Jumpstart January

WILLMAR — Jumpstart January with Health Habits will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Willmar Community Center. There will be speakers from Carris Health, Club Bethesda and Kandiyohi-Renville County Public Health and information from Willmar Parks and Recreation. Learn about nutrition, exercise and how to achieve your new year goals.

Insurance counseling

WILLMAR — Trained staff and volunteers with Senior LinkAge Line are available to help answer questions and provide assistance with Medicare, supplemental insurance, long-term care insurance, prescription drugs, forms and more. Counseling is free and confidential. Walk-ins are welcome. Upcoming dates are 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 14 and Jan. 28, consumer health library at Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar.

Senior LinkAge Line

Older adults can contact the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 to receive help with questions involving Medicare and health insurance, help finding services to stay in your home or help if you can’t afford your medication. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Be sure to have a complete list of prescription drugs and dosages when you call.

The Senior LinkAge Line is a free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging. The Senior LinkAge Line is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol for Minnesota. Specialists provide one-to-one assistance with all Medicare and health insurance issues. Live chat with a specialist also can be accessed online at www.MinnesotaHelp.info ..

Immunization clinic

WILLMAR — Kandiyohi County Public Health will hold a walk-in immunization clinic from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 and Jan. 27, Suite 1080 at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, 2200 23rd St. N.E., in Willmar. No appointment is needed.

All childhood vaccinations are available. An administration fee is charged for vaccinations given to children who qualify for the Minnesota Vaccines for Children program. A tetanus booster for adults that is recommended every 10 years is also available along with other adult vaccinations. Medical Assistance, BluePlus, UCare and MinnesotaCare are accepted as payment – your card must be presented at the clinic. However, no one will be denied their immunizations due to inability to pay. If financing is a problem, call 320-231-7860.

It is not necessary to delay shots for children who are normally healthy but currently have a minor illness such as a cold, low-grade fever, diarrhea or teething discomfort. Even if a child is currently on antibiotics and recovering from an illness, it is safe to proceed with immunizations. Parents are asked to bring immunization records to the clinic for accurate recordkeeping.

Bloodmobile

The American Red Cross conducts blood drives in the west central area. To give blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Sixteen-year-olds may if they have a signed Red Cross parental/guardian consent form. You can give blood every 56 days. Double red cells can be donated every 112 days. While all blood types are needed, type O and type B-negative donors are especially encouraged to give.

Appointments can be made at 1-800-RED-CROSS or online at www.redcrossblood.org unless otherwise noted. All donors need acceptable identification. The preferred form is a government-issued picture identification, such as a driver’s license, or a Red Cross blood donor card. Otherwise you will need to provide two other forms of identification, such as a work identification, Social Security card, personal check or credit card. Personalized mail such as a utility bill will not be accepted. Blood that’s collected will be used by patients in 140 hospitals in the upper Midwest. Between 900 and 1,000 units of donated blood must be collected each day to meet regional needs. Blood drives scheduled for the Tribune area are:

Dec. 26, Olivia: 1 to 6 p.m., Olivia Leaders Save Lives, BOLD High School

Dec. 27, Willmar: 1 to 7 p.m., First Presbyterian Church

Jan. 6, Bird Island: 1 to 7 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

Jan. 7, Sacred Heart: 1 to 7 p.m., Community Center

Jan. 10, Danube: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Community Center

Jan. 13, Willmar: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Assembly of God Church

Jan. 14, Appleton: Noon to 6 p.m., Appleton Area Health Services

Jan. 21, Willmar: 1 to 7 p.m., Eagle Lake Lutheran Church

Jan. 21, Glenwood: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., American Legion

Jan. 27, Willmar: Noon to 6 p.m., American Legion

Jan. 27, Hancock: 1 to 7 p.m., The Axis

Jan. 28, Spicer: 1 to 7 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church

Jan. 28, Granite Falls: 1 to 7 p.m., Kilowatt Center

Jan. 28, Morris: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church

Jan. 29, Clara City: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Community Center

Jan. 30, Atwater: 1 to 7 p.m., Community Center

Jan. 30, Montevideo: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Training and Community Center

Jan. 30, Glenwood: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., Glenwood Lutheran Church

Jan. 31, Willmar: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., YMCA

Jan. 31, Glenwood: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Minnewaska High School