DRIVES AND SALES
*Mt. Prospect’s Human Services Department is accepting donations for its annual Holiday Meal Basket program. Items needed include turkeys, canned hams, mashed potato mix, turkey gravy, canned fruit, nuts, olives, cereal and pasta sauce. Paper products, including diapers, napkins and toilet paper also are needed. No open, homemade or out-of-date food products will be accepted. Meal baskets will be provided to area families in need. Contact the department at Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St., 847-392-6000.
*The Mt. Prospect Historical Society is selling its 2nd annual automobile calendar. The cost is $10 and calendars are available at the Historical Society, the library, Norway General Store and Cycle Shop, Neat ‘N’ Cool Gifts, Busse Automotive and Keefer’s Pharmacy. For information or to place an order, call 847-392-9006.
*The Mitten Tree will be on display through Dec. 21 in the children’s department at the library, 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee. New mittens, gloves, scarves and hats will be accepted for the Elgin Community Crisis Center. Call 847-428-3661.
*Women in Need Growing Stronger has released its first calendar, “Beautiful Things with Wings,” for 2008. The calendars cost $10 and are available in the shelter resale stores in Palatine, Niles and Schaumburg or online at www.wingsprogram.com. All proceeds will benefit women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Call Jessica Jarrard at 847-908-0910.
*Christmas ornaments for 22 women and 42 children assisted by Home of the Sparrow, a transitional housing shelter, may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays in Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, 8505 Church St., north of McHenry County College. All of the shelter’s decorations were damaged during the August floods. Call 815-459-1132 or e-mail office@rclpc.org.
*A 2008 calendar and notecards featuring artwork by patients of the Adult & Child Rehab Center in Woodstock are available. Calendars cost $10 and notecards cost $6 for a package of six. They are available in the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, Read Between the Lynes and Home State Bank in Woodstock, as well as at the center, 708 Washington St. All proceeds will benefit the center, which provides therapy and nursing services for McHenry County residents. Call 815-338-1707.
*Donations of new, unwrapped toys for infants through teenagers may be dropped off between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 20 at the following locations: Betsy Ross, Anne Sullivan, MacArthur and Eisenhower schools in Prospect Heights; the School District 23 office, 700 N. Schoenbeck Rd., Prospect Heights; and the Prospect Heights Park District. Boy Scout Troop 36 and the 100% Foundation will deliver toys to 10 area agencies, hospitals and food pantries. Call 847-727-3885.
*The Niles Fire Department will hold its 4th annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive. Donations of new, unwrapped toys may be dropped off through noon Dec. 21 in both fire stations at 8360 W. Dempster St. and 6611 Jarvis Ave.; the police station, 7000 W. Touhy Ave.; the Senior Center, 999 Civic Center Drive; and the Niles Family Fitness Center, 987 Civic Center Drive. No stuffed animals or toiletries.
*The Giving Tree will be on display through Christmas Eve in the Macy’s wing at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. Names and gift requests are submitted by 14 area non-profit agencies assisting area families, children and seniors. Call 847-428-2200.
*Donations of new, unwrapped books in both English and Spanish for local children age 6 and younger will be accepted through Sunday in the Mt. Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. Call 847-253-5675.
*Donations of new, unwrapped gifts for children ages 1 to 16 may be dropped off through Friday in the Buffalo Grove Police Department lobby, 46 Raupp Blvd. Donations will be given to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve annual Toys for Tots drive.
*The Mitten Tree Project will accept donations of new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves for Des Plaines residents at the following locations: Des Plaines City Hall, Health and Human Services Division, 1420 Miner St., 5th Floor; Prairie Lakes, 515 E. Thacker St.; the library’s children’s department, 1501 Ellinwood St.; First Bank, 678 Lee St.; First Midwest Bank, 749 Lee St.; Fifth Third Bank, 510 Metropolitan Way; Plaza Bank, 379 S. Rand Rd.; Midwest Bank, 1545 Ellinwood St.; Frisbie Senior Center, 52 Northwest Highway; and Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 310 N. River Rd.
FUNDRAISERS
*The Desi Dance Club at Oakton Community College will present “Bollywood at Oakton,” a live stage show featuring the music, dance and fashion of modern Indian cinema, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the college, 1600 E. Golf Rd., Des Plaines. Students will impersonate their favorite Indian movie stars and be interviewed during “Koffee with Krunal,” a light-hearted parody of a popular Indian talk show. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Apna Ghar, a domestic violence shelter that serves primarily Asian women and children. Tickets cost $5. Call the Oakton box office at 847-635-1900.
*Clearbrook’s 3rd annual “Wonderland of Lights,” a 1.6-mile drive-through holiday light show, will be open through New Year’s Day at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The cost is $10 per car Monday through Thursday and $12 per car Friday through Sunday. Proceeds will benefit clients of Arlington Heights-based Clearbrook. For information call Santa’s hot-line at 847-577-HOHO (4646). A discount coupon is available at www.clearbrook.org.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
*Algonquin Middle School in Des Plaines raised more than $750 and collected food for local charities during its 1st annual Dodge for Dollars tournament last month. Proceeds will be used to purchase toys for the Toys for Tots campaign.
*The River Trails Park District in Mt. Prospect has received a Wildlife Preservation Fund grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the restoration of Woodland Trails Park. Local Scouts, Eagle Scouts and students will help remove invasive plants from 10 acres and restore 1 acre to native prairie over 10 years.
*The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Northern Cook and Northern DuPage Counties recently recognized more than 500 volunteers for their 120,000 hours of service at 81 not-for-profit agencies over the last year.
*School District U-46 recently received a nearly $20,000 Illinois Zero Waste Schools grant to create a healthier learning environment for students by reducing waste and recycling at six of its schools.
*The Des Plaines Library recently was awarded a $13,500 grant from the Illinois State Library to develop new services for children and teens with autism, and their families.
*Oakton Community College in Des Plaines recently received a $125,000 Shifting Gears initiative grant from the Joyce Foundation and the Illinois Community College Board to enhance its nursing program.
*The Mt. Prospect Historical Society has raised the $150,000 necessary to relocate the endangered 1896 Central Schoolhouse.
