Chamber Chat: June 23

Spotlight makes a difference

Corning Chamber of Commerce is spotlighting River Valley Community Outreach Center, 390 Virginia St. in Gridley. The center has been in business for one year and joined the Corning Chamber in January.

The center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization formed by Mark Miller, a former Corning resident, to help connect people and organizations with surplus building materials and household items to help rebuild, repair, and restore buildings and homes.

According to Miller, their goal is to find companies that manufacture building materials, tools, supplies and related products that have a need to dispose of overstock, slow-moving, obsolete or off-spec (usable) products that can be donated at a substantial tax credit to the donor.

The center then re-distributes these materials to families and individuals who have a need for them, and who could otherwise not afford them.

"This is true recycling; we keep the materials out of the landfill at the same time helping the donor company go green and recycle the materials," said Miller. "Then we get the materials to people who really need them and who otherwise could not afford them, and we do this, not for profit, but for the benefit of all people. By upgrading the homes and buildings in our communities with these materials, we increase the property value and enhance the appearance."

In turn, Miller added, this also makes homes more energy efficient and thus conserves energy while lowering the family's bills, making the whole transaction a true win-win solution on all levels.

The center has new materials available such as windows, cabinets, sinks, toilets, floor tile, wall tile, tile set materials, caulking, cement backer board, fiberglass panels and more. These are all for the price of a donation, a tenth or a twentieth of retail price.

RVCOC has no paid employees at this time but they have five dedicated part-time volunteers and over 230 members that owe 12 hours volunteer time per year.

The center plans to seek out single parents, widows, disabled, veterans, and other underresourced families and individuals to help them with needed repairs by donating their materials and the time to install windows, tile, cabinets, sinks and whatever other help they may need.

The center's Grand Opening is from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10, and there will be free food music, prizes, a jump house and all new materials for the price of a donation. Details: 701-4462.

Cool off with ice cream

An ice cream social is being hosted at 7 p.m. Friday, June 25, by the El Camino United Methodist Church, 8345 Highway 99W, in Gerber. There will be homemade ice cream, desserts and music. All are invited to come out and have an enjoyable evening.

Taking care of stray dogs

Music for Mutts is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 26, at Northside Park, 1400 block of Colusa Street. This is Second Chance Pet Rescue's third year to hold the fundraiser; this year, celebrating eight years of caring for the dogs at the Corning Animal Shelter.

"The Blackketter Brothers Band" will be donating their time playing rock, blues and oldies music. There will also be raffle which includes prizes such as two I-pods, a Tom Tom GPS and a portable DVD player. Bring lawn chairs, sunscreen, picnic lunch and the kids, and plan for a fun time at the park.

Information submitted by Valanne Cardenas, manager of the Corning Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at 824-5550 or corningchamber@sbcglobal.net.