Holiday charity opportunities

Wasco Diamonds food drive:

The Wasco Diamonds Girls Fastpitch Softball Program is holding its annual Holiday Food Drive to support the Elburn Food Pantry. The food drive runs through Dec. 30. Drop off bins are at the Campton Township Community Center in Wasco, Luau Coffee in Wasco, A Perfect "U" Salon in

VNA coat drive: Through December, Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley is accepting coat, mitten and hat donations to help keep the children served at the VNA Health Centers warm this winter.

More than 8,000 area children under the age of 15 are patients at the VNA Health Centers in Aurora, Elgin and in Aurora East High School. Many of these children come from families who live at or below the poverty level.

The drop-off box for the coats and mittens will be inside the first floor main entrance of VNA's facility at 400 N. Highland Ave. in Aurora. The building doors will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. After hour drop-offs will be accepted as well; look for the outside drop-off box by the main entrance.

Those interested in receiving a receipt for tax purposes can visit the VNA receptionist on the second floor during business hours.

For details, call Linda Reiter, VNA volunteer coordinator, at (630) 482-8112.

Toys for Tots in Campton Hills: The Campton Hills Police Department is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps in the "Toys for Tots" program. The local Marine detachment responsible for this area is the Fox Valley Marines Detachment 1233, 1005 Prairie St. in St. Charles; (630) 564-1804.

Its mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them as Christmas gifts to needy children. The Campton Hills Police Department is proud to be a sponsor of this program and will be a drop-off point for these toys. Of particular need, are toys for children, age 8 to 14. Anyone wishing to donate to this program may drop off their unwrapped new toys at the Campton Hills Police Department/Village Hall, 40W115 Campton Crossings Drive, Unit B, Campton Hills; (630) 584-0330.

Anyone who has a toy for a needy child and is unable to come to the Campton Hills Police Department may contact the non-emergency number and make arrangements for someone to pick up the toy.

More information can be found at www.toysfortots.org or by contacting the Campton Hills Police Department.

The drop-off deadline is Dec. 21.

Tri-Cities Toys for Kids: Join in the fun and add to the magic of the holiday season. Once again, the Tri-Cities Toys for Kids program is seeking the community's support for children at Christmas time. Donations for new toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals, books, and much more are greatly appreciated. Monetary contributions will also be accepted. Here's your chance to help make this Christmas very special for local boys and girls.

In its 24th year, this program has had great success due to the generous donations. Help support this program by dropping off any donations to the following St. Charles locations: Pottawatomie Pro Shop, 845 North Ave.; Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Ave.; Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St.; and Norris Recreation Center, 1050 Dunham Road.

The Salvation Army distributes toys to needy boys and girls throughout the Tri-cities area. For information, call Jim Wheeler at (630) 584-8356. Please drop off the gifts no later than Dec. 19.

Good Cents Children drive: Good Cents Children is sponsoring its coat drive for Channing Memorial School in Elgin. For the past seven years, area residents have generously contributed new and gently used coats and jackets for the school's children. Recipients of these donations are often times homeless, victims of domestic violence, or children of immigrants arriving in the area with no warm clothing.

Donations are accepted during store hours 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Good Cents Children Inc. is at 220 W. State St. in Geneva; (630) 208-1115.

For details, call Earlene Froelich, Channing School social worker, at (847) 888-5187 or Harriet Zawada, Good Cents store manager, at (630) 208-1115.