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Aug. 20-22. Lots of ways and groups to help out.

Customer Appreciation Days — Aug. 20-21 at all St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores. Enjoy discounts, refreshments, raffles and door prizes. Also at Apache, Bell, Chandler and Sunnyslope locations Aug. 22. Check out the St. Vincent de Paul blog for details.

“It’s my party and you’re invited! Love, God” — Aug. 20-22 at Living Water Retreat Center in Cornville. It’s the annual retreat is for local Catholics with cognitive disabilities.

AZ Catholic Singles Dinner — 6-9 p.m. Aug. 20 at D’Arcy McGee’s Restaurant at Tempe Marketplace. Info: call Patrick (480) 898-7424.

Get in Gear Painting Party — 7-11 a.m. Aug. 21 at Serrano Village Apts, 2828 W. Camelback Rd. Join volunteers as they paint a new mural on the Welcome to America Project truck. A local artist will be on hand to lend his expertise. Includes breakfast and music. RSVP to megan@wtap.org or (602) 490-0088. For more on the Welcome to America Project, an outreach started by a local Catholic to help Valley refugees, read our Jan. 2009 profile on its founder, Carolyn Manning.

AED in-service — 10 a.m. Aug. 21 at Corpus Christi Parish for newly installed defibrillator. Knowing lifesaving skills at Mass are becoming increasingly important. An AED saved a man’s life at St. Joseph Parish and young St. Jerome parishioners know how to use the device should the time come.

Knights of Columbus Day with the D-Backs — Aug. 21. The Colorado Rockies are in town. Donations from your ticket sale abound: $2 goes to the local council, $1 to the Arizona Knights and $2 to the Arizona Special Olympics, which the Knights support. See previous blogpost for details.

Blood Drive — 7 a.m.-noon Aug. 22 at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Scottsdale.

Breakfast Burrito benefit — after 8 and 10 a.m. Masses Aug. 22 at San Francisco de Asís Parish in Flagstaff. All proceeds benefit Coconino Senior Living Foundation which provides dental care, eye care and prescription medication for low income seniors.