The Tompkins County Bullying Prevention Task Force has announced a dozen events its third annual “United in Kindness” program in October, coinciding with National Bullying Prevention Month and National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
This year the series includes “Huddle Together for Mental Health,” where home sports games between Wednesday and Oct. 12 will be branded as mental health games accompanied by mental health presentations from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Finger Lakes.
Dryden Central School District will celebrate Unity Day on Oct. 16 to mark National Bullying Prevention Month. Activities include wearing orange T-shirts signifying unity for kindness, acceptance and inclusion; a Random Acts of Kindness challenge; creating a kindness quilt; and more.
Other efforts:
•Free hugs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Apple Harvest Festival on the Ithaca Commons.
• Huddle Together for Mental Health Wednesday through Oct. 12 at high schools.
•Youth Mental Health & Wellness Town Hall, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Tompkins County Public Library-Borg Warner Room, Ithaca.
•Keen on Kindness Day at The Nook, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 7, a story time and book give-away at the Shops at Ithaca Mall, as well as art projects celebrating migrating families.
•Promoting Social-Emotional Strengths in Youth, noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 10 via Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/5t8dxy6w.
•“Ending the Silence” for Parents, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 via Zoom. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2t76u3bt.
• “I Wish You Knew,” Oct. 11 to 16. People 5 to 21 can submit art by Oct. 11 to be exhibited at the Mental Health Association. Register at https://tinyurl.com/h4cspsbv.
•Stories of Kindness and Resilience, 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St.
•Unity Day for Bullying Prevention Month, Oct. 16 in the Dryden Central School District.
•#PurpleThursday, Oct. 17. Wear purple on the national day of support for families impacted by domestic violence.
•9th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at Bernie Milton Pavilion For details, go to thesophiefund.org/cupcake-contest/.
•Groomed—A Play, 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 at Greater Ithaca Activities Center, 301 W. Court St., Ithaca.
Family caregiver support group meets
A safe space for family caregivers to share their experiences, challenges and successes meets from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month.
The meeting is available in person at Access to Independence, 26 n. Main St., Cortland, and via Zoom. It’s sponsored by the Cortland County Area Agency on Aging’s Caregiver Resource Center.
For details, call the center at 607-753-5060.
Overeaters Anonymous meeting
Those who are over or under eaters are welcome at Overeaters Anonymous. A weekly group takes place 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 2 Rivers Church, 78 Homer Ave., Cortland. For more information, call or text 631-804-8237.
Need food? Go to McGraw
The McGraw Community Pantry distributes food 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the McGraw Methodist Church, 20 E. Main St., McGraw.
Alanon in Cortland
Alanon meetings are available in person, online and via telephone for people affected by someone else’s drinking.
Several weekly meetings take place in Cortland and Homer:
•Alanon and Alateen meets 7 p.m. Thursdays at the YWCA, 14 Clayton Ave., Cortland.
•A 7 p.m. meeting takes place Sundays at Christ Community Church 1093 Route 13
Cortlandville.
•Alanon meets 7 p.m. Mondays at Homer Congregational Church, 28 S. Main St., Homer.
Call Mary at 607-844-4707 for details.
People encourage one another in a confidential setting. There are no dues or fees for membership and no appointment is required.
AA meetings are available
Is drinking a problem? Perhaps Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Call 607-261-5848 or visit www.aacortland-homer.org for details.
Grief support available Wednesdays
The Cortland County Office for Aging is offering a weekly ongoing Good Grief Circle for one hour at 2 p.m. Wednesdays at the Age Well Center, 165 Main St., Cortland.
The meeting is a gathering of older adults learning to live with of loss who share experiences, suggestions and resources. Sessions are led by Jan Fletcher, Good Grief Series Workshop creator and trained volunteer program facilitator.
For questions, call the Age Well Center at 607-218-6284.
