2024 Christmas Friendship Dinner Final Preparations
2024-12-25 05:00 - 11:00 (America/Anchorage)
Volunteers start showing up at 5:00 am for final preparations in the kitchen. Other volunteers will arrive starting at 8:00 am.

2024 Christmas Friendship Dinner
2024-12-25 11:00 - 15:00

2024 Christmas Friendship Dinner
2024-12-25 11:00 - 15:00
Join us Christmas Day for a Mat Su tradition since 1991 at the Menard Center in Wasilla. Enjoy the festive decorations, yummy food, entertainment and friendship, kids activities and gifts from Santa and his many local helpers, We welcome everyone and deliver meals to folks who are homebound. Volunteers always can help us with this huge event. Sign up online or by calling us. Brought to you by volunteers and community support.
For more information please contact Tina at 907-631-9767 or email cfdinnerinfo@gmail.com

Substance Use Drop-in Group 2023
2024-12-25 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-01-01 13:00 - 14:30
Support is available at Benteh Nuutah Four Directions Outpatient Treatment Center. Your recovery journey is unique and so is your treatment. This program assists individuals with discovering and working toward personal goals for a happy, healthy life. If you are attending the group for the first time, please arrive 10-15 minutes early. This group is available to adults 18 and older. You do not need to enroll in this outpatient treatment program to attend.
Every Wednesday 1-2:30 p.m.

2024 Christmas Friendship Dinner Cleanup
2024-12-25 15:00 - 17:00
Volunteers clean, store leftovers, breakdown tables, and start removing decorations.

Bright Up The Night
2024-12-25 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-26 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-27 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-28 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-29 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-30 17:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-31 17:00 - 21:00
Drive through a dazzling light exhibit spanning the length of the fairgrounds and featuring over 70 displays! Half of the displays are new and bigger this year!
Fee’s if purchased in advance-Standard Vehicle $20, Van’s or limos (9+ people) $35 and Buses $70
Nov 28th -Dec 8th Thursday -Sunday 5PM-9PM
Dec 12th-Dec 31 Everyday 5PM to 9PM

Knik Tribe Family Culture Nights
2024-12-25 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-01-01 17:30 - 19:30
Please join Knik Tribe for weekly culture nights with food and fun for the whole family!

Knik Tribe Talking Circle- Willow
2024-12-26 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-01-02 12:00 - 14:00
Based on the traditional way of communication, the talking circle provides a space for sharing, healing, and connecting with others.

New Year's Eve Bash
2024-12-31 17:00 - 20:00
You’re invited to this FREE family friendly event hosted by Church on the Rock! Bounce Houses, Games, Ice Skating, Scavenger Hunt.

LEGO Day at Wasilla Library
2025-01-02 14:00 - 16:00
Calling all master builders! Drop in for open play with the library’s collection of bricks on Thursday, January 2 from 2pm to 4pm! All ages are welcome.

Scholarship Information Session
2025-01-08 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-08 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-01-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-22 18:00 - 19:00
Are you looking to put your skills and passion to work in the healthcare or human services fields? Join the Mat-Su Health Foundation Scholarships Team to learn about scholarships available to Mat-Su residents!

Denail Destroyers Roller Derby
2025-01-11 18:00 - 20:00
Come watch the Denali Destroyers take on the Rage City’s Devil’s Club in the Raven Hall at the Palmer Fairgrounds.
The Denali Destroyers are the MatSu Valley’s one and only flat track Roller Derby team. They are a coed league of hard hitters and jukey jammers. This is an event you are not going to want to miss, with local food available from Triple A’s Soul Food as well as a wet section for beer and wine.
Doors Open: 600pm • Wheels On: 7:00pm
Tickets available online or at the door. Tables for 8 can be reserved online only.
For more information please contact 907-378-5058

