Christmas Tree Safety Tips

by Cher’ Brown, Administrative Coordinator

The first week of December has come and gone.  Perhaps you have a real tree for the Christmas season.  Fire Prevention is crucial when having a real or artificial Christmas tree.  Check out these safety tips for Christmas trees:

  • When choosing a real tree make sure it is freshly cut with flexible needles that don’t break.
  • Artificial trees should be labeled as fire-retardant.
  • Place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, candles, heat vents, and radiators.
  • Keep the base filled with water to avoid the real tree from drying out.
  • Turn the lights on the tree off when you go to bed or leaving home.
  • Don’t use any damaged or frayed cords.
  • Use lights rated for indoor use such as LED lights.

source:  http://www.christmastreeassociation.org/Article%20Pages/Fire_safety_tips_for_your_Christmas_tree

Photo by Birdies100

MAX and IHT Insurance Companies Partner in Grant to Heaventrain

(Dublin, OH, Dec. 1, 2015) — Urban youth in the Columbus area will receive healthy meals along with lessons in faith and personal responsibility thanks to a grant from MutualAid eXchange (MAX) Insurance, and its local independent agency partner, IHT Agency Group.

The firms are making a donation to HeavenTrain through the MAX Community Partner Grant program. HeavenTrain was founded in 1981. Today this “church on wheels” travels to disadvantaged neighborhoods offering food and positive life lessons to children in need.

“MAX is a fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance enterprise that gives back in the communities it serves,” said Phil Blount, MAX Regional Sales Manager. “We learned about HeavenTrain from Liz Ann Mayhill of IHT who volunteers with the program through their church. We are very pleased to make a contribution to this very worthy organization.”

“Liz Ann has worked with HeavenTrain for years and knows the great work it does,” IHT Chief Operating Officer Rod Mayhill said. “We’re deeply grateful to MAX for its generosity in helping us serve the young people of our community.”

For more information visit: www.MAXInsurance.com, www.IHTAgency.com.
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Photo:  Phil Blount, MAX Sales Manager presenting check to Liz Ann Mayhill of IHT Agency Group

Grant from MAX Insurance will Help Centerville Iowa Lions Club Provide Vision Tests for Area Children

Elementary, pre-kindergarten and pre-school students in Centerville, Iowa and other South Central Iowa communities will soon be having their vision tested at no charge by local Lion’s Club members, thanks to a grant from MutualAid eXchange (MAX) insurance and local contributions.

Dale Sales, Lion’s Club President and a principle of Cook Insurance in Centerville, announced the $2,500 grant at the club’s Monday night dinner.

“We are thrilled and grateful to MAX Insurance and its Mutual Aid Ministries program for this significant gift,” Sales said.  “Combined with the funds we’ve raised locally, we can now purchase the iScreen Digital Camera that will help us check our area’s young children’s vision.  If we detect a problem, we can refer them to a doctor for treatment. This is a real blessing for so many families who may not be able to afford eye care for their kids. The iScreen Digital Camera will replace our old Polaroid Camera (film for the camera is being discontinued) that has served us well over the years. The new digital camera technology today is more efficient and cost effective to use. We have screened just over 400 children during 2015 and plan to expand are our efforts in 2016 due to having the new iScreen digital camera.”

“MAX is a fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance company that tries to give back in the communities we serve,” said Mark Files, MAX Regional Sales Manager.  “When Dan Sales, one of our independent agents, informed us of this Lion’s Club project we were excited to help out.  It’s a great program and we’re proud to be part of it.”

The iScreen Digital Camera allows a trained operator to take a digital image of a child’s eyes much like taking a photograph.  The equipment can detect a wide range of eye disorders which can be given to an eye professional for follow-up and treatment.

After training its members how to operate the equipment, the Lion’s Club will visit area schools to provide free testing for the children.

For more information visit www.MAXInsurance.com, www.CookInsuranceIowa.com, www.iScreenVision.com, www.LionsClubs.org.

Photo by Becky Maxwell/Daily Iowegian.  Left to right:  Dan Sales and Dale Sales of Cook Insurance with Mark Files, Regional Sales Manager of MAX Insurance.  

Fall Back Safety Tips

As we fall back this weekend for Daylight Saving Time, it’s a good reminder to test your smoke alarm batteries. Here are a few other fire prevention tips to think about this fall:

1. Never leave a fire unattended. Whether you are having a fire inside, or are burning one in your outdoor fire pit, do not leave it unattended. It just takes one ember to fly out of the fire and set anything nearby in flames.

2. Have a professional inspect your chimney annually. A professional should always inspect and clean your wood burning stove or fireplace each year to ensure it does not have dangerous creosote buildup.

3. Use a metal container for your ashes. After burning wood, ash disposal must be in a non-combustible metal container with a tightly fitted lid. Plus, remember to only dispose the ashes after they have completely cooled.

4. Burning leaves or trash is dangerous. Burning leaves or trash can be dangerous to not only your property but also your neighbor’s property, leading to large liability exposure for you. Always check with your local community to see if trash or leaf burning is even legal in your area, especially on high wind days.

Want to view more safety tips?  Click here.

Photo by uberculture

MAX Mutual Aid Ministries Assists Single Parent with Car Repair

Meet Renee, a single mother seeking help with her vehicle. Her transmission went out and she needs assistance to get back and forth to work, bringing her children to doctor visits and also daycare. Mutual Aid Ministries partnered with her church and gave a grant to help repair Renee’s vehicle so she is able to go to work to provide for her family.

About MAX and Mutual Aid Ministries:  Working primarily through churches and faith communities, MAX devotes a portion of our revenues to emergency grants for people in need of shelter, clothing, utilities, health care or other services insurance can’t provide.  Each year we help individuals and families regain wholeness.   Learn more here.

If MAX sounds like a company you can relate to and would like to be a part of, join today by insuring your home, farm, or church with MAX. Just complete our Quote Request form.

Photo by Brian Omura