The Collaboration of Caring Communities will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at Manna Soup Kitchen, 1100 Avenida del Sol.

The CCC is a grass-roots group comprised of local government agencies, nonprofits and faith-based organizations working together to meet needs better.

Thursday’s meeting will focus on a community education presentation about the Thrive! livable-wage coalition that encourages all workers be paid a livable wage. Meeting attendees will also have an opportunity to tour Manna’s new facilities, learn about valuable community resource updates and network with one another about programs.

For more information, contact Eve Presler by email at [email protected].

Dates set for 2014 Eat Local Celebration

Local First will sponsor the fourth annual Eat Local Celebration, scheduled for Sept. 11 through Oct. 6.

Events will include a “Meet the Farmers” evening, a tour of greenhouses and Apple Days. Many local eateries will highlight local food on their menus.

To add your event to the mix, call 799-6618.

Durango Mall to donate to education foundation

The Durango Mall, 800 S. Camino del Rio, is partnering with the Durango Education Foundation in support of Back to School for children in our community.

Participating Durango Mall merchants will be handing out a wooden token to shoppers who make a purchase of $40 or more. The tokens are deposited into a box in the Mall commons area.

From now through Aug. 17, the Durango Mall will donate $1 for each coin collected and donate that amount to the foundation. The goal is to raise $1,000 for this cause. As a thank you for participating, token contributors can enter to win one of several prizes being given away.

For more information, visit www.durangomall.net or www.durangoeducationfoundation.org.

Adaptive Sports seeks auction items

Every October, the Adaptive Sports Association celebrates a “Harvest Gala,” inviting businesses and individuals to join a fun-filled evening that helps finance equipment, training and the many scholarships that provide independence and success for athletes with disabilities. Community members are asked to consider helping the association with donations for the live and silent auctions that fund the program.

To make donations and commitments, contact Tim Kroes or Lee Hagar at 259-0374 or visit www.asadurango.com.

Preservation lecture on food offered Aug. 21

The Colorado State University La Plata County Extension Office will offer “Preserving Your Bounty,” a food preservation lecture Aug. 21 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Building, Florida Room, 2500 Main Ave. Choose either the 2 to 4 p.m. class or the 6 to 8 p.m. class.

Wendy Rice, registered dietitian, will teach you how to can it, dry it and freeze it. Fruits, vegetables, jams, salsa and pickles will be discussed. There will be demonstrations from two Master Food Safety Advisors. Handouts will also be available.

The cost is $15. The deadline to register and pay is Aug. 18. To register, contact Rice at 382-6463 or stop by the Extension office.

Herald Staff