Neighborhood news: NVCC offers tax preparation help

With the economy being what it is today here is a program that many of us will be able to take advantage of, but hurry -- appointments will fill up fast. Families and individuals with maximum incomes of $42,000 can get free tax preparation help at the Woodbridge Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

The volunteer tax preparers are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Tax preparers will be available on March 7, 14 and 28. Call 703-878-5684 to make an appointment.

Scouts sponsor Red Cross blood drive March 7

Girl Scout Troop 3838 will sponsor a blood drive March 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the River Oaks Community Center. Donors are encouraged to call 1-800-GiveLife to set up an appointment.

Further information about the blood donation process, as well as a listing of donor centers and upcoming blood drives, is available online at www.my-redcross.org. Donors must be 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent and must weigh at least 110 pounds, in general good health, have not received a tattoo within the past year, and have not donated in the last 56 days. Most people can be blood donors, but only 5 percent of the eligible population actually donates!

Pajama Party gala for Red Cross scheduled

The Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross will also hold its 10th Annual March is Red Cross Month Celebration Pajama Party Gala on March 28 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Heritage Hunt Country Club. There will be a reception, dinner, dancing, silent auction and music by JJDJ Entertainment. The event will also feature a raffle with a grand prize of a six-day Bahamas cruise.

The attire for this event is your favorite jammies or comfy clothes. Individual tickets are $100 per person. There is an early bird special of $95 per person. Early bird reservations and payment are due by March 3. For more information, call 703-368-4511, Ext. 227 or e-mail to deborahc@pwarc.org.

Contact me

To have your Dumfries/Triangle/Quantico information in this column, please send it to me by the Sunday before publication to PN@CathyCowger.com.

Cathy Cowger reports your neighborhood news from the Dumfries area every Thursday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to Cathy at pn@CathyCowger.com.