Bits of Business | Center for the Performing Arts, PAWS team up to collect donations for dogs and cats in need

Dogs provide plenty of entertainment, but people can, too.

Those two worlds have collided, sort of, because the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State teamed up with Centre County PAWS to collect new and gently used items to help dogs and cats in need.

Items will be accepted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 18 at the Eisenhower Auditorium and can be dropped off in the Eisenhower lobby or when attending these performances: Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, Oct. 7; The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Oct. 13; and “Clifford the Big Red Dog Live!,” Oct. 18.

Recommended donation items include canned dog and puppy food, Royal Canin dry dog and puppy food, plastic squeaky toys and large and extra-large Nylabones.

Cats need canned cat and kitten food, Royal Canin dry cat and kitten food, Cat Pill Pockets, scoopable unscented cat litter, cat beds, Stretch & Scratchers, stainless steel litter boxes, Snuggle Safe heat disks, baby wipes and Hartz kitten bottles.

The shelter needs trash bags — 13-, 33- and 55-gallon sizes, plastic zipper bags, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper, liquid dishwasher detergent, high-efficiency laundry detergent, liquid bleach, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, liquid hand soap and white copy paper.

Making the community more Alzheimer’s friendly

Home Instead Senior Care’s State College office serving central Pennsylvania recently launched a campaign designed to make the community more Alzheimer’s friendly.

The program, called Alzheimer’s Friendly Business, will offer free training by Home Instead to local businesses, “to help equip employees with information and resources needed to welcome families who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” according to a release.

“For many caregivers, the unpredictable nature of the disease can make going out in public with their loved one intimidating,” Home Instead owner Ron Krasnansky said. “Our research shows that family caregivers might be reluctant to frequent public places because of the behaviors that could be associated with the disease.”

In an April survey by Home Instead, 74 percent of Alzheimer’s caregivers reported that they and their loved ones feel more isolated from the community due to the disease, and 85 percent felt a reduced quality of life as a result of feeling isolated.

Businesses can work directly with the local Home Instead to coordinate in-person training or participate in an interactive, online version of the training available at AlzheimersFriendlyBusiness.com.

Businesses will receive a window cling with the Alzheimer’s Friendly Business designation, which will be valid for two years.

Company gets a remake

If you see the sign at your local MedExpress coming down, don’t fret.

They’re just getting an updated look.

MedExpress centers in State College, Johnstown and Altoona will get a new exterior soon, complete a prominent, newly designed “ME” logo, according to a release.

“We’re excited to unveil the new look and logo to central Pennsylvania,” MedExpress Chief Marketing Officer Julie Penn said.

“Evolving the outside of our centers to showcase a brand that better reflects our warm and welcoming interiors is just an extension of our patient-centric approach. While the exteriors of our centers are changing, our dedication to providing convenient access to high-quality health care remains unchanged.”

Construction will last several weeks, but centers will remain open throughout renovations.

Fuel bank to hold seminar

If you need help with heating costs this winter, someone might be able to help.

The Centre County Fuel Bank will hold an informational class at Grace United Methodist Church in Philipsburg. The class will be at noon Friday.

The class will go over how to make your home more energy-efficient and how to budget for fuel costs. For more information, contact the Centre County Fuel Bank at Interfaith Human Services at 234-7731 or www.ihs-centre county.org.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 2:22 AM with the headline "Bits of Business | Center for the Performing Arts, PAWS team up to collect donations for dogs and cats in need."