Looking for a way to make a positive contribution to society? Consider January’s “month of” causes.

National Mentoring Month
Goals for this cause include raising awareness of mentoring in its various forms, recruiting individuals to mentor and promoting mentoring by recruiting organizations to help find mentors for young people. For info: www.Mentoring.org

 

National Poverty in America
Awareness Month Individuals are encouraged to support efforts to eradicate poverty by increasing their understanding of the causes and practical solutions and by active participation in and support of antipoverty programs. For info: www.PovertyUSA.org.

 

Cervical Cancer Screening Month
The National Cervical Cancer Public Education campaign provides information about the causes of this disease and the best ways to prevent or detect it. For info:

www.CervicalCancerCampaign.org.

National Glaucoma
Awareness Month
 More than 2 million Americans aged 40 and older suffer from glaucoma. Nearly half don’t know they have the disease; it causes no early symptoms. For info:

www.PreventBlindness.org.

Nothing warms a cold winter day like the sugary fragrance of a baked treat wafting through the kitchen. Team up these scrumptious cookie bars with a mug of hot cocoa and plenty of marshmallows. For just a few minutes, you’ll be able to forget the chilly numbers being registered on your thermometer.

Ingredients:

  • 2 c. (about 20) crushed peanut
    butter sandwich cookies
  • 3 T. butter or margarine, melted
  • 1¼ c. lightly salted dry-roasted peanuts, chopped
  • 1 c. (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels
  • 1 c. flaked coconut
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened
    condensed milk
  

Directions:
 Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease 9- x 13-inch baking pan. Combine cookie crumbs and butter in small bowl; press onto bottom of prepared baking pan. Layer peanuts, chocolate morsels and coconut over crumb mixture; drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool
completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.