated.  In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside.

In addition to events such as this, the Bay Center is also available for small groups to use and for individuals to come for quiet and respite.  The library is full of a wide range of books and audio tapes, DVDs and VHS tapes. The Outdoor Labyrinth in the front lawn is available for walking during daylight hours. Diana says, “If you or a group you know needs a place to meet, please consider the Bay Center.”

For more information or to RSVP(appreciated but not required) please call the Bay Center at 436-3191 or email them at info@bayspiritualdevelopment.com.

There are still a few spaces available at the Kekoka Yoga Retreat, which will take place Friday-Sunday, May 18-20 at YMCA Camp Kekoka in Kilmarnock, said Camp Kekoka Executive Director, Cassie Leichty. 

All levels of experience are welcome and all proceeds benefit scholarships for campers.

The camp is situated on 97 acres of beautiful waterfront at the end of Boys Camp Road outside of Kilmarnock.  The cost of the weekend is $100 and includes lodging, four healthy meals, all levels yoga, meditation, pranayama, yoga anatomy, “sutra talk,” eating mindfully, mindful relationships, laughter yoga, yoga trivia, campfires, massages, chanting and water activities.  Last year's retreat was sold out and organizers are expecting the same for this year, said Leichty.

Presenters are Eva Abel, Suzanne Best, David Duhon, Robin Gage Lilly, Kirsten Halverson, Jen Holloway, Cheryl Hughes, Susan Johnson, Michele Keeney, Jenny Landry, Anna Pomaska, Wyatt Portz, Cliff Schelling, Caroline Shifflett, Dr. Matt Shifflett, Christine Whitaker Wiggins, and Amy Wright-Maloney.  All of the presenters are generously donating their time and talent to benefit the campers.

Massages will be given by appointment by Glynda Antonio of LaSource-Professional Spa Services and Troy Wyne of Results Oriented Massage, both in Kilmarnock.  Additional costs apply.

Healthy meals using as many local farm-fresh ingredients as possible are being donated by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock, Olive for Yoga in Deltaville, Felix Vlad of Williamsburg, and the Kilmarnock-Irvington-White Stone Rotary Club.

Camp Kekoka is a residence camp for children aged 8 to 15.  The campers learn to sail, wind surf, kayak, water ski, and much more, all in a safe environment based on the YMCA character values of caring, respect, responsibility, and honesty.  As with all YMCA's, no one is ever turned away for inability to pay.

For reservations and information, including the weekend schedule, class descriptions and presenter bios visit www.ymcacampkekoka.org or contact Leichty at cleichty@peninsulaymca.org or 804.435.3616.

Each year, Christchurch students plant trees on campus. Sustainability is one of the school's six aspirations and part of the mission:  to have an integral sense of environmental stewardship and sustainability. To this end, we integrate care of the river and the natural world into all that we do.

Carter Little of Charlotte, NC, Taylor Lockley of Urbanna, Jess Haley of Hayes, Katie Byrd of Gloucester, Ryan Campbell of Deltaville, and Yi Zeng of China.

Northern Neck Visions, in concert with the Virginia Extension Agency, the Boys and Girls Club, and Northern Neck Connection, is sponsoring a Helping Hand Volunteer Recruitment Fair for area nonprofits. The public is invited to come and explore the many volunteer opportunities available to them. The fair takes place on Saturday, April 14^th, from 10 to 2, at the Boys and Girls Club in Kilmarnock.

According to the Virginia Office of Volunteerism and Community Service, 1.7 million Virginians volunteered from 2008 to 2010, providing on average 228.7 million hours of volunteer service. With each hour of volunteer time equating to $22.00, that represents a value of $4.9 billion statewide to various nonprofit and charitable organizations.

Volunteers not only provide value and service hours to organizations, they also reap benefits for themselves. The other side of giving one’s time is the reward it represents personally. They get to know others with similar interests and concerns and feel more connected in the community.  Lancaster Community Library volunteer Nancy Brandon states that she really enjoys the work and loves the library. Brandon also volunteers at St. Mary’s Whitechapel and for the library’s Sundays at Two program. Fellow library volunteer Sue Burrage, who also donates her time and energy at Historic Christ Church, adds, “It’s fun! You get to talk to people you wouldn’t normally see.”

While the Northern Neck boasts an active group of volunteer retirees, Northumberland County students must also complete a community service requirement to graduate. Lancaster County students are encouraged to provide service in the community through the RISE program. Young adults bring energy and enthusiasm to causes they care about.

In a recent mailing, Northern Neck Visions identified more than 100 nonprofits, just in Lancaster, Northumberland and Richmond Counties.