Volunteer to Help The Underserved

Volunteer to Help The Underserved

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Volunteering has always been an important aspect of our family and while we had children in the home, our volunteering focused on areas where we could serve together or activities in which the children were involved. Five years ago our youngest child graduated and with that milestone for her (and me, since I was the primary homeschool teacher), my opportunities for volunteering changed. 

There are so many needs in our community; Matthew 25 is one of two organizations where I landed. While I am utilizing my nursing degree at this locations, the program has ample opportunities for anyone who is willling to devote some time and love.

By the gospel, Matthew 25 Health And Dental Clinic fills a critical need in our community, providing free medical, dental, and vision services to uninsured, low-income residents of Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. There are many opportunities to volunteer at Matthew 25. Whether you are a healthcare professional or a lay person wanting to help those who are in need of healthcare, there is a place for you. 

  • Physicians
  • Nurse Practioner
  • Immediate Care
  • Physician Assistant
  • Nurses
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Scheduler
  • Nurse Health Educator
  • Certified Diabetic Educator
  • Nutritionist
  • Physical therapist
  • Student nurse
  • Dentists
  • Dental hygienists
  • Dental Assistants
  • Front desk
  • Intake Assistant
  • Translator
  • Host/Hostess
  • Clerical
  • Data Entry
  • Operator
  • Social Work Assistant
  • Medicine Room
  • Inventory
  • Pill Processors
  • Patient Assistance Medicine Intake
  • Patient Assistance Pharmaceutical Processor
  • Fundraising events
  • Mailings
  • Custodial and maintenance

If interested, see http://www.matthew25online.org/volunteers.

Do you have a volunteer oppportunity you would like to share? Please let us know here!

Local Volleyball Anyone?

Local Volleyball Anyone?

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Volleyball is one of those sports where both elite athletes and non-athletically inclined individuals can have equal levels of enjoyment. Fort Wayne, perhaps surprisingly, is full of opportunities to be involved in volleyball–at whatever level you play.

Fort Wayne’s volleyball scene starts with what was formerly the IPFW Mastodons men’s volleyball team, home of Lloyd Ball, Olympic gold medalist. Even now, years after Ball has moved on, the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons men’s volleyball games tend to be crowded and lively and are a fun, inexpensive way to spend an evening. 

Youth volleyball options are seemingly endless, with club teams all over the area, including Summit Volleyball, Fort Wayne Volleyball Club, and Empowered Volleyball. Many of these programs boast impressive coaching resumes, home and travel playing options, and strong college recruiting statistics. 

But for those of us no longer in highschool or college, yet still wanting to play, all hope is not lost. 

Perhaps the longest-standing host of adult volleyball leagues in Fort Wayne is Fairplay Volleyball. Fairplay offers leagues at all levels, from the “C” social leagues to the elite “A” leagues. During the fall and winter months, indoor leagues are hosted at Spiece Fitness, Concordia Seminary, and the Parkview Fieldhouse, with games happening nearly every day of the week. In the summer, some indoor leagues are still offered, but much of the action moves outdoors to River City, the city’s outdoor beach volleyball hub. The summer beach leagues also span playing levels and even if you aren’t playing, River City is a fun atmosphere for watching and cheering on friends as they play. In addition to the weeknight leagues, Fairplay often hosts several weekend tournaments throughout the year. For more information, go to https://www.fairplayvolleyball.com/. 

Empowered Beach Volleyball also offers adult leagues throughout the year in their indoor beach facility. With five beach volleyball courts in a covered (and heated when necessary) facility, Empowered offers both elite and social leagues on the sand. Empowered also hosts several AVP beach tournaments each year, bringing elite players to Fort Wayne and boosting the level of competition. For more information, go to https://www.empoweredsportsclub.com/adultbeachleagues. 

Sunset at River River City

 

Fort Wayne Sport & Social Leagues also host volleyball leagues as one of their many sport offerings. Currently, their beach leagues take place at the Empowered Beach Volleyball facility, and their indoor leagues will be hosted at Turnstone. Fort Wayne Sport & Social is focused on meeting new people and socializing through sports of all kinds, volleyball being just one of many sport leagues they organize. If you are in it just for the fun and aren’t interested as much in the level of competition, the Fort Wayne Sport & Social Leagues are a great way to get involved. Learn more at https://fortwaynesocial.com. 

If one wanted, they could play volleyball every day of the week in Fort Wayne. It’s a wonderful way to make friends and stay active. 

Cycling Events & Races

Cycling Events & Races

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Are you a wee bit competitive? Do you enjoy challenging yourself to be fitter and faster? If so, then racing might be your thing. If you’re more the type that doesn’t care how fast you get there as long as it’s with friends, then there are events for you too.

