The following groups hold self-help meetings in the area. For more information, call the numbers listed. Send new notices of self-help groups that meet regularly, and changes to notices already listed here, to hometown@adn.com. If your group is hosting a special speaker or workshop that is open to the public that you'd like listed in Community Datebook, fill out the online form at www.adn.com/help/v-events_submission.
Advanced Breast Cancer Group meets 7-9 p.m. the last Monday of the month in the Cancer Resource Center, Medical Office Building, B, Room 220, at Alaska Regional Hospital. (264-1579)
Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four As) provides free HIV testing, 3:30-6:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of every month in Suite 102, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane. Testing is done on a walk-in basis and is confidential. The Four As uses the OraQuick Rapid test, which produces results in 30 minutes. (263-2050, www.alaskanaids.org)
Alaskans for Better Care for Seniors, a citizen advocacy group that works to improve treatment of seniors in long-term care situations at assisted living and nursing homes, meets regularly. Call 441-1816 or 727-1168 for meeting time, date and location.
Abortion recovery support groups are conducted in a sharing, confidential atmosphere.Anchorage Crisis Pregnancy Center also offers free pregnancy testing and counseling. (337-9292)
Adoptive Parents Embracing Sanity, for parents of older children, meets upon request. (Joe or Mary, 243-6525,229-3807, sumoonshine@gci.net)
AhLAFska Club meets 6-7 p.m., Tuesdays and 12:30-1 p.m. Thursdays through Dec. 27, Alaska Regional Hospital, 2801 DeBarr Road, first floor library near the cafeteria. Explore laughter as a means of stress reduction. Free. (Jennifer, 350-8822, ahlafskaclub@yahoo.com, www.worldlaughtertour.com)
Alaska Center for Resource Families adoption support services program offers support for families who are parenting children through adoption or guardianship. (Elaine Cordova, 279-1820)
Alaska MS Center sponsors an Aquatic Therapy Program, 3-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10-11 a.m. Saturdays at Anchorage Community YMCA, 5353 Lake Otis Parkway. All people with multiple sclerosis invited. Free. (Val, 345-0552)
Alaska Womens Recovery Project offers gatherings for women recovering from alcohol and drug addiction, noon-1 p.m. Tuesdays and 6:30-8 p.m. Fridays, Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova St. (729-5090)
Alcoholics Anonymous groups meet daily. (272-2312, www.anchorageaa.org)
Al-Anon Family Groups, a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics, meet regularly statewide. (276-6646, www.al-anon-ak.org)
Alzheimers Resource Agency of Alaska offers support for care givers of persons with Alzheimers disease and related disorders: General Care Giver Group meets 10 a.m.-noon, first Thursday of the month and 6-7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month; Adult Child/Relative Care Giver Group, 10:30 a.m.-noon, second Thursday; Spousal Care Giver Group, 10 a.m.-noon, third Thursday. All groups meet at 1750 Abbott Road. A Memory Loss Support Group for people in the early stages of Alzheimers or other dementia also meets regularly, pre-registration is required, call Julie, 561-3313. An Eagle River support group meets 7-8:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month at Community Covenant Church, 16123 Artillery Road (Linda, 696-5497). Other support groups meet statewide, call 561-3313 for dates, times and locations. (www.alzalaska.org)
American Cancer Societys General Cancer Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Alaska Unique Gallery, 207 E. Northern Lights Blvd, Suite 112. Patients with any type of cancer at any stage, as well as their family and loved ones, are invited to share their experiences and concerns, and offer and receive support. Many other groups sponsored by the American Cancer Society also meet regulary, visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345 for information. (277-8696)
American Chronic Pain Association Alaska Chapter meets 2-3 p.m. every second Tuesday in Ivy Room 2 at Alaska Regional Hospital. Meetings are free and we welcome all who suffer from chronic pain and desire support and coping skills. E-mail: acpa49@yahoo.com.)
Anchorage Celiac/Gluten Intolerance Group meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Physicians Conference Room, Seventh floor at Alaska Regional Hospital. (Alison L. Smith, 346-1405; www.gigbranches.org/anchorage on the Web.)
