Public Service

Events where participation would benefit the public, such as volunteer events, social service clubs, call for donations to military, blood drives, bone marrow drives, food pantry drive, people who are giving away food, etc. Send items to nbrcalendar@dailyherald.com two weeks before event date.

Nov. 21

Rummage Sale: Donations will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 21 at Wauconda High School, 555 N. Main St., Wauconda, for the Wauconda High School Varsity Girls Softball team's community rummage sale to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 at the school. For details, contact Diane Olson at compete2win@yahoo.com or (847) 487-2741.

Nov. 23

Operation Holiday - Gifts For Troops: Donation deadline 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, Antioch Public Library District, 757 N. Main St., Antioch. The library seeks to include donated items from local community members with a shipment of cards made by a children's publishing class to troops overseas. All donated items can be left in a special box in the library lobby (do not place items the book drop boxes). Unsealed cards and letters are also welcome. A list of troop requested items is available for pick up in the library lobby or at apld.info.

Nov. 25

Donations for Fines: Through Tuesday, Nov. 25, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. The library will accept donations of diapers, new baby items and new children's books to benefit Shelter, Inc. in Arlington Heights, an emergency shelter for children that also provides educational programs for first-time, at-risk parents. For each donation, the library will waive $2 of overdue fines. For information, call (847) 634-3650.

Nov. 27

Thanksgiving dinner: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, Culver's, 645 N. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Local churches and Culver's will team up to serve a free Thanksgiving feast to the lonely and hungry on Thanksgiving Day. For information, call (847) 772-2902.

Nov. 29

Kids fun while parents shop: Reservations must be made by Nov. 25, for event from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, Mundelein High School, 1350 W. Hawley St., Mundelein. The school's student leadership organization will provide organized activities for children ages 4 and up so parents can spend the evening doing holiday shopping or have an evening to themselves. $5 per child. Proceeds will benefit the school's Adopt-a-Family charity. Activities will include basketball, soccer, dancing, cheerleading, crafts and games. Call the high school at (847) 949-2200, ext. 1291 or e-mail student leadership advisor Tracy Carlson at tcarlson@mhs.k12.il.us.

Nov. 30

Treasures for the Troops: Through Nov. 30, Wilson Nurseries, 1555 N. Route 12, Volo, and 43W967 Route 72, Hampshire. Wilson Nurseries is collecting items which are regularly requested by troops stationed in Iraq, including personal care items such as lip balm, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, floss and hand sanitizer; nonperishable food items such as beef jerky, Ramen noodle cups, tuna packets, cookies, salsa, Gatorade/Crystal Light powder, hard candy, popcorn, etc.; magazines, paperback books, puzzle books (Sudoku, crosswords, brain teasers), playing cards and other games; new or used CDs or DVDs; batteries; and other items, like pens and pencils, phone cards, disposable cameras, socks, T-Shirts, sunglasses, stationery, etc. Cards or other notes of seasonal greetings are also appreciated. Items will then be packaged and sent out at the start of December for a Christmas distribution.

Blood Drive: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. The Men's Club of Congregation Beth Judea's annual blood drive. Bring a state ID or drivers license and have something to eat before you arriving. Donors cannot have donated blood elsewhere after Oct. 5. To make an appointment, call (847) 634-0777 and leave a message for Blood Drive Chairman Fred Rabinowitz.

Until Dec. 3

Gift distribution site needed: Catholic Charities, Lake County Services, needs a distribution site for its annual Christmas Gift Program from Dec. 3-16. Sponsors deliver the gifts to the distribution site, and clients pick up the gifts shortly before Christmas. The site should be about 30,000 to 40,000 square feet. To provide space, contact Jim Wogan, at (847) 782-4126 as soon as possible.

Dec. 6

Free admission to "The American Soldier": 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda. The Lake County Discovery Museum is offering veterans and active military personnel free admission to the museum and the special exhibition "The American Soldier: A Photographic Tribute" in honor of Veteran's Day and Pearl Harbor Day. The American Soldier is a dramatic exhibition of 116 photographs that capture the essence of American soldiering over more than 150 years. For information, call (847) 968-3400 or visit LCFPD.org/AmericanSoldier.

Vital Points Food Drive: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, Vital Points Therapy, 326 S. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. For a donation of $25 or a nonperishable food donation worth $25, new clients will receive a community-style acupuncture treatment for stress reduction, weight loss or pain relief. Donations benefit Libertyville Township Food Pantry. For details, call (847) 281-9999.

Dec. 9

Lake Villa Neighborhood Watch: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, Lake Villa village hall, 65 Cedar Ave., Lake Villa. The Lake Villa Police Department will hold a Neighborhood Watch organizational meeting open to residents interested in starting a neighborhood watch program in their subdivision or apartment complex. For information, call Officer Carl Williams or Detective Rochelle Tisinai, at (847) 356-6106.

Jan. 19

Ela Area Library board openings: The filing period is Jan. 19-26, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The Ela Area Public Library Board will have four trustee openings to fill for the April 7, 2009, consolidated election. Those interested may pick up filing information at the library's information desk, including a petition form that must be filed bearing a total of 50 signatures of district residents. Any registered voter who resides in the library's district may submit nomination papers for the election. Each elected candidate will serve a four-year term on the Board. For information, call (847) 438-3433, ext. 119.

Until Jan. 25

Exhibitors wanted: Exhibitors are wanted for a Health, Wellness and Fitness Expo from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. Local health, fitness and wellness organizations will be at the library to share key factors in leading a healthy life, featuring displays, chair massages, blood pressure checks, health screenings, food samples, a healthy foods cooking demo and an appearance from Chicago Bears official team mascot Staley da Bear. Those interested in setting up a free booth can contact Shannon Galton at sgalton@vapld.info or (847) 634-3650 ext. 137.

Ongoing

Food boxes: Open Arms Mission Food Pantry seeks donations to purchase 800 food boxes to distribute to low income families this holiday season. A $25 donation provides a holiday dinner, including a 12- to 14-pound turkey, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, dessert and coffee. Each box also provides additional nutritious foods. Donations can be made online on the mission's Web site, openarmsmission.org or by sending a donation to Open Arms Mission, PO Box 79, Antioch, IL 60002.

Electronics recycling: 8 a.m. to noon, the first Saturday of each month, Wauconda Township Highway Department, at 505 W. Bonner Road, Wauconda. All Wauconda Township residents are invited to bring in electronic recyclables. Items accepted include computers and computer components, video games, televisions, VCR/DVD players, cameras, radios and accessories, phones, and more. For more information call the Township Office at (847) 526-2631.

Allendale Association: A not-for-profit children's facility in Lake Villa, looking for qualified volunteers to work directly with children or on other projects. Help a child develop positive relationships with adults, share gardening knowledge in the vocational horticultural center, evaluate a student's Individual Education Plans and meet with the child's therapeutic team, work in the thrift store, or help in other ways. To learn more, visit www.allendale4kids.org.

Knit or crochet for babies: The Waukegan Area Branch of American Association of University Women is looking for people to knit or crochet baby hats for babies born at Vista Medical Center East. Call (847) 244-7926.

GLCU Food Drive: Great Lakes Credit Union has selected a local pantry in each of its eight branch location communities and has asked members and employees to donate nonperishable food items for families in Antioch, Gurnee, Libertyville, North Chicago, Round Lake, Spring Grove, Waukegan and Zion in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. To donate, stop by any GLCU branch and look for the grocery cart in the lobby. For information, contact Sue Malo, at (847) 578-8869 or visit glcu.org.