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.

Dec. 3

OmniPod Informational Session: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, Barnes & Noble Book Store, 720 Hawthorne Center, Vernon Hills. See the latest OmniPod diabetes technologies. The event is free, open to the public. For information, contact Erich A. Sandoval at (917) 497-2867 or esandoval@lazarpartners.com.

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.

Sweat with Santa: Cycling at 7:15 a.m., half-hour aerobics classes available from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, Park View Health and Fitness Center, 1401 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. For adults 14 and older. Programs are free with a donation of a nonperishable food item and membership is not required. For information, call (847) 566-0650, or visit mundeleinparks.org.

Dec. 7

Lions Candy Cane Hunt and Food Drive: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Lions Park. The Lions will be collecting food all December at the Lions Den, 81 E. Main St., to benefit the Ela Area food pantry at St Francis Church. The main collecting will be on Sunday when the Lions will hold their Candy Cane Hunt for the children of Lake Zurich. There will be a special raffle for all children who bring at least three canned goods for the food drive. Santa and Mrs. Claus will appear. Refreshments will be served. For information, call (847) 847-2171.

Alternative Christmas Market: 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Fellowship Hall of Community Protestant Church, 418 N. Prairie Ave., Mundelein. The Dorcas Circle of Community Protestant Church offers an opportunity to shop from products from Ten Thousand Villages produced by artisans in developing countries or to buy a chick, rabbit, education, or other improvements to someone in need through Church World Service in a loved one's name. For information or directions, call the church office (847) 566-4000.

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.

Through Dec. 23

Cans for Coupons: Through Tuesday, Dec. 23, Big Jack's Chicago Style Red Hots, 507 N. Hainesville Road, Round Lake Park. Big Jack's and Sign Central are accepting Cans of food for Lake County Catholic Charities. Those donating will receive a 10 percent off coupon for any order from Big Jack's and Sign Central. For information, call (847) 818-9002.

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.

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 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.