Anchorage Double Trouble in Recovery, a 12-step recovery group for the dually-diagnosed, meets at 1:30 p.m. Sundays upstairs at the NAMI office, 144 W. 15th Ave. Members in this open fellowship band together with an open-minded understanding of each other. With honesty, we expose our problems and weaknesses. The humility we share shall never mask or cover the courage it takes to admit who and what we are. D.T.R. invites you to join us and continue or begin your mental, physical and spiritual recovery. (644-6219; e-mail www.doubletroubleinrecovery@hotmail.com.)
Anchorage Survivors of Suicide meets 7-9 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Alaska Police Chaplains Ministries office, 1805 Academy Drive. (272-3100)
Anchorage Womens Breast Cancer Support Group for women at any stage of survival meets 7-9 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the hospital auditorium at Providence Alaska Medical Center. (261-3607, www.alaskansites.com/awbcsg)
Art Start, part of the Art Venture Exploring Healing Through Art program at Providence Alaska Medical Center, offers free classes to individuals with cancer and their families and friends, 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. An art instructor leads a guided project using a variety of materials and techniques with the goal of introducing art as a method of self-expression. Call 743-2629 to register.
Arthritis Support and Education Group meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month September through May (no meetings during summer) at Chester Park Senior Housing Co-op, 2020 Muldoon Road. Free. (337-7202, rpelz34@acsalaska.net)
Art Venture Yoga classes for adult cancer patients meet 1-2:30 p.m. Sundays at Providence Alaska Medical. Learn yoga breathing techniques and simple stretches and poses to refresh and energize your daily life. No registration is necessary. A yoga mat is provided, please wear comfy clothing. Classes will be held every Sunday, Sept. 3-Dec. 17, except on Sept. 24 and Nov. 12. (743-2629)
Autism Support Group meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Anchor Park United Methodist Church, 2300 Oak Drive, in Anchorage. For directions, visit ; e-mail roark948@gci.net.
Blind & Low Vision Services support group meets 3-4:30 p.m. Thursdays, Consortium Library, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage campus. (Velvet Davis, 751-5118)
Blind and Visually Impaired support group for visually impaired seniors meets at noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 3903 Taft Drive. Family and friends welcome, bring a bag lunch if desired. (248-7770)
Cancer's Intimate Partners, for spouses and partners of cancer patients, meets 9-10:30 a.m. the third Sunday of every month in the Cancer Therapy Department at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Meetings focus on how cancer impacts couples at all stages. Learn practical tips for managing doctor apointments and treatments, coping with anxiety and uncertainty, handling household responsibilities and child care, and intimacy and communication.(Elise J. Strauss, 261-3077)
Caregiver Connection, a program of Salvation Army Serendipity Adult Day Services, links families caring for a loved one at home with community resources. (279-0501)
Casting for Recovery, a program administered by YWCA Anchorage, provides free fly-fishing retreats specifically tailored for women who have or have had breast cancer. Through these retreats, Casting For Recovery seeks to enhance the lives of breast cancer survivors by supporting their mental, emotional and physical healing. Why fly-fishing? The rhythm of casting the line and being in a natural setting relieves everyday stress and provides a sense of calm. Casting For Recovery is offered at no cost to survivors. This year's retreat will take place July 28-30 at the LaVerne Griffin Youth Camp in Wasilla. To sign up, call 644-9621.
Celebrate Recovery Alaska meets 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, Room 207, Anchorage Baptist Temple, 6401 E. Northern Lights Blvd. Mens groups: drug and alcohol recovery, anger resolution, sexual addiction. Womens groups: drug and alcohol, anger resolution, abuse issues, eating disorders. The Partners in Progress group offers help for wives of men recovering from sexual addiction, and DivorceCare, Griefshare and depression groups are available for couples. (Pastor Tony Smith, 333-6535, www.recoveryabt.org)
Compulsive Thinking & Addiction Release through Being & Inquiry Support Group meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays at The A.T.O.M. Center, 4025 Raspberry. The group supports freedom from the ravages of compulsive thinking and addiction through the practices of Being (Present in the Now) and the Work of Inquiry. Based on the works of Eckhart Tolle and Byron Katie. (Warren, 764-6089, strong4man@gmail.com)
Cuddlers Group, offered by the Parenting with Providence program, meets noon-1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays in the Maternity Center, Providence Alaska Medical Center. New parents and trained facilitators discuss infant development, feeding, sleeping, adjusting to the new role of being a parent and other topics.Looks good! Cuddlers also meets on Saturdays. Parenting with Providence also offers a Tiny Cuddles support group for parents of babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and graduates of NICU, a Double Cuddles group for parents with twins, and Cruisers, for mobile babies ages 9-18 months. (Jennifer Aist, 261-3062)
Diabetes Education Group meets 7-9 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at the Anchorage Senior and Activity Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave. Sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. (272-1424, www.diabetes.org)
Divorce Care/Divorce Care for Kids, 4-6 p.m., Saturdays, Sept. 15-Dec. 8, 2007, Muldoon Community Assembly, 7041 DeBarr Road. Support groups for ages 5-12 and adults going through separation or divorce. Registration required. (Divorce Care, 338-6777; Divorce Care for Kids, 529-1059; www.mcaonline.org)
DivorceCare: Divorce recovery support group meets 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Trinity Christian Reformed Church, 3000 E. 16th Ave. (272-8431, www.divorcecare.com)
DivorceCare: Find help at DivorceCare, a weekly seminar and support group for people who are separated or divorced, 7 p.m. Thursdays at Life Church (formerly the First United Pentecostal Church), 12245 Jerome St. on Huffman Road and Jerome Street. Call 382-2273 or 345-3749 for more information.
