Blood donations
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123.
Calendar
Spiritual reflections: Bon Secours Spiritual Center will offer spiritual enrichment programs at 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville. Information: http://www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org. Registration: 410-442-1320.
What to expect from Medicare
The Howard County Department of Citizen Services Office on Aging will offer workshops to review how Medicare works, what the benefits are, how it relates to supplemental health insurance and the gaps in Medicare coverage. Information on Medicare prescription drug coverage will also be discussed. The workshops will be held at 7 p.m. March 7 and March 21 in The Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. Registration and information: 410-313-7391.
Cardiovascular clinic
Howard County General Hospital in partnership with The Mall in Columbia will host a cardiovascular clinic featuring blood and cholesterol screenings, free services and programs. The clinic will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 3, in the Center Court of The Mall of Columbia. Information 410-740-7601 or visit http://www.hcgh.org.
Screenings
The county Health Department's North Laurel Health Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel, will offer walk-in HIV/AIDS testing services from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment only: 410-313-0630. Also, the Columbia Health Center, 7180 Columbia Gateway, Columbia, will conduct HIV testing at 8 a.m. Mondays for the first 20 people. Information: 410-313-7500. Testing is free, anonymous and confidential. Teens Together Support The networking group for teens who have a friend or family member with cancer will meet from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month in the Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Drive, Columbia. Information: 410-740-5858. Support/Intervention programs Offered free at Laurel Regional Hospital, 7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel: •Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Sundays. •Bipolar disorder, 6 p.m. Thursdays. •Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. •Parkinson's disease, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Information: 301-776-3426. •Rehabilitation for strokes and long-term illness, 6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month. Information: 301-497-7914 or 410-792-7636. Support groups at the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G050, Columbia: •Caregivers meet at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month. •A breast cancer support group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month. Registration: 410-964-9100, ext. 5. •A Stage Four breast cancer support group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month. Registration: 410-740-5858. Widows and widowers The group meets from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at Jilly's in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, 10300 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City. Information: 410-740-5858. Parkinson's disease An education and support group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month, 8180 Lark Brown Road, Elkridge. Information: 410-955-8795. HIV support group for those infected with or affected by HIV. A women's group meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Friday of every month. A group for men and women meets from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month. Meetings are at the county Health Department, 7180 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia. Information: 410-313-6267. Family support groups The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Howard County offers several support groups each month, including groups for family and friends of adults with a mental illness, groups for parents of school aged children with mental health issues, a group for young adults (18-30) living with a mental illness, and a weekly group for adults of any age living with a mental illness. Call (410) 772-9300 or visit http://www.nami.org/sites/namihowardcounty for specific times and locations.