Boys and girls in Durham are learning a new sport - rugby - from Duke University students and volunteers.
 
About 30 youths, most ages 9 and 10, have been learning the game since August in an in-house fall league at the John Avery Boys and Girls Club at 808 E. Pettigrew St.

"It has been a pretty good response for such a new program," said James Gillenwater, a second-year law student who formed the league as his N.C. Albert Schweitzer Fellowship health-based project, which is to promote youth fitness through sports.  

The Town of Cary will hold a Fall Litter Sweep on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. until noon. Volunteers will clean various locations across town, including areas in parks, neighborhoods and along streams and roadways.

Are you interested in recycling and environmental education, and looking for ways to contribute in the community? Volunteer to become a Master Recycler.

If you enjoy activities provided by your local parks and recreation department, you might take note of today's activities in Raleigh:

Mayor Charles Meeker is to declare July "Parks and Recreation Month."

The declaration is part of a "nationwide effort to promote healthy lifestyles and bring communities together to volunteer and get involved," ...

If you know girls fastpitch softball - or even if you don't - your help is needed when a big tournament arrives in Raleigh this month.

Volunteers are needed for scorekeeping and team check-in July 26 through Aug. 1 when the 18-and-Under ASA Girls Fast-Pitch Softball Southern National Championships are played at Raleigh's Walnut Creek Softball Complex at 1201 Sunnybrook Road.

If you’ve attended a wedding reception or other catered event in Raleigh, there’s a good chance it was catered by Sisters’ Garden & Catering Co. (2400 E. Millbrook Road; 872-2100; www.sisterscatering.com), which has been in the business since 1976.  

And if you’ve done volunteer work for a school, nonprofit or religious organization, you might like to know that Sisters’ Garden is hosting a Coffee Club as a way of saying “thank you” to all community volunteers. Throughout the months of May and June, coffee, pastries and savory breads will be served each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30-11am.

The price of admission is normally $5. But if you tell them “Greg sent me,” it’s free. 

See photos from Feed the Need 2009. Staff photos by Andrew Kenney.