Divorce/Broken Relationship Care Recovery Group, meets 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 19, Anchorage Vineyard Church, 1800 W. 48th Ave., Suite G. Cost, $20/one-time fee. (248-8463, www.akvineyard.org)
Emotions Anonymous, a fellowship of people who share their experiences, strengths and hopes in order to come to a common understanding of day-to-day emotional struggles, meets 7 p.m. Thursdays at the VA Domiciliary, 3001 C St. (George, 770-1119, emotanon@yahoo.com)
Endometriosis Support Group meets at 6:45 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the Community Room at the Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center, Mile 2.2 Old Glenn Highway in Eagle River. This group offers support for teen and adult women diagnosed with endometriosis in a sharing atmosphere. (Melanie, 522-7047, Anchorage; or Anna, 1-907-841-1544, Mat-Su valleys)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Family Support Project: Parents and caregivers of children with FASD are invited to monthly Parent Education Group (PEG) support meetings. Meetings are held 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. the third Monday of each month (except holidays) during the school year at Stone Soup Group, 3350 Commercial Drive, Suite 100. Bring a bag lunch and join others for information sharing, support and review of new resource materials. Child care is not available, but there is fun toy box and crafts to occupy children. For more information, call Cheri Scott at Stone Soup Group, 561-3701. (www.stonesoupgroup.org)
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous meets from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. every Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, 2100 Boniface Parkway. If you are having trouble controlling the way you eat due to food obsession, overeating, under-eating or bulimia, this free 12-step recovery program can help. (561-5660, 1-781-321-9118, www.foodaddicts.org.)
Forget-Me-Not Grief Program for children, teens, and the adults who love them meets 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Children meet in age-appropriate groups led by trained facilitators for sharing and activities. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. An adult support group is available while childrens groups are in session. (561-5322, www.hospiceofanchorage.org)
Grief Groups: Denali Home Health & Hospice hosts the following self-help groups 6:30-8 p.m. at 3935 Reka Drive: Grief Group for Adults - Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28. Men's Grief Group: October 3, 10, 17, 24. Please register by calling 272-1275. There is no cost to attend.
Grief Share Recovery ministry, 7 p.m. Thursdays, Anchorage Baptist Temple, 6401 Northern Lights Blvd. (Pastor Tony Smith, 333-6535)
Head Injury Support Group meets 6-8 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Access Alaska, 121 W. Fireweed Lane. (248-4777)
Healing Journey Support Group for women whose lives have been impacted by addictions or substance abuse in their families meets 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Faith Christian Community Lakeside Campus. $12. (243-1777)
Homicide Grief Support Group, 7 p.m. first Thursday, Victims for Justice office, 1057 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 101. (278-0977)
ICD Support Group for people with implantable cardioverter defibrillators meets 6-7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every other month in the Heart Center Conference Room at Providence Alaska Medical Center. (Cinthia Decker, R.N., 261-3664)
Infinite Way Study Group offers instruction in contemplation and meditation for healing and regeneration, 1:30 Saturdays at Atom Center, 4025 Raspberry Road. For more information, call Georgene O'Leary at 522-0508 or e-mail iwayak@gci.net.)
Laryngectomy Support Group meets regularly, call 349-8493 for information.
