Community briefs for May 18

Contributed Reports
Posted 5/18/23

Community briefs for May 18, 2023.

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Community briefs for May 18

Posted

Fort Bend County honors COVID-19 frontline workers and pandemic partners as global health emergency ends

Fort Bend County Judge KP George and the Fort Bend County Department of Health and Human Services recognized nearly 50 individuals and organizations at a May 11 at the historic Fort Bend County Courthouse for their contributions in the fight against COVID-19.

“The ceremony was an opportunity to recognize and thank those who have gone above and beyond to help our community during our time of challenge,” George said. “These individuals and organizations made a significant difference in our fight against COVID-19, and we are grateful for their dedication and hard work.”

Early last week, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 was no longer a global health emergency, marking a turning point in the ongoing battle against the pandemic.

The honorees received certificates of appreciation for their support. George referenced the immense loss and hardship many people faced during the pandemic. He said on March 4, 2021, the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Texas was reported in Fort Bend County. However, since that time. Fort Bend County has the eighth-highest coronavirus vaccination rate in Texas.

The honorees included Child Advocates of Fort Bend, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Access Health, The American Legion Raymond Freeman Post 942, FBC Fire Marshall, Fort Bend County Girls and Boys Club Richmond, Friendship Community Bible Church, Houston Food Bank, Houston Methodist Hospital Sugar Land, and others. For the full list of honorees, visit the website FBCTX.gov.

Westside Community Leos charter party set for May 21

The Katy Lions Club announces the start of a new Leos club, and will celebrate with a charter party.

The Katy Lions Club sponsors the Leo Club, which is comprised of students ages 12-17. Leos, as they are called, perform community activities similar to Lions Club members.

The charter party is set for 1-3 p.m. May 21 at the Pattison Volunteer Fire Department, 2950 FM 359, in Pattison. For more information, email Nancy Chesbro at lionnancy@katylions.org.

Fulshear Katy Area Chamber of Commerce Health & Business Expo set for May 26

The Fulshear Katy Chamber of Commerce will hold a health and business expo from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. May 26 at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 4310 Highway 36 South in Rosenberg.

The “conFUNcation,” as the promoters call it, enables vendors to showcase their businesses to over 5,000 purchasing decision makers from the Lamar Consolidated ISD and local community.

For more information, contact the chamber at 832-600-3221.

Fort Bend County Libraries to offer amnesty period for overdue items

Fort Bend County Libraries will offer an amnesty period May 15-June 19; during this time, late fees for overdue items will be waived. Fines for overdue items that are returned—during this period only—will be waived.

Outstanding fees that were assessed for items previously thought to be lost, but which have been found, will be waived if the item is returned to the library—either inside or in the outside book drop.

Fines on overdue items returned before this amnesty period, fees for items not returned and fees for damaged items will not be waived during the amnesty period.

The regular late-fee schedule will resume June 20.

For more information, visit the website fortbend.lib.tx.us.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards $3,000 to Neighborhood Kidz Club of Katy

Neighborhood Kidz Club of Katy has received a $3,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The grant is part of more than $840,000 in literacy grants to Texas nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools. The funds are part of the foundation’s historical, one-day literacy donation of more than $13 million throughout the 47 states in which Dollar General operates to support adult, family and summer literacy programs.

“It is a joy to celebrate this historic grant announcement during our 30th anniversary year,” Denine Torr, Dollar General Literacy Foundation executive director, said. “For three decades, the foundation’s investment in community programs has created meaningful access to literacy skills for adults, children and families alike and exemplified Dollar General’s mission of serving others. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity and access to a quality education, and we look forward to seeing these literacy grants inspire reading and build brighter futures.”

To see a complete list of grant recipients, visit the website dgliteracy.org. Grants awarded to Texas organizations are expected to positively impact the lives of more than 51,000 individuals.

Fort Bend County, Westside Community Leos, Fulshear Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, Fort Bend County Libraries, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Neighborhood Kidz Club of Katy