MONTEVIDEO, Minn. -- Home weatherization programs for low-income households have come a long way, but federal funding has not always matched demand.

In Minnesota, community action agencies often oversee the assistance, and hope they can stretch their budgets further. The governor has declared tomorrow Weatherization Day for the state.

This year, there is a possibility of some extra federal attention, with the pending infrastructure bill poised to include ten times the funding weatherization programs usually get.

Laura Milbrandt, weatherization director for the Prairie Five Community Action Council in western Minnesota, said it could free up other money to help households address other glaring needs.

"Sometimes we get into the house and there are things we can't address, so we have to defer households," Milbrandt observed. "Some health and safety items, like major plumbing and major electrical, that we just... it's beyond the scope of what weatherization can fix."

And she pointed out they can reach more people who are not deemed a priority for traditional weatherization needs, like insulation and furnace repairs.

The agencies noted services have grown from mainly putting plastic on windows, to a scientific approach in protecting homes. The infrastructure bill in Congress was expected to include $3.5 billion for weatherization efforts.

Scott Zahorik, executive director of the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency in northern Minnesota, said there is a waiting list for weatherization. Should the extra funding come through, they can help many others reduce their energy-cost burden.

"There's a lot of single parents out there trying to raise their families," Zahorik explained. "We've got a lot of senior citizens on fixed incomes. And we can really make a life-changing difference in their home."

Local agencies are guided by Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP).

Annie Shapiro, advocacy director for MinnCAP's Resource Fund, said the funding boost would provide opportunities for growth and program innovation.

"To think of creative ways to weatherize some of the more multifamily housing buildings and units, which tend to be a bit more challenging," Shapiro suggested.

The state reported the program has reduced energy costs by an average of 15% in more than 49,000 Minnesota homes since 2005.

The pandemic has kept Washingtonians apart for the past two years. With COVID-19 numbers down, an event in Renton is aiming to bring people together again.

The annual Community Barbecue is a partnership between the United Way of King County and Doug Baldwin, the Super Bowl-winning wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.

Baldwin is also the campaign chair for the United Way of King County. He said the idea for the event is simple: Bring people together in a family-friendly atmosphere.

"You got a whole bunch of people who are just kind of clamoring for that opportunity to get back together with their family, with their friends, with their neighbors, with the community in general," Baldwin pointed out. "And what better way to do that than with some barbecue?"

The event is June 18 at Renton Memorial Stadium. It's going to feature music and activities, including from the KidsQuest Children's Museum and Lego Guild.

Baldwin stressed people's inability to get together has taken a toll, and quoted his friend Brené Brown, a researcher and author.

"When there's a lack of connection, there's ultimately suffering, right?" Baldwin explained. "And I think we've all experienced that to some degree, and so this is kind of addressing that. This is getting back to a healthy level of connection."

Baldwin noted he has a personal connection with this kind of get-together, noting his grandpa always loved to barbecue.

"You could smell the barbecue and the fire in the front of the house before you even got to the backyard," Baldwin recounted. "And it was a special time where you just get together with your friends and with your family and get to catch up on life and share it over a good meal. "

He added the meal is $10 per plate, but emphasized no one will be turned away if they cannot afford it.

Recreation departments across Pennsylvania are preparing to kick off their outdoor public pool seasons starting Memorial Day Weekend, marking for many the first full-capacity summer since the pandemic began.

The Township of Upper St. Clair in western Pennsylvania offers an outdoor, four-lane pool in the summer to its 20,000 residents. They provide swim classes from ages six months to 13 years old.

Chris Biswick, aquatics supervisor for the Township, said the biggest challenge is the ongoing lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by COVID-19 as many in-person certifications were delayed.

"We are about a month behind than we normally are with our staffing levels," Biswick noted. "What we have done to curb that, we have been doing a reimbursement program for our lifeguards, so if they take the life guarding class, after 13 weeks of employment, we'll reimburse the cost of the life guarding program."

The cost of lifeguard certification is typically around $300. Biswick added they have also increased their wages to $13 per hour. To become a lifeguard certified by the American Red Cross, applicants must be at least 15 years old and complete a swimming test.

Todd Roth, aquatics supervisor for the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Authority, said it has been difficult filling leadership positions for their summer program, which includes two outdoor pools with waterslides and spray features.

He pointed out access to the pool program goes beyond educational and public-safety purposes.

"In addition to that, having the recreation amenities available in aquatics is a huge part of the daily quality of life for many families in our region," Roth explained. "They see the swimming pools as a destination. That's part of their summer routine."

The starting wage for lifeguards at the Centre Region pools is $12.50 an hour, and leadership positions start at $13.50 an hour. Roth confirmed Centre Region averages 100,000 to 120,000 summer visits to the pools.

It's National Volunteer Week, and groups are spotlighting some of the benefits of volunteering, both for individuals and the communities they serve.

The COVID-19 crisis affected all aspects of everyday life, including most people's ability to volunteer. But since the early days of the pandemic, when in-person volunteering ground to a halt, it has rebounded significantly.

Gretchen Stallings, executive director of Volunteer New Hampshire, said a big reason many folks choose to volunteer is because they like giving back to their community.

"If you're not sure where or how you want to give back, start with your passion," she said. "Is there a problem in your community that you'd like to see solved, or a cause that you feel strongly about?"

Research from the Mayo Clinic Health System has found volunteering also can provide a sense of purpose, teach new skills and help build and nurture relationships, as well as lower rates of depression and anxiety, especially for people in retirement.

Volunteer New Hampshire was created by the Legislature to help connect individuals with businesses, nonprofits and governments for volunteer opportunities. Stallings noted that the New Hampshire State House alone has more than 400 volunteer positions.

"It really does take everyone to create the most optimal living conditions in a community," she said. "Volunteering may enable you to awaken dormant skills, or practice a hobby in a more meaningful way."

She said their website, volunteernh.org, includes a Volunteer Resource Center and an online database called Get Connected, where nonprofits advertise their volunteer offerings and individuals can find the right fit for them.