La Leche League of Anchorage offers breast-feeding support and information. (644-0555, www.lalecheleague.org.)
Lost & Found Grief Self Help Group, for men, women and teens who have lost a loved one under any circumstances, is led by a counselor certified in thanotology, the study of death, dying and grief. Discover how men and women grieve differently. The group meets 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, in the State Farm Insurance Co. office on the fourth floor of the Wells Fargo building, 301 W. Northern Lights Blvd. (Fred Kehl, 345-2525)
Lupus Foundation of America Alaska chapter offers a monthly support group and quarterly educational seminars. (338-6332, toll-free 1-800-307-5878)
Macular Degeneration support group, Anchorage Senior Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave. (Joyce, 258-7823)
Mended Hearts, affiliated with the American Heart Association, is a national nonprofit organization offering the gift of hope to heart patients, their families and caregivers for more than 50 years. The local chapter No. 290 trains volunteers who are heart patients to visit heart patients at Alaska Regional Hospital, Providence Alaska Medical Center and the Alaska Native Medical Center. Experienced heart patients share ways to successfully manage disease with new heart patients. The chapter invites any heart patient, family member or caregiver to visit patients. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the American Heart Association Building, 1057 W. Fireweed lane. Each month a guest speaker discusses health issues, medications, insurance and living wills. The local chapter also has a new group, Mended Little Hearts, that offers support to children who have undergone any type of heart-related surgeries and their parents. (Phyllis, 727-8439)
Menopause Sanctuary for women experiencing peri-menopause or menopause. Increase awareness and acceptance through movement, meditation and writing. Cost is $125 for the six-week program offered in Anchorage and the Valley. (1-907-376-1306, www.onyxcommunications.com)
Multiple Myeloma Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. the third Monday of every month at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain St. (344-9130)
Narconon offers an onsite counselor for people struggling with drug addiction. Call 1-800-556-8885 toll-free for help.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Anchorage offers numerous groups that meet at 144 W. 15th Ave.: Adult Consumer Support Meeting, 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 11:30 p.m. Saturdays; General Support Meeting for Families and Friends, 7 p.m. every second Tuesday; General Education Meeting, 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday, September through May. All groups are confidential. All held at 144 W. 15th Ave. (272-0027)
Narcotics Anonymous groups meet regularly in Anchorage (277-5483) and Wasilla (1-907-352-3733).
National Multiple Sclerosis Society self-help group meets noon-2 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at Access Alaska, 121 W. Fireweed Lane. (562-7347)
Neuropathy Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at Anchorage Senior Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave. (345-2885)
Nicotine Anonymous meets 7-8 p.m. Thursdays in the Fireweed Room, Alaska Native Medical Center, 4315 Diplomacy Drive. (Deanne, 333-2890)
Nicotine Anonymous meets noon-1 p.m. Tuesdays at Cook Inlet Tribal Council, 670 W. Fireweed Lane. (Heidi, 345-5864, 243-4215)
No Empty Nest Support Group for grandparents raising grandchildren meets 6:30-8 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month at Volunteers of America, 1675 C St. Suite 201. (522-9866, grands@voaak.org)
Overeaters Anonymous group meets regularly (279-1942).
Parents Anonymous groups hosted by Parents Inc. offer help to families who want to improve relationships, held at various times and locations, call 337-7678 for information.
Parents Reaching Out, for those who have experienced the death of a baby, meets 7-9 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month at Zion Lutheran Church, 2100 Boniface Parkway. (273-5409; Lisa Fleischer, 274-7029; 1-907-373-2536 in the Valley; www.parentsreachingout.net)
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 2311 Pembroke St. (566-1813)
Parkinson's Disease Support Group, Anchorage chapter, meets at 1 pm every third Saturday of the month at the Anchorage Senior and Activity Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave. The curious can call 346-3776. Occasional Web postings can be found at alaskaparkinson.livejournal.com. (344-2071)
Partners In Survival offers educational workshops designed, developed, and facilitated by Men Against Breast Cancer in conjunction with physicians, social workers who specialize in breast cancer education, health care professionals, and breast cancer patients and family members. Partners In Survival's goal is to provide information and education in a manner that breast cancer patients and their partners find easy to use and apply to their lives so that they can more effectively manage the breast cancer crisis. Free workshops are open to the public and are supported by a grant from Breast Cancer Focus Inc., and the support of AVANTE Medical Center.(1-907-332-6222, or toll-free, 1-800-331-6222; www.menagainstbreastcancer.org.)
