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.
May 29
Youth Volunteer Training: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. For students who signed up to help with the summer reading program and other activities at the library; attendance at a training session is required in order to volunteer. Grades 6 and up. Registration required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
May 30
Blood drive: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, Mundelein Police Department, 221 N. Lake St., Mundelein. The village of Mundelein will host a blood drive. Make reservations online at lsbrighten.org.
First Responders Appreciation and Safety Day: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30, Palatine Target shopping center parking lot, 605-771 E. Dundee Road, Palatine. Meet first responders including police and fire personnel, Palatine Citizen Corps, the American Red Cross and others. Includes exhibits, demonstrations, EMA command vehicles, meet Palatine's new police dog, Elvis, safety check and tricycle/bicycle safety course. Bring a donation of nonperishable food items to the Palatine Township Food Pantry. For information, ema@palatine.il.us.
June 6
Buffalo Grove Community Blood Drive: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, Alcott Center, 530 Bernard, Buffalo Grove. For an appointment, lsbrighten.org, use code BG98 or call (847) 803-7943. Walk-ins welcome.
June 7
Hair Fair for the unemployed: 1-6 p.m. Sunday, June 7, The Best Salon and Spa, 139 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Free haircut for the unemployed. Bring printed proof of unemployment payment, photo ID and current resume.
June 13
Clothes for the needy: 9-11 a.m. the second Saturday of each month, St. Andrew Episcopal Church's Elijah's Mantle for Children in Need community service project, 31 Park Ave., Grayslake. Clothing in sizes ranging from infant to size 16 boys and girls is available. Next dates are: June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. There is no cost. Donations of gently-used children's clothing in good condition are always welcome. standrewsgrayslake.org or (847) 223-2310.
Document destruction event: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, June 13, Village Public Works building, 51 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove. Sponsored by the Buffalo Grove Health Department in conjunction with the Solid Waste Agency of North Cook County. Destruction event for residentially generated paper, such as medical forms, bank statements, personal files, tax forms, etc. Open to all Buffalo Grove residents. ID will be checked. (847) 459-2518.
Blood drive: Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, New Apostolic Church, 24560 W. Indian Trail, North Barrington. For information, (847) 550-8858. Walk-ins welcome.
Ongoing
Tree and bench donations: The Vernon Hills Park District offers residents and neighbors the opportunity to honor a special person or commemorate an event by donating a tree or bench in a district park. Trees range from $225-$475 depending on the species selected, and can be personalized with a bronze plaque, which is sold at cost. Benches may be purchased for donation at a cost of $700, and personalized with a bronze plaque. Prices for plaques start at $70. The Tree & Bench Donation order form can be found online at vhparkdistrict.org or at the Park District Community Centers. For more information, call Cheryl Baron, at (847) 996-6933.
Pooch Pantry: 12:30-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, B.C. Dog Training, 920 Turret Court, Mundelein. B.C. Dog Training and B.A.R.K are collecting dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, biscuits and any pet treats to help families in need feed their pets. Gift cards from are pet supply stores will also be accepted (no cash or check donations). For information or to suggest a family in need, call (847) 566-1960 or e-mail dobes8@aol.com. The Pooch Pantry will be open for families in need from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at B.C. Dog Training.
Eli Skinner Chapter, NSDAR: The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is seeking volunteers to make wool caps for the troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and South Korea. Wool head covering which can be worn under the Kevlar helmet provides warmth to the head and neck, but does not restrict vision. Patterns are available at www.geocities.com/helmetliner. For details, contact helmetliner@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 236, Auburn, IL 62615.
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.
Avon Township Food Pantry: Grayslake Area Public Library, 100 Library Lane, Grayslake. Drop off packaged and canned food items. This is an ongoing, year-round collection. For information, call (847) 223-5313.
Recycle Printer or Copier cartridges: Grayslake Area Public Library, 100 Library Lane, Grayslake. Drop off any printer (inkjet or laser) or copier cartridges for recycling. For information, call (847) 223-5313.
Beth Am Food Pantry: Food distribution takes place from 12:30-2 p.m. on the last Sunday of the month at 225 N. McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Nonperishable food donations are always welcome. (847) 459-1677.
Donations sought: For sale to be held 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 11-12, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13, Prince of Peace Parish, 135 S. Milwaukee Ave., Lake Villa. The church is seeking donations for its annual Rummage Sale Extravaganza. Pickups for larger items are being scheduled. Small items will be accepted in June. For donation pickups, call (847) 356-6111 or e-mail poprummagesale@yahoo.com.
Letter Writing Campaign: Throughout May, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. May is Military Appreciation Month and the Ela Area Public Library has teamed up with the Silver Star Families of America for a letter-writing campaign for American troops. Letters and cards can be dropped off at the library information desk. Address messages to "Dear Wounded Warrior" or "Dear American Hero." No envelope or stamp is required. For details, call (847) 438-3433, e-mail infodesk@eapl.org or visit eapl.org.
Free dry cleaning for the unemployed: Zengeler Cleaners, 1401 Peterson Road, Libertyville; 539 E Park Ave., Libertyville; 1452 Waukegan Road, Deerfield; 550 Dundee Road, Northbrook; 1010 Tower Road, Winnetka; 1656 Willow Road, Northfield; and 754 Elm St., Winnetka. Zengeler Cleaners locations are offering free dry cleaning to anyone who is currently unemployed and needs freshly cleaned and pressed suits for job interviews. Customers must provide proof of their unemployment status in the form of a current unemployment check stub, and will receive a certificate good for cleaning three men's or women's suits. The offer will continue until 2,000 free cleaning certificates have been issued. For information, call Tom Zengeler, at (847) 272-6550, or visit zengelercleaners.com.