Blood donations
• To schedule an appointment to donate blood with the American Red Cross, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1 800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Fully recovered COVID-19 patients may be eligible to donate plasma to help those currently sick, www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html.
Camps
● The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan Specialty Summer Camp Experience with weekly camps for youth ages 6-18, through Aug. 21. The camp will be offered at both the Dick & Sandy Dauch Club at 16500 Tireman Street in Detroit and the Matilda R. Wilson Club at 220 South Squirrel Road in Auburn Hills. Additional cleaning measures and precautions have been implemented due to the COVID-19 crisis. Camps feature learning activities in engineering, robotics, Legos, coding, dance and cheer, entrepreneurship and career exploration, performing arts, Esports gaming, film and video production. The cost is $100 per week for each youth, www.bgcsm.org, 313-473-1400.
● In-person summer day camps will be offered for eight individual weeks, July 6-Aug. 17 for youth, ages 5-18 at the Costick Center, 28600 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills. Various camps are offered, geared to art, sports and nature. COVID-19 safety and mitigation protocols will be in place with a limit on participants in each camp, extended care is not offered. View camp brochure under the “Activities” tab of the website and register at https://recreg.fhgov.com. Costs vary.
• Virtual one-week art camps run throughout the summer at Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. All materials & supplies will be available by curbside pickup, bbartcenter.org/art-camps-virtual.
• The Community House offers Virtual Summer Camps for children, weekly through Aug. 6, activities include dance, writing, baking, athletics, fashion, via Zoom, video conferencing app. Discounts when selecting multiple camps, communityhouse.com.
Cancellations
The annual Oakland County Fair, with public events previously scheduled for July 10-19, is canceled. Exhibitor-only competition, and some online showing and livestock auctions will take place, www.oakfair.org.
Coronavirus information websites and hotlines
• Oakland County COVID-19 Help Hotline is 248-858-1000 or email to [email protected] or text OAKGOV to 28748 or visit https://www.oakgov.com/covid/Pages/default.aspx.
• For information about the COVID-19 coronavirus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
• Beaumont Health offers information and answers about the coronavirus, at www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/coronavirus or call Beaumont’s COVID-19 hotline at 800-592-4784.
• The City of Birmingham COVID-19 hotline as an information resource and to provide assistance for the elderly, quarantined or immunocompromised. Birmingham residents may call the COVID-19 hotline at 248-530-1805, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Educational activities
• College Application Success virtual event featuring Birmingham education planner, Barbara Connolly in partnership with The Community House. Connolly is the founder of College Choice Counseling is a private college admissions advising business. The live, virtual program via Zoom, consists of three-sessions, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. July 15 and July 22, and 6:30-7:30 p.m. July 29. Topics covered include getting organized and completing a successful application, and developing effective essays. Registration is $95 per student, https://communityhouse.asapconnected.com/#CourseID=225277.
Family activities
• The BSA is hosting ScoutStrong Virtual 5K and 1-mile Fun Run, July 3-5 or July 11-12. Registration is $10/runner or $25/family. Runners will receive a limited edition 2020 bib with their own unique number and a patch. The winner will receive a special medal, http://scoutingevent.com/272-ScoutStrongVirtual5k.
Fundraisers
• Frontline Foods, a national organization working with restaurants, hospitals and other medical facilities to donate meals to health care workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis. To make a donation for Southeast Michigan, visit www.frontlinefoods.org/se-michigan.
• Pet Valu’s “Patriotic Pets” fundraiser during the month of July encourages Pet Valu customers to show their support for the nonprofit, U.S. War Dogs Association, by purchasing a patriotic-themed or camouflage bandana for $5 or donating any amount, For more information, https://givingback.us.petvalu.com/war-dogs.
Health activities
• Learn to manage your diabetes or kidney disease in no-cost virtual Personal Action Toward Health (PATH) workshop series offered by the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan. Diabetes PATH information session is 10 a.m. July 8 and the workshops are 10 a.m.-noon, Wednesdays, July 15 to Aug. 19. The next series information session is 3:30 p.m. July 27 with 8 workshops, 3-5 p.m. starting Aug. 3. Register by email [email protected] or call 734-222-9800, nkfm.org/PATH or mihealthyprograms.org.
• The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is offering a virtual version of the popular Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop. The free six-week course will be held, 1-2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, July 14-Aug. 18. It covers the emotional aspects of caregiving and provides networking opportunities. Register at 833-262-2200 or [email protected].
Libraries
• Baldwin Public Library reopens July 6 for Grab & Go Service. Visitors to the library will be able to browse and check out materials, visitors are required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Visitors experiencing any COVID-19 related symptoms should not enter the Library. Occupancy is limited to 80 visitors. All study and meeting rooms are closed. Visitors are encouraged to use the contactless self-checkout stations, curbside pickup, automated return, and the library’s online resources. To place items on hold for curbside pickup along Bates Street, visit baldwinlib.org/curbsidepickup, 300 W. Merrill St.,Birmingham, 248-554-4682, www.baldwinlib.org.
• Berkley Public Library retooled its Summer Reading program to offer virtual programming this year, visit www.berkleymich.org/elibrary.
• Brandon Township Public Library in Ortonville added two more databases to its online eResources this spring, available to Brandon Township library cardholders. Visit “Storytime with Miss Fran” on Facebook for videos of Miss Fran reading children’s books.
