MUNSTER

Church starts flood victims support group

St. Paul's Lutheran Church will hold support group meetings, starting this Thursday, for anyone affected by the flood.

The meetings are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Attendees should enter through door K on the south side of the building. Meetings will be facilitated by licensed social workers.

For information call the church at (219) 836-6270.

HAMMOND

Chili dinner, bake sale, car wash aid flood victims

St. Demetrios Outreach Ministries sponsors High $5s to Help Survive, High $5s to Restore Lives from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at 7021 Hohman Ave.

Each of the following costs $5: a chili dinner with all the fixings, a plate of bake sale items, a car wash (weather permitting) and a basket raffle. All proceeds will go directly to flood victims in Northwest Indiana.

The church hall will be open 4 to 7 p.m. Friday to accept donations of baked goods. Volunteers are welcome. Call Kris Sakelaris at (219) 931-5609 or Kelli Lucito at (219) 836-0735.

GLENWOOD

Illinois salon collects items for flood victims

Image Salon and Day Spa in Glenwood is collecting items for flood victims.

Salon owners are asking for contributions of new or barely used clothes, toys, nonperishable foods, tools, furniture and anything else that can be used during this time of need.

Donations may be left at the spa, 100 Nugent St., Glenwood.

CEDAR LAKE

Rebate offered on car repairs because of flood

Center Dodge Chrysler Jeep, in partnership with Goldie's Auto Body of Beecher, is offering a 10 percent rebate to anyone needing vehicle maintenance, body repair or replacement as a result of the recent flooding.

Here is how the program works: Flood victims should bring their insurance check to Center or Goldie's and they will give customers a rebate equal to 10 percent of the amount of the check if work is performed at the shop or if items are bought there.

"We wanted to be able to put cash back in the hands of these people," said Pal Goldrick, owner of Goldie's Auto Body. "Whatever they do with the rebate is their decision."

John Schultz, owner of Center, said the idea came about as a result of stories being told by employees of his dealership.

"We just thought that by giving money directly back to our customers allowed them to use it for many other things, like alternative living space, food, clothing and so forth."

Center is at 110090 W. 133rd Ave. in Cedar Lake; Goldie's is at 1369 Dutch American Way in Beecher.

PORTER COUNTY

Funds available to nonprofits that help flood victims

The Porter County Community Foundation and United Way of Porter County announced Monday they have emergency funds available to assist Porter County nonprofit organizations that provide emergency assistance to individuals and families that have been affected by the flooding and Porter County nonprofit organizations that have incurred damage to their facilities as a result of the recent flooding.

Organizations that offer emergency assistance should submit a letter that describes the number of applications for aid that have been received related to the flooding along with the guidelines that the organizations utilize to determine eligibility for assistance. The organization may include an estimate of the number of applications expected to be received as a result of the flooding.

Organizations that have incurred facility damage should submit a letter that describes the damage incurred, itemizes the costs that have been or will be incurred to repair or replace the damaged facilities and/or the cost to replace contents, and any other flooding related expenses.

Grant money may not be used for expenses covered by insurance nor ordinary operating expenses.

All requests should be accompanied with the following:

1. A copy of the organization's IRS tax exempt status letter.

2. A copy of the organization's most current financial statement (including a current year budget).

3. If the application is for facility damage, a copy of the organization's insurance declaration page outlining their coverage limits as well as a copy of the policy exclusions.

All requests should be submitted to the Porter County Community Foundation at P.O. Box 302, Valparaiso, IN 46384.

For more information, contact the Porter County Community Foundation at (219) 465-0294.