A Steamboat Community Blood Drive will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Yampa Valley Medical Center.

Walk-ins are welcome from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., as space permits. Schedule an appointment by calling Bonfils Appointment Center at 1-800-365-0006, Option 2 or sign up online at http://www.bonfils.org, site code 0234.

Eat a full meal and drink plenty of water before donating blood. Please allow one hour for the entire process.

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Divorce support for middle school students

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association will host a support group for middle school-age students coping with divorce.

A counselor will help participants understand and process their emotions through creative expression. A separate, concurrent meeting will provide a counselor and support for parents.

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The meetings will be at the Rollingstone Respite House, 1500 Pine Grove Road. Dates and times are to be determined based on participants’ availability and interest. Anyone interested should call Katy Thiel at 970-871-7628.

VNA offers options to help you quit tobacco

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association has multiple options available to help smokers and smokeless tobacco users address complex factors of nicotine addiction that make quitting very difficult.

Smoking cigarettes or using chew, snuff and other types of smokeless tobacco can have serious, potentially fatal, heath consequences. Tobacco cessation support can significantly improve a person’s chances of quitting for good. All services are free and available in English and Spanish.

• The VNA offers one-on-one counseling with a Tobacco Cessation Counselor and a Tobacco Free support group. Call 970-871-7338.

• The Colorado QuitLine provides cessation phone or online support. Free nicotine patches and gum are available. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go to http://www.coquitline.org.

• CO Quit Mobile provides personalized text message support. Sign up at http://www.coquitmobile.org.

Weight-loss kiosk at the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association

Weigh and Win, a free community weight loss program, has installed a kiosk in the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association lobby.

The program, aimed at reducing obesity rates in Colorado, provides cash incentives to participants who reach their weight-loss goals. Participants weigh in quarterly (every 90 days) at the kiosk. Between weigh-ins, they receive daily emails or texts with tips on healthy eating, exercise and overcoming weight-loss barriers.

Participation is free. The kiosk is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Steamboat Springs VNA, 940 Central Park Drive, Suite 101.

Participants can enroll at the kiosk, at http://www.weighandwin.com or by texting JOIN to 303-500-1702. For more information, visit http://www.weighandwin.com or call 970-871-7634.

Support groups to meet this week

• A bereavement support group meets from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at Rollingstone Respite House. The group is open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. Call 970-871-7628 prior to attending your first meeting.

• A domestic violence support group for women is from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Advocates Building Peaceful Communities. Call Diane at 970-879-2034 before attending.

• The Steamboat Meditation Recovery Group meets Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at the Buddhist Center of Steamboat Springs, 2250 Copper Frontage Road, No. 202. The group also has a recovery-based yoga beforehand at 4:30 p.m. The group will explore recovery through meditation, book study and all open discussion. Meetings are open to all faiths and addictions. For more information, call 720-670-8642.

• A Caregiver Cancer Support Group is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the community room at Natural Grocers, 355 Lincoln Ave. For more information, call 970-846-4717.

New Aging Well classes offered

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association is offering two new fitness classes at the Steamboat Springs Community Center. Zumba Gold® is from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays through Feb. 24. This is beginning class.

A Balance class is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays. This class focuses on activities that enhance core strength to improve balance and prevent falls in a real-life situations.

There is a suggested donation of $5 per class for both new classes. For more information, visit http://www.nwcovna.org or call 970-871-7676.

VNA drop-in flu clinics are Thursdays

Flu cases are increasing in Colorado, and drop-in flu clinics are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, 940 Central Park Drive, Suite 101.

The vaccine is $21.50 for adults and children’s flu shots and $21.50 for children’s FluMist. Insurance will be processed, so bring your insurance cards.

It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to become effective. For more information, call 970-879-1632.

Open enrollment sessions for health insurance goes until Feb. 10

Open enrollment sessions for health insurance will be held every Tuesday through Feb. 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Yampa Valley Medical Center.

Drop in for a one-on-one assistance from a certified health coverage guide. Learn more about qualifying for free or low-cost health insurance through Colorado Medicaid for adults, CHP+ for children or reduce-cost plans through Connect for Health.

Schedule an appointment by visiting http://northwestcoloradovisitingnurseassociation2.fullslate.com.

VNA offers low-cost vaccinations

The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a toxin (poison) made by bacteria that’s commonly found in soil. Tetanus does not spread from person to person. The bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin — usually cuts or puncture wounds.

Tetanus vaccination is recommended for everyone and should be repeated every 10 years. Immunizations including Tdap and other routine recommended vaccinations are covered by insurance.

If you are uninsured, the cost is $21.50 per shot. Call the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association in Craig at 970-824-8233 or in Steamboat Springs at 970-879-1632 to make your appointment.

Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program offered through VNA

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association is offering the Baby and Me Tobacco Free Program.

This free program offers four prenatal smoking cessation sessions. Expectant moms who quit smoking and stay smoke free during their pregnancy and after their baby is born will receive a monthly voucher for free diapers, for as many as 12 months.

For more information, call Hope Cook, RN, at 970-871-7622.

Casey’s Pond Senior Living in need of bingo prizes

Donations now are being accepted for jewelry, small stuffed animals or similar items to be used as bingo prizes at the Doak Walker House at Casey’s Pond Senior Living in Steamboat Springs.

Drop them off at the concierge desk or call Celia with questions at 970-457-4883.

Parkinson’s exercise class on Fridays

The Parkinson’s exercise class consists of exercises developed by neuroscientist Becky Farley (http://www.pwr4life.org) and Gary Sobol (who has Parkinson’s and is the founder of GZ Sobol’s Parkinson’s Network: http://www.parkinsonsnetwork.org) to specifically address Parkinson’s symptoms (eg., dexterity, rigidity, balance, bradykinesia, voice softness). The class participants warm up their muscles, focus on big, powerful movements and loud voices, and work together as a group to encourage one another, share tips and revel in good humor.

The classes are from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Fridays at the United Methodist Church of Steamboat Springs, Eighth and Oak streets. Use the alley entrance. Occasionally, the classes will be held at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp.

The first class is no charge, and after that, it’s $10 for drop in and $80 for a 10-punch card. Care partners are no charge. Contact Jacqueline Teuscher at 303-829-2869 or jacqueline.teuscher@gmail.com or Eva Gibbon at 970-846-9887.

VNA offers birth control, STD screenings

The Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association’s Community Health Center is offering low-cost birth control, STD screenings (for men and women), pap smears, breast exams and general women’s health care based on income. All income levels are welcome. Make an appointment in Steamboat by calling 970-879-1632 or in Craig by calling 970-824-8233.

Planned Parenthood can help with annual exam costs

Planned Parenthood can cover the cost of an annual exam for women who are uninsured or underinsured, according to a news release. Call 970-879-2212 for information or to make an appointment or stop by the health center on 11th Street between Lincoln Avenue and Oak Street.

To submit a health brief, email happenings@SteamboatToday.com.