MOSES LAKE - The first in a series of workshops to help military families cope with absence and reunion is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on March 8 at the Moses Lake Fire Department, 701 East Third Ave.

The "Reconnection Workshops" are sponsored by the north central chapter of the American Red Cross.

"Communicating Clearly" is the first class offered locally, said Breezy Tottenhoff, services for armed forces coordinator for the north central Red Cross chapter. Organizers will accept 25 to 50 people, she said.

There are five topics in all, Tottenhoff said, and the Red Cross will sponsor the entire series locally, as long as there is interest. "As long as one person wants to attend, we will hold a class," she said.

The other topics are identifying depression, working through anger, exploring stress and trauma and relating to children, Tottenhoff said. They haven't been scheduled; Tottenhoff said the organizers are trying to find the best days and times.

The remaining classes will be limited to about 10 to 12 people, she said. But if there is enough interest Red Cross officials can and will schedule more classes, Tottenhoff said.

The classes are facilitated by mental health professionals who volunteer their time, Tottenhoff said. "They are meant to be that general overview" of the topic.

Classes are open to anyone, especially military families and people interested in helping those families, she said. "Anyone who has a connection to a service member."

The information provided will take the direction requested by the participants. "They're meant to be very flexible," Tottenhoff said.

People who want to sign up for the classes can contact Annie Miraglia at 509-326-3330, ext. 203, or at [email protected].