Church class to focus on mental health
Saint Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, 4625 E. River Road, will host officers from Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff’s Department who are trained in crisis intervention. These officers will discuss how their training prepares them to work with a person going through a mental health crisis and how to prevent it from escalating, according to press materials.
The class runs from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit stfrancisumc.org or call 299-9063.
Muslim community hosts blood drive
The Tucson chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will participate in a nationwide “Muslims for Life” blood drive to honor 9/11 and Boston Marathon bombing victims.
The Tucson chapter will host a blood drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Yousuf Mosque, 250 W. Speedway. Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will also make an appearance, according to press materials.
Sign up to donate at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code MuslimsforLife. More information is available at facebook.com/AMCTucson.
Church discussions
on mass incarceration
In addition to a series on mass incarceration in the U.S., St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 E. Third St., will begin a series of Tuesday and Thursday night discussions about Michelle Alexander’s book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.”
Sunday morning classes run from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in St. Mark’s Calvin Hall and begin Sunday with Caroline Isaacs of the American Friends of Service Committee.
Speakers for other Sunday classes include Jason Kreag, an associate professor of law at the University of Arizona, on Oct. 4; Diane Wilson of the YWCA board and Michele Keller, a former inmate, on Oct. 11; criminal defense attorney Richard Lougee on Oct. 18; Pima County public defender Margo Cowan on Oct. 25 and Isaacs again on Nov. 1, said adult education coordinator Bill Dingeldein.
For more information visit stmarkspresbyterian.org or call 325-1001.
St. Odilia fiesta
to celebrate 50 years
To celebrate its 50th anniversary jubilee year, St. Odilia Catholic Community, 7570 N. Paseo Del Norte, will host a fiesta for the first time since 2008.
Once an annual event, the fiesta returns this yearbeginning at 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2 and continues 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 3.
Festivities will include local performers, food for sale and a silent auction. Purchasers of a raffle ticket — $2.50 each or five tickets for $10 — can win up to $1,500, among other prizes, according to press materials. For more information, visit st-odilia.org or call 297-7271.
Day of service set for
Green Valley, Sahuarita
For the second year, faith congregations in Green Valley, Sahuarita and Amado will come together for Mitzvah Days on Nov. 6 and Nov. 8.
The idea — based on an international Mitzvah Day — came from Beth Shalom Temple Center, 1751 N. Rio Mayo in Green Valley. Last year’s day of service brought together 150 to 160 volunteers from about 10 faith-based organizations to work at nonprofits such as food banks and a youth shelter. The volunteers finished about 20 projects in one day.
This year, Mitzvah Days will span two days to allow more people to participate.
Nonprofits in the area may submit three-hour project proposals for volunteers by Friday, Oct. 2.
The interfaith committee running the event includes members from the area’s Mormon, Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and Lutheran churches, said Mike Finkelstein, an organizer from Beth Shalom Temple Center.
Individuals or organizations interested in participating may find application forms at gvsmitzvahday.org.
