An ounce of prevention

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure with cold and flu viruses hitting the area so hard this year it is a good idea to stop any preventable illness from starting.
Frequent hand washing and using bleach products around the house is a good place to start.
The Grain Valley School District’s Health Services Department is sponsoring a health fair Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon, which will be held at the high school in the commons area. The fair will include the opportunity to receive a personal health screening.
A variety of information booths will be set up with something for every member of the family. This event is free and open to the public. Grain Valley High School is located at 551 SW Eagles Pkwy.

Hunger a scary issue
“What’s for dinner?”It’s a question asked every day in American homes. Not knowing the answer can be more frightening than seeing a ghost on Halloween night.
Many are aware of the hunger issue plaguing the country. Grain Valley has not been exempt from this widespread problem. Each year the requests for assistance multiply.
“We have seen an increase in need for assistance again over this last year,” Grain Valley Assistance Council’s Lisa Limberg shared.
We are fortunate to get so much support from the community like those at OOIDA, area schools, the Chamber of Commerce, Bank of Grain Valley, Optimist and many others are also stepping up to fill in the empty gaps.
Each year the Grain Valley Assistance Council holds several pre-holiday fundraising events in hopes of filling the pantry shelves with a surplus of food and creating extra revenue for programs that help deserving individuals’ and families enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas a little more.
The Haunted Hayride will be held Thursday, October 29, from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m., and is a perfect opportunity for everyone to get out with other members of the community and have fun while helping raise funds for the Grain Valley Assistance Council.
Cash prizes for costume contests. Ages: infant to 4-year-olds judged at 7:30, 5-8 year-olds at 8 and 9-12 judging at 8:30 p.m.
The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for children under 12 years old. Bring in a nonperishable food item and receive $1 discount off admission which includes a hot dog, chips a drink and of course a hayride through the haunted fair grounds.
Saturday, November 7 from 4-7 p.m., the annual Auction and Chili Supper will be held at Grain Valley High School.
Enjoy a fun-filled evening with other community members bidding on one of kind items that have been donated for the auction, including a hand-made quilt, gift baskets, and original art pieces.
Silent auction tables open at 4 and the live auction starts at 5 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12 and includes a bowl of chili or soup, drink, and dessert. 
GVAC helps those in need throughout the year but extra means are needed during the winter months.
Show your support by attending the Haunted Hayride and Chili Supper.