Training | PACES and Raising Resilience (Online and In-Person)
2025-01-16 11:00 - 13:30
ROCK Mat-Su will be combining both PACES and Raising Resilience trainings in January!
Lunch will be provided
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences:
This FREE presentation is open to ADULTS who are interested in learning how to identify and counteract Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to develop resilient kids.
Frequent or prolonged exposure to stress can create toxic stress which can damage the developing brain of a child and overall health. A Survival Mode Response to toxic stress increases a child’s heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and muscle tension. Their thinking brain is knocked offline. Self-protection is their priority. In other words: “I can’t hear you! I can’t respond to you! I am just trying to be safe!”
Learn How Resilience Trumps ACEs! Parents, Teachers and Caregivers can help by:
– Gaining an understanding of ACEs and how they affect children’s social, emotional, and cognitive abilities and their connection a wide range of health problems throughout a person’s lifespan.
– Creating environments where children feel safe emotionally & physically.
– Helping children identify feelings & manage emotions
– Creating a safe physical & emotional environment at home, in school, and in neighborhoods.
– Share ways to build resilience.
Raising Resilience Presentation:
This will include information from a 2019 Johns Hopkins study on the effects of positive childhood experiences. Despite growing up with adversity, positive experiences buffer the trauma and promote healing.
Learn ways to foster healthy growth and development in children that correlates to stronger adult mental health and overall wellness.
Questions?
Presentation Content Contact: boydenmichelle@gmail.com
R.O.C.K. Mat-Su Contact: candrews@rockmatsu.org
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82576480185…
Meeting ID: 825 7648 0185
Passcode: [REDACTED]
This will include information from a 2019 Johns Hopkins study on the effects of positive childhood experiences. Despite growing up with adversity, positive experiences buffer the trauma and promote healing.
Learn ways to foster healthy growth and development in children that correlate to stronger adult mental health and overall wellness.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82576480185…
Meeting ID: 825 7648 0185
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Questions?
Presentation Content Contact: michelle.boyden@matsuk12.us
R.O.C.K. Mat-Su Contact:
candrews@rockmatsu.org

Breaking Racial Barriers in the Spirit of Nonviolence
2025-01-20 13:00 - 16:00
The Mat-Su Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation, Inc. hosts its Annual celebration of Dr. King, Jr. and others. A special tribute to Melvin L. Sage-II and a special recognition to John Childs and his car racing family…with other speakers and presenters.

Shakedown Strings - A Benefit for the Denali Arts Council
2025-01-22 19:00 - 21:00
Shakedown Strings, a Kansas City, MO based trio, consisting of Adam Galblum on vocals and violin, Clayton DeLong on vocals and acoustic guitar, and Rick Willoughby on vocals and upright bass, bring their energy, passion, and joy to the stage. Drawing upon their improvisational prowess, and experience as jazz musicians, they celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead and explore the band’s vast repertoire of songs and musical ideas.
$15.00 – General Admission $10.00 – Youth 7 – 17 Free – Youth 6 and under
For more info please contact 816-721-8369

Shakedown Strings - A Benefit for the Denali Arts Council
2025-01-23 18:00 - 20:00
Join Shakedown Strings at the Palmer Alehouse for an evening of Grateful Dead music performed on string instruments. Making their Palmer, AK debut, this band brings their energy, passion, and joy to the stage. Drawing upon their improvisational prowess, they celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead and explore the band’s vast repertoire of songs and musical ideas.
If you are into the Grateful Dead, bluegrass, or jamming, this show is not too be missed.
1.23.25 – 6 til 9 – Free & open to the public
For more info please contact 816-721-8369

2025 Project Homeless Connect
2025-01-28 10:00 - 14:00
Access to food, clothing, toiletries, employment assistance help with filling out forms and obtaining identification, contacting family member and more!

Stewards of Children
2025-01-30 12:30 - 15:30
Darkness to Light empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and stigma reduction.
Our work is guided by the vision of a world free from child sexual abuse. Darkness to Light’s flagship training, Stewards of Children®, teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities. Through interviews with a very diverse group of people with lived experience, experts, and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® is one of the only award-winning, evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention trainings in the United States proven to increase knowledge and change behavior. Delivered in a trauma-informed way by instructors and facilitators who have been rigorously trained Features powerful videos paired with robust facilitated discussion.
Teaches three foundational empowerment skills: Making choices that protect children, Taking risks to minimize danger to children, Supporting each other. This teaching highlights The 5 Steps to Protecting Children and how to apply them to better protect children from child sexual abuse in your community and organization.
This class will be held in-person with a max of 10 students. Workbooks will be provided. If this date/time does not work for you, please reach out to the coordinator to schedule a session!
This program is offered at no cost due to the sponsorship of Heart Reach Center.
Event contact:
Sophia Logan -(907) 373-3456
Email: sophia.L@heartreachalaska.com
