Community Public Service Announcements

California Lifeline telephone program of the California Public Utilities Commission can save you money on local basic home phone service. To qualify, meet income rules or be enrolled in qualified programs; Medi-Cal, WIC, or Healthy Families. Call your phone company to sign up or toll free

California RX Card Program – Free discount prescription drug card to all residents of California. Use at pharmacies across the country and save up to 75%. Open to uninsured, under insured and people with no prescription benefits. Those who have prescription coverage can use the program for non-formulary or non-covered drugs.

California sport fishing licenses are available online. All resident and non-resident licenses, both annual and short-term, and selected stamps can be purchased online. Accepts Visa or MasterCard.

Callie Coats Second Chance project needs of yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks and talented hands to make dog sweaters for the less fortunate dogs in our community. Short-haired and smaller breeds are susceptible to the cold. Many of the families Second Chance helps are asking if they have any sweaters available. If you have talented hands and would like to knit, crochet, or sew a sweater or two, please contact Wendi. Materials will be furnished, if you need them.

In an effort to safely dispose of their unused medication, Public Health has partnered with MendoRecycle and other community partners to set up boxes for the public disposal of medications- they resemble outdoor mailboxes. They are secure, and MendoRecycle empties them regularly. For a current list of where you can find the nearest medication disposal box, please visit www.saferxmendocino.com. Long-standing sites (that accept controlled substances) include: ● Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office on Low Gap Road in Ukiah ● Long Valley Clinic in Laytonville ● Fort Bragg Police Department in Fort Bragg ● Round Valley Indian Health Clinic in Covelo ● Yuki Trails Clinic in Covelo ● Anderson Valley Health Center in Boonville ● Howard Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy in Willits ● Mendocino County Public Health on Dora Street in Ukiah.

If you leave your pet in the car while, even for a few minutes remember to leave a window open.  While humans cool themselves with sweat glands, animals have a harder time staying cool, leaving time extremely vulnerable to heatstroke. On a 70 degree day a closed up car and hit 90 degrees in just 10 minutes.

In response to citizen input, the County of Mendocino has now incorporated Nixle into their emergency notifications systems. Anyone can sign up to receive emergency notifications using Nixle for events in Mendocino County. Nixle will send out emergency information for any areas requested, regardless of residency. Users may request information in a single zip code, multiple zip codes or County-wide. To register for Nixle, sign up online at Nixle Sign Up or, using your smartphone, text 888777 and enter MendoAlerts to get all alerts throughout Mendocino County. For a specific zip code, text 888777 and enter the zip code. Please note that Nixle does not provide a voice notification/phone call and will only notify registered users via text message and/or email. The County of Mendocino will continue to utilize a variety of methods to disseminate emergency notifications: • Nixle This system notifies registered users via text message and/or email. Please refer to the registration information above. • Mendocino Alert (MendoAlert) In addition to Nixle, this system allows the County of Mendocino to notify registered users in very specific geographic areas of incidents. In general, registered users will only receive a notification if they are in the affected area. This is the only system that will issue notifications via voice phone calls. Register online at MendoAlert, the Mendocino County Emergency Alert and Notification Service

Need financial help with your child care costs while going to school you may qualify for state funded program, call Rural Communities Child Care.

Parenting is hard and it’s normal to feel like you don’t have all the answers especially during the first five years of a child’s life when 90 percent of brain development occurs. First 5 Mendocino works in partnership with community organizations to connect parents of young children with free and low-cost resources such as classes, information, and practical support (like diapers or help getting a car seat installed). 

First 5 Mendocino free smoke alarms. Every room in your house should have a working smoke alarm. If you don’t and you have a child age 5 or younger, you are eligible for free smoke alarms and installation.

The NCO Head Start/Early Head Start Child Development Program is open to children aged 0-5, offering enrollment for preschool. The Head Start Child Development Program provides free services to families who qualify, serving children aged 0 to 5. Services are provided for children with disabilities—full- and half-day classes. Children do not need to be potty-trained. Families can apply at any time of year. The program is offered all around Mendocino and Lake Counties. Call for an application.

The Imagination Library is a free program for children up to the age of 5. It sends every enrolled child an age-appropriate book once a month until their 5th birthday. Open to all children in Mendocino County. To sign up, visit FIRST 5 Mendocino online or call GO-CHILD

Don’t throw your old mattress away . Send it to a mattress recycler.  Where old mattress components become all kinds of things, like home insulation and biomass fuel. So, don’t toss it, recycle it, it’s easy–and it’s free. Find a mattress recycler in your area, visit byebye mattress.com.

Eat well while supporting local food and farms. Locate a certified farmers market near you.

Pacific Gas and Electric Braille program for blind and visually-impaired includes monthly energy bills in braille, also markings in braille for appliances. To request braille bills call (866) 743-9757. For braille labels on appliances, call PG&E’s customer service line at (800) 743-5000.

Pacific Gas and Electric company (PG&E) announces thousands of customers may be eligible to receive a discount on monthly energy bills due to an adjustment in California alternate rates for energy (CARE) program’s income qualifications. Find out if you’re eligible: online pge.com/care or call the toll-free multi-lingual assistance line at (866) 743-2273.

Plant a Redwood to commemorate any occasion. The Redwood Forest Foundation will plant young redwood trees in your honor, or in honor of a friend or loved one, in a redwood forest in northern California’s Redwood region. The Honoree receives an attractive 8″ by 11″ certificate suitable for framing with a customized message acknowledging you as the donor. These enduring gifts are suitable for any occasion.  For all the details visit our website.

Wondering where to take your trash, recycling, car batteries, shrink wrap, wood, appliances, and old computers? The Mendocino Solid Waste Management has a chart that tells you where to take these items and more here

If you’re not sure where to turn when matters of aging arise, then the Senior Information & Assistance desk at Community Care invites your call. Funded by the Area Agency on Aging of Lake and Mendocino Counties, Senior Information & Assistance will respond to your questions about local resources and supports. Call Monday through Friday at 468-5132 or 1-800-510-2020, because your aging matters to Community Care.

Veterans in the VA medical system now have a choice, with Veterans’ Choice. You can choose to either continue to the Ukiah clinic or Fort Miley, or use a local primary doctor and Mendocino Coast District Hospital. For info, visit the website or call 866-606-8198.

Veterans die from self-inflicted suicide every day. The highest risk for suicide is among younger veterans, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are a  Veteran struggling with thoughts of suicide or other destructive behavior, reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 – Press 1, or for online chat go to  VeteransCrisisLine.net, or Text to 838255,

Victory Gardens for Peace has a free community seed bank in Mendocino that includes some seeds saved from Anderson Valley. All seeds are free and they offer lots of free resources.