DESERT AIRE - If you've stacked up unwanted documents while deciding what to do with them, Sagebrush Senior Center President Kathy Meredith has the perfect plan for you.

Bring your nuisance papers to a free community shred day at the Center on May 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It will be sponsored by the Center, Molina Healthcare, Columbia Bank and the Mattawa-Desert Aire Chamber of Commerce.

"Identity theft is such a huge issue for all of us, and shredding your documents is one step to fight this problem," Meredith said.

The Sagebrush Senior Center is located at 23 Desert Aire Drive. You are encouraged to bring any unwanted paper that includes addresses, account numbers or access information such as birth dates, driver's license numbers, employment information.

The list goes on: anything that can aid a thief in accessing your bank or other accounts, even papers with your social security number. You should shred expired licences, credit cards, passports, visas and ID cards.

But be careful in going through your papers, Meredith said. You don't want to accidentally shred marriage, birth or divorce certificates, or military records, wills, legal documents, mortgage documentation, medical, citizenship or residency records.

For questions, you may e-mail Meredith at kathy.meredith56@gmail.com. You may call her at 932-4496 or 770-0626.