Pregnancy Testing and Pregnancy Option Counseling, is offered 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday at CPC Pregnancy Center, 2902 Boniface Parkway, Suite 200. All services are free and confidential through this nonprofit organization that helps women and their families who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy. The following services are available: pregnancy tests, limited obstetrical ultrasound, pregnancy options counseling, earn-while-you-learn educational incentive program (maternity clothes, baby supplies and parenting classes), childbirth education classes, community referrals for medical care, legal assistance and housing, and a 24-hour hot line 1-800-508-HOPE.
People First of Anchorage, a self-advocacy group for people with disabilities, meets 5:15-7:15 p.m. on the first and third Mondays through December, 2007, at Access Alaska, 121 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 120. Free. (Rusty, 263-1915)
Pills Anonymous, for people addicted to prescription medications, meets 3-4:30 p.m. Sundays at Dry Dock, 8141 Briarwood St.; and 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Zion Lutheran Church, 2100 Boniface Parkway. (770-7848)
Pregnancy Testing by appointment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays, Midwives Birth Center, 1108 E. Northern Lights Boulevard, Suite C. Free. (349-3054)
Prodigals of Anchorage offers support groups for people with sexual addictions: mens group, 7-9 p.m Mondays; womens group, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays; Partners in Progress, for spouses of sex addicts, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays. All held at 2518 E. Tudor Road, Suite 202. (men, 884-6044; women, 440-0948)
Project Rachel Healing and Reconciliation offers individual and group support for abortion loss. Free and confidential. (Archdiocese of Anchorage, Pam, 297-7781; toll-free, 1-866-434-3344)
Providence Grief Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. the third Monday of every month in the Aspen Room at Providence Alaska Medical Center. (261-2990)
Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group meets 1-2:30 p.m. the fourth Saturday of every month at the Anchorage Senior Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave. For more information, call Joan Rupert, 349-1364, e-mail jrupert1@webtv.net or visit the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Web site at www.PHAssociation.org
Reiki Healing Circles meet 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 2824 Kimberlie Court, off 42nd Street at Lake Otis Parkway and Tudor Road. Students of all Usui degrees are welcome to this free group facilitated by Heidi Gates. (250-4655)
RITE Inc. offers meetings for substance abusers, noon Mondays and Thursdays, at 307 E. Northern Lights Boulevard, Suite 201. (562-7483)
Self Help for Hard of Hearing support group meets regularly. (Lynne, 777-0306)
Sexaholics Anonymous Anchorage is a 12-step group that uses Alcoholics Anonymous principles to help people recover from sexual addiction in all its forms, including promiscuity, internet pornography and dependency relationships. The group meets 6-7 p.m. Thursdays and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, call 677-0880, e-mail sa_anchorage@yahoo.com or visit www.sa.org for a location and more information.
Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Abuse welcomes men and women over the age of 18 at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of every month at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain St. (April, 338-7777; Kathryn, 339-4805)
Survivors of Sexuality, for those who have been sexually assaulted or abused and their loved ones, holds a potluck the last Saturday of each month. Learn about preventative measures, existing law and its effectiveness, and ways to persuade lawmakers to pass new laws. Learn to smile again. Call Kathryn, 337-7710.