Each year, throughout Indiana, Do INdiana Offroad (DINO) offers a number of off-road events, from a series of mountain bike races for all levels of riders (all the way from beginner/base to expert/elite), to trail running marathons, and Xterra off-road triathlons. Many of these events take place at Indiana State Parks, though some other locations include county and city parks around Indiana. The DINO events are a great way to make friends, get outside, and enjoy Indiana’s off-road activities–even if you aren’t “in it to win it,” but also offer solid competition for the more competitive types. Check out www.dinoseries.com for more information.

One of the premier cycling festivals in the Midwest happens each May in Winona Lake, Indiana. For over 20 years, the Fat & Skinny Tire Fest has brought hundreds of people to Winona Lake for BMX exhibitions, Corporate Cruiser races, kids’ bike racing, a casual riding tour, mountain bike races, a road racing omnium (three separate events), and more. Even if you don’t ride bikes, this is a fun week to watch other people ride bikes and enjoy spring in Winona Lake. Get the latest information at https://www.fatandskinnytirefest.com/.


Lining up with friends to race at the Muncie Grand Prix Criterium during the Cardinal Greenway Bike Fest

More locally, the Fort4Fitness Spring Cycle and Fort4Fitness Fall Festival bring cycling and running events to downtown Fort Wayne. The Spring Cycle is a casual tour with a variety of distance options, allowing riders to choose how far (and fast) they want to ride. In the fall, running is the center of attention, with events ranging from 1k to a full marathon. In more recent years, they have also added a Winter Bash with a 2k and 5k through the Festival of Lights. Registration, details, and event information is all at https://fort4fitness.org/.

During the summer months, Team Neighborlink hosts both running and cycling events with an emphasis on raising funds to help neighbors in need. The Hot Laps summer mountain bike short track race series happens at Franke Park and, like the DINO mountain bike events, offer both beginner and expert races, all happening on a short, 1-mile course around Derby Hill. The Night Moves running events give runners the chance to participate in evening runs around the city with a range of distances. Some events are relays, others are individual events, but all of the Night Moves courses happen at night, and usually start or end at fun locations around the city. More information is available on both events at www.teamneighborlink.org.

Fort Wayne Cyclocross hosts weekly cyclocross practices during the late fall and summer months at Franke Park. The practices incorporate some skills work as well as fitness drills, then a mock race. The money raised from the practices goes towards building and maintaining off-road trails at Frank Park. Information is available at “Fort Wayne Cyclocross” on Facebook.

The local cycling association, Three Rivers Velo Sport hosts a cycling tour each year that coincides with the Fort Wayne Three Rivers Festival. The Three Rivers Festival Tour offers a number of mileage options that wind through the roads west of Fort Wayne. Though the weather tends to be hot, the ride is well-supported, with food and drink stops throughout the ride. Check out this event as well as the weeknight and weekend rides at www.3rvs.org.

Usually towards the end of July, the Cardinal Greenway Bike Fest takes place in Muncie, Indiana. This event, like the Fat & Skinny Tire Fest, includes a road criterium race, as well as a country tour. The downtown racing is a fun spectator event and the tour is a great way to explore new roads and greenways with friends. More information on the yearly events is available at https://cardinalgreenways.org under their “Events” page.

If you’re looking for more casual ways to join other people for a ride or run, it’s always a good idea to check in with the local bike shop or running store to see what else is going on each week. There are summer ride events happening nearly every weekend of the spring, summer, and fall months somewhere in the Northeast Indiana area–its just a matter of deciding what event you want to do!

Racing is a great way to make friends!

 

DINO Mountain Bike Series Champs

Do you have a race or an event to share? Please let us know here!

NEIC Mountain Bike Team

NEIC Mountain Bike Team

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The North East Indiana Composite (NEIC) mountain bike team is a local team for middle and high school students in northeast Indiana who want to get involved in mountain biking. The team races in the Indiana Interscholastic Cycling League (www.indianamtb.org) and is a part of NICA (the National Interscholastic Cycling Association). The NEIC team philosophy is fun first and the central goal is for students to develop a strong body, mind, and character through mountain biking. There are no tryouts. Everyone rides, no matter their ability or skill level. Racing is optional.  

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Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle

Fort 4 Fitness Spring Cycle

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Fort4Fitness, Inc. is a non-profit, organization committed to inspiring healthy living through fitness in the Greater Fort Wayne Region.

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Downtown Auburn, Coming Up!

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One day back from my trip from Colorado visiting my Maximus, and wishing I had taken a lot more pictures!

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