Mehlville-Oakville Patch isn't just about news. We're also a community hub where readers can share information, including events, yard sales, fundraisers, and other announcements, such as call outs for volunteers, congratulatory notes on births and marriages, and information on lost and adoptable pets.

Here's a round up of the top announcements this week. If you'd like to share your news with our readers, post an announcement on Mehlville-Oakville Patch!

St. Louis County Library helps bring “sole” to Shoeman Water Projects 

The St. Louis County Library and Shoeman Water Projects (SWP), a local non-profit that helps communities around the world by providing clean water to developing countries, announces a new partnership.  From January 21 – February 28, all 20 St. Louis County Library branches will be accepting shoes.  Any type of shoe will be accepted, provided they do not have holes in them.

Here are some previous stories we've run about Shoeman Water Projects:

• Shoeman Teams Up With Walmart to Turn Shoes Into Drinking Water
• 'The Shoeman' Strikes Again: John Cary Students Donate Shoes
• Treehouse Summer School Camp Hosts Shoe Drive

January, February Are for Joining Girl Scouts; Thin Mints Outsold Oreos in 2012

As Girl Scouts, girls join almost three million girls nationwide, exploring and discovering their world, connecting with others and taking action to make their world a better place. Girls of all races, ethnicities, creeds, national origins, socioeconomic statuses or abilities in grades K-12 can join Girl Scouts by accepting the Girl Scout Promise and Law and paying the annual membership dues. 

Smartphone Apps to Help This Flu Season

Flu Near You app helps you find and report flu activity in your area and also includes Vaccine Finder, which identifies nearby locations offering the flu vaccine and provides directions. The ZocDoc app finds nearby doctors and includes a map of doctors in many insurance networks. It also allows you to view available timeslots and schedules appointments from your smartphone.

Here are more resources on fighting the flu in Mehlville and Oakville:

• Red Cross Urges Flu Shots, Provides Tips for Those Infected
• Not Too Late: Where to Get Flu Shots in Mehlville, Oakville
• Smartphone Apps to Help This Flu Season

"Walk by Faith, and not by Sight."

The Mitchell family posted this death notice for Cynthia Anne Mitchell, whose family called her "true warrior and faithful woman to the promises of God."

STLCC Hosts Biotechnology Industry Insights Workshop

The biotechnology sector is one of the fastest growing knowledge-based sectors in St. Louis and is expected to play a key role in shaping the region’s rapidly changing economy. St. Louis is coming of age as a biotechnology center primarily in the plant and life sciences arena mainly because of its close proximity to two-thirds of U.S. agricultural production.