• Ferndale Library’s Virtual Kids Summer Reading Challenge, Science Storytellers with scaly tales of fire-breathing dragons on July 18; a virtual Meet & Greet with Harry Potter on July 25, and a performance of Sleeping Beauty by the Black & Brown Theatre on Aug. 1. The library will host a virtual talent show for children ages 5+, on Aug. 8. Video submissions should be less than two minutes in length and be sent to [email protected] before Aug. 1.
• The Rochester Hills Public Library has resumed its normal operating hours with drive-thru service. It will reopen the building for Grab & Go Service, July 6, with occupancy limits and the requirement for patrons to wear face masks and practice social distancing. Grab & Go service allows visitors to browse the shelves and check out items to enjoy outside of the library. Visitors are encouraged to use the self-checkout stations and to continue using the library’s online resources, as well as its drive-thru services and automated return, 248-656-2900, rhpl.org.
• Salem-South Lyon District Library offers informational virtual presentations at the library’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ssldl or through Zoom after registering through the library’s website, www.ssldl.info. Recordings will be made available for future viewing on the South Lyon Community Television Channel and the library’s website. The Annual Summer Reading program is offered online, with activities and virtual services throughout the summer for all ages.
• While the Troy Public Library is closed, account holders can place holds on books and schedule curbside pickup, and access online resources including apps and platforms, such as OverDrive and Hoopla, that offer downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, movies, podcasts, music, eMagazines and eNewspapers. The library is using social media to collect letters and notes of encouragement to give to the medical community, and offers children of all ages video story times, how-to crafts and STEM projects, troypl.org, 248-524-3538.
Parks
• Independence Township Parks are open and playgrounds are open. Deer Lake Beach in Clarkston and the Spray Park at Clintonwood Park are open. Some programs and events, and all facility rentals have been suspended until further notice, www.twp.independence.mi.us/departments/parks_rec_and_seniors/index.php
• Southfield Parks and Recreation parks are open from dawn to dusk for individual fitness activities like walking or jogging, social distancing is encouraged, www.cityofsouthfield.com/departments/parks-recreation.
• The Splash Pad at Heritage Park, 24725 Farmington Road is open, at a limited capacity with social distancing. The park is open 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. with periodic closures for sanitizing and routine maintenance, www.fhgov.com/Activities/Parks-Facilities/Splash-Pad.aspx.
• Most Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas and campgrounds, DNR boating access sites and shooting ranges are open. Portable restrooms are at various locations. Fishing and hunting licenses are available for purchase online, www.michigan.gov/dnr. The Recreation Passport is now required, after being suspended the past three months to reduce interactions and risk of coronavirus.
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation parks and trails are open, OaklandCountyParks.com, 248-858-1400. July is Parks and Recreation Month. The county recommends safe practices such as social distancing, and to take along hand sanitizer. Portable restrooms are at various locations, which are listed on the website. Addison Oaks and Groveland Oaks offer camping. Individuals can launch their own kayak or non-powered watercraft at Addison Oaks County Park, Independence Oaks County Park and Orion Oaks County Park. Beaches at Independence Oaks and Groveland Oaks are open. The waterparks — Waterford Oaks Waterpark in Waterford and Red Oaks in Madison Heights, will remain closed this summer. Annual fireworks shows are canceled.
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation golf courses are open with restrictions. Golfers should bring their clubs, face masks and hand sanitizer. Pro shop and clubhouses will be closed to the public. No rental equipment is available. Tee times will be required for all golfers – no walk-ons accepted and the preferred use of credit cards to pay. Glen Oaks Golf Course in Farmington Hills, 248-851-8356 and White Lake Oaks Golf Course in White Lake, 248-698-2700, Lyon Oaks Golf Course in Lyon Township, Red Oaks Golf Course in Madison Heights and Springfield Oaks Golf Course in Davisburg. oaklandcountyparks.com.
• All 13 Huron-Clinton Metroparks remain open and the parks recently opened splash pads, campgrounds, farm centers, boat rentals, most playgrounds and some pools. Limited restrooms are open, www.metroparks.com. Additional precautions are in place and intermittent closures are possible to control potential overcrowding. Annual fireworks shows are canceled in all parks. Metroparks golf courses are now open with strict social distancing precautions in place, registration required for tee times, 1-800-234-6534, https://golf.metroparks.com/teetimes.
Senior activities
● JVS Human Services is hosting a virtual book club for senior citizens, supported by a grant from United Way Southeastern Michigan. The book club meets at 11 a.m. Wednesdays, via Zoom. Participants are to read the book and discuss in sections as they go along. The first book is “One Thousand White Women” by Jim Fergus. Subsequent books will be chosen with input from participants. The book club is facilitated by Debi Banooni, Director of Senior Adult Services at JVS. Other programs include a virtual exercise group, a Connections Group weekly meeting and a Caregiver Support Group. For information, email [email protected], or call 248-320-5417.
Sports
• Horse Dreamers, LLC presents a 4-day program for riders of varying ages at Horse Dreamers, LLC, 2453 Jossman Road, Holly, $300 per person, Springfield Township Parks & Recreation, register by July 6, at https://stpr.us.
Support activities
• The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, provides immediate crisis counseling to people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The helpline connects callers to trained professionals from the closest crisis counseling centers in the nationwide network of centers, http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifeline.org or text 741741.
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