The Compassionate Friends, for parents who have lost a child of any age through death, meets 6:30-8 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month in Building D, Providence Alaska Medical Center. (248-1063)
Transgender Support Group, 7-9 p.m. every Friday, Gay and Lesbian Community Center,336 E. Fifth Ave. A nontherapeutic, peer support group for those who think they are transgender, female to male, male to female, surgical or nonsurgerical, any stage. Partners, family members and friends are welcome. Sponsored by Identity Inc. Free. (929-4528)
Transplant Recipient Resource Group provides education and mutual support for organ transplant recipients and those awaiting transplants, 1:30-3 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Dennys Restaurant, 2900 Denali St. Sponsored by Life Alaska Donor Services. Free. (Linda, 562-5433; www.lifealaska.org)
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), is an international nonprofit weight-control organization with more than 240,000 members in 11,000 chapters worldwide. Its program is based on a combination of group dynamics, competition, recognition, and a medical orientation. For more information about local TOPS groups, call Linda Beyer at 441-0924 or visit www.topsalaska.com. The national Web site can be found at www.tops.org. Local TOPS groups meet as follows:
- ANCHORAGE
- 6:307:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1612 Oceanview Drive
- 7:00-8 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 3230 Lake Otis Parkway
- 9:3010:30 a.m. Wednesdays, First Christian Church at 3031 LaTouche Street
- 7:008:00 p.m. Wednesdays, First Christian Church at 3031 LaTouche
- 12:001:00 p.m. Thursdays, Chester Park Condos at 2020 Muldoon Road
- CHUGIAK
- 7:008:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Chugiak Baptist Church at 24007 Ski Road
- 10:0011:00 a.m. Wednesdays, Birchwood Community Church at 22208 Birchwood Loop Road Room B7
- WASILLA
- 10:0011:00 a.m. Tuesdays, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 501 E Bogard Road
- 5:306:30 p.m. Thursdays, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1201 Bogard Rd Old Church
UsToo, a local group of prostate cancer survivors that promotes education and offers support, meets on the third Thursday of the month at various locations. (Hot line, 263-2042; www.ustoo.ak.org, www.prostate-ak.org)
Widowed Persons Service (WPS) group sessions are held at 1:30 p.m. the first and third Sundays of each month at the Anchorage Senior Center, 1300 E. 19th Ave. Group sessions are open to all grieving persons, regardless of the length of time from their loss. There is nothing to join or fees to pay. We are individuals who have lost a spouse or partner and understand your pain from our own experience. We listen to your concerns and offer support and information to help you through this painful time. (243-5826)
Widowed Young Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 3230 Lake otis Parkway. Free. (563-4280)
Women Supporting Women in Recovery, for those recovering from alcohol and drug addiction, meets at noon Tuesdays at Central Lutheran Church, 1420 Cordova St. Sponsored by the Alaska Womens Recovery Project. (729-5090)
YWCA ENCOREplus Breast Cancer Support Group meets 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays, October through May. Women recovering from breast cancer meet in a supportive atmosphere to share their concerns, offer and receive emotional and social support, and learn exercises to strengthen the pectoral, arm, shoulder and back muscles. YWCA ENCOREplus provides breast and cervical cancer outreach, education and referral to lo-wcost or free screening services throught the State of Alaska Breast & Cervical HealthCheck program, along with free transportation and interpreting. Call 644-9621 or e-mail lchavez@ywcaak.org)
for more information or to sign up for the 2006-2007 season.You Are Not Alone support group, 7-9 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, South Anchorage Assembly, 12101 Brayton Drive. Sponsored by Alaska Suicide Prevention Action Coalition. Free. (348-0650)
IN THE VALLEY
Alzheimers Resource Agency of Alaska support group for care givers of persons with Alzheimers disease and related disorders meets noon-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Alzheimers Resource Agency, Trinity Barn Plaza, Mile 2.2 Palmer-Wasilla Highway (746-3413).
La Leche League of Mat-Su Valley meets at 11 a.m. on the third Tuesday and 7:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of every month, Classroom B, Valley Hospital Medical Center in Wasilla. Expectant and new mothers are welcome to get breastfeeding information, encouragement and support. (892-8848, manykids_7@yahoo.com)
Mat-Su Grief Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Trinity Barn Plaza at Mile 2.2 Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one through death is invited. (Pat Karella, 1-907-352-4809)
Mat-Su Parkinson Disease Support Group offers interactive, educational programming on Parkinsons disease, 1-2 p.m. on the third Monday of each month except December in Room FSM-109 at Mat-Su College. A support group meeting follows the Parkinsons Telehealth Program presentations. (Lory Jimenez-Betts, 1-907-373-5679, 232-0187)
Mat-Su Suicide Survivors Group meets 6:30-8 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Burchell High School, 1775 W. Parks Highway. (1-907-376-4983, 1-907-373-5097)
Mat-Su US Too Chapter, a prostate cancer support group, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month in Classroom B, Valley Hospital Medical Center, Wasilla. (1-907-746-0384)
Project Rachel, a grief support group for women who are suffering from after-abortion loss, will begin group sessions in Wasilla in mid-June. If you are sad after your abortion or know of someone who is, please call Karen at 1-907-232-6416, or call toll-free 1-866-434-3344 for more information. The group is free and confidential.
