If you are not familiar with Leeds Outreach, it is the local non-profit organization that takes care of the Leeds area benevolence. This organization helps families in Leeds with food, utilities, prescription medicine, school supplies and Christmas. They are a 501c3 Christian organization operated solely by volunteers out of the Leeds Civic Center. Leeds Outreach, formerly known as The Leeds Welfare Cooperative, was established in 1994 by four Leeds area pastors who wanted to provide assistance to people throughout the community in one central place, rather than allowing the same people to solicit support from all the area churches and abuse the system. Since they have no paid staff, rent or other bills, 100% of your donations go directly to assisting people in need throughout the Leeds community, and last year alone, Leeds Outreach provided for over 3,000 people. Barbara Higginbotham, the current Director, has expressed some summer needs

“It has been quite some time since we have needed to ask for food for our pantry. Donations to the food pantry have been reduced to a few regular church donations and a few individuals. Summer, when children are out of school and eating all meals at home, has always been a time when the pantry needs to be full of food for all families. We do buy food from the Central Alabama Food Bank and at the local grocery stores. If you have been thinking about donating or having a food drive in your business, church or organization, now is the time,” she said. “All kinds of canned foods, dried beans/peas, peanut butter, jelly, oil, flour, corn meal, sugar, detergents, soap and paper products are needed. Also, more volunteers are needed and we would welcome you to come and work with us to continue to help the needy families in Leeds. We are open Monday – Thursday from 9-10:30 a.m.” Leeds Outreach is also collecting school supplies for the upcoming school year and has expressed the need especially for copy paper. You may contact Barbara at (205) 699-7291 or leedswelfare@yahoo.com. Please consider making a donation.

If you’re looking for something for your children to do this summer, Leeds and Moody offers fun in the sun with splash pads. There are also activities on the calendar at both libraries to keep your child busy reading this summer.

Getting on to this week’s news and events: The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leeds will conduct a Ribbon Cutting at Farris Lock and Key today, July 7 at 10 a.m. on 6th Street.

Leeds Lions Club will meet at 1 p.m. today, July 7 in the Leeds Masonic Lodge building. Please contact T. V. Weaver, President, at (205) 699-6742 for more information.

First Baptist Church of Moody will host a Kids Music Camp for children first-sixth grade July 11–15 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. as they learn “Joseph, from the pit to the Palace.” They will also have lunch and daily field trips/activities, which include Moody Splash Pad, Birmingham Zoo, a movie at the Summit and a game day at the church. The cost is $50, which includes lunch, all activities and a t-shirt. Pay cash or Visa/MasterCard at the door, add $1.50 service charge for debit/credit payments.

Moody City Council Meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11 at Moody City Hall.

The Leeds-Moody Professional Women’s Business Group – LadyBUGS will host their monthly luncheon meeting at noon on Tuesday, July 12 at The Livery Event Center in Leeds. Join these ladies for a great lunch, speaker and fellowship. Lunch is $10 and RSVP to m.k.davis2010@gmail.com.

The Central Parliamentary Unit is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, July 13 in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Please contact Grady Sue Saxon at (205) 699-2440 for more information.

The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce will host their monthly Chamber luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 14 at Moody City Hall. Guest speaker this month will be John Archibald with the Birmingham News. Lunch is $10 with RSVP ($15 without RSVP) to Andrea Machen, Executive Director, at (205) 640-6262 which includes lunch, speaker and the opportunity to build relationships with other area business professionals.

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Leeds will host a Ribbon Cutting at the new office of Gregory Counseling at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 located in the back of Webb & Company’s building on the corner of 6th Street and Parkway Drive.

Vacation Bible School is scheduled for at Leeds River Campus of Eden Westside Baptist Church July 18-22 from 6-8:30 p.m. each night with Family Night scheduled for that Friday night. Their theme this year is “Backstage with the Bible.” River Campus is located on Hwy. 78, just past the Shops of Grand River. To register or volunteer, please visit this website: edenwestside.org.

Vacation Bible School is also planned at Leeds First United Methodist Church July 18-22 at 5:30 p.m. Their theme this year is “CAVE Quest – Following Jesus, The Light of the World.” To register or volunteer, please visit their website: bit.ly/1ZHRgvH.

The Moody Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Moody will host a Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the grand opening of the new Edward Jones Office with Steve Sink, Financial Advisor, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, located at 2603 Moody Parkway, Suite 101.

Performances continue at Leeds Arts Council with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! through July 24 at Leeds Theatre & Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Reservations are recommended so please call (205.) 699-1892. Also, Carolyn Thomas Jones’ paintings will be on display through July 28. For more information, please call (205) 699-1892 or visit their website at LeedsArtsCouncil.org.

American Red Cross will hold a Blood Drive at Moody City Hall on July 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This is a great opportunity to give blood.

Quote for the Week: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~C. S. Lewis

I truly appreciate each of you who read my column and I really love sharing news, so please remember to send your Leeds and Moody news to me at leedsmoodynews@gmail.com. See you next week!