Lake County public service
Calls for volunteers and events that benefit the public, such as social service clubs, call for donations of items, blood drives, bone marrow drives, food pantry drives, food giveaways, etc. Deadline is two weeks before event date.
Dec. 16
Letters to Santa: Wednesday, Dec. 16, Wildwood Park District, 33325 Sears Blvd., Wildwood. Dec. 16 is the last day to drop a letter to Santa in the dedicated mailbox outside the park district office to receive a personalized reply from Santa Claus. For information, call (847) 223-7275 or visit wildwoodparkdistrict.com.
Dec. 20
Blood drive: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday Dec. 20, Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. Hosted by the Men's Club of Congregation Beth Judea and held in conjunction with Life Source. For appointments, (847) 634-0777.
Dec. 23
Red Cross Blood Drive: 2-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Donors who are Lake Villa District Library card holders will receive fine amnesty on LVDL materials up to $50. Call Nina Kenney, at (847) 356-7711, ext. 216.
Jan. 9
Clothes for the needy: 9 a.m. to 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 16 boys and girls is available. There is no cost. Donations of gently used children's clothing in good condition are always welcome. For details, visit standrewsgrayslake.org or call (847) 223-2310.
Jan. 19
Blood Drive: 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. An American Red Cross blood drive will be held. For information, call (847) 546-7060 or (847) 576-7064 (TDD) or visit rlalibrary.org.
Ongoing
Grant Township Food Pantry: Drop items off from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Grant Township Supervisor's office, 26725 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside. The pantry food is running low; nonperishable items such as canned goods, peanut butter, pancake mix, syrup, etc. are needed. Items such as toiletries would also be greatly appreciated.
Clothes Closet and Food Pantry: Receive goods from 10 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Saturday each month; goods collected 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, The Edge Church, 42 E. Grand Ave., Suite 102., Fox Lake. Must be a resident of Fox Lake or Ingleside to receive goods. For information, call (630) 287-1592.
Massages for donations: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Ross Chiropractic, 506 E Hawley St., Mundelein. Bring in donation of food or a new toy during December and receive a free massage. For an appointment, call (847) 571-5001.
Toys for Tots: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 18, Prudential Starck Realtors, 805 W Route 22, Lake Zurich. Drop off a new, unwrapped toy for children in need. Call (847) 438-8883.
Clothing and toy collection: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, Lindenhurst Early Childhood Center, 309 Granada Blvd., Lindenhurst. The center will be collecting gently-used clothing and toys through Friday, Dec. 18, and new toys through Monday, Dec. 21. There will also be a tree where "Adopt an Angel" tags can be picked up, each with the name of a foster child and their wish-list; return wrapped items with the wish-list attached before Dec. 18. For details, call (847) 356-2288.
Food and New Book Drive: Through Saturday, Dec. 19, Temporary Library Center, 114 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville; Petranek's Pharmacy, 426 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville; and Evergreen Interim Library, 290 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills. Donate food items for the Libertyville and Vernon Township food pantries or unwrapped new or like-new books to be distributed to less fortunate. For information, including a detailed list of requested food items, call (847) 362-2330 or visit
Food Drive: Through Thursday, Dec. 24, 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 to be donated to the Avon Township Food Pantry. With a donation, receive a 10 percent off coupon from Big Jack's and Sign Central.
Food for Fines: Through Wednesday, Dec. 30, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The library will accept donations of nonperishable boxed or canned food, paper goods and cleaning supplies as payment for current overdue fines. Fees will not be waived for fines already accrued or to lost items, DVDs, videos and holiday CDs. The items collected will be distributed to families in need. For information, call (847) 438-3433.
Hair salon food drive: Through Thursday, Dec. 31, Scissor Happy Hair Salon, 730 S. Butterfireld Road, Mundelein. Drop off nonperishable food items for Mundelein and Vernon Hills food pantries and receive a $5 off coupon and get entered in a raffle for hair products and services.
Mitten Tree: Through Jan. 4, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The Friends of Ela Library are accepting new and like new mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for the library's annual Mitten Tree. Last year, more than 450 items were distributed to the residents at Mount St. Joseph in Lake Zurich and the Lake County Haven in Libertyville. For details, call (847) 438-3433.
Sock tree: Through Wednesday, Jan. 6, Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. The Warren-Newport Public Library Staff Association is sponsoring a sock tree as a community service in the Main Street area of the library. New socks will be accepted and donated to local social service organizations. For information, call (847) 244-5150. Visit wnpl.info.
Boy Scout Troop 275: 7-8:30 p.m. every Thursday, Community Church of Round Lake, 217 Goodnow Blvd., Round Lake. Troop 275 participates in monthly camp outs, service projects and adventure activities. Open to boys ages 11-17. Call (847) 715-6511 or e-mail inthecourt@sbcglobal.com.
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: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Lake County Animal Control, 29278 N. Highway 83, Mundelein. Accepting donations of dry and canned dog and cat food, treats and domestic bird food; gift cards for PetSmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus; cat litter; resealable plastic bags; and pet welfare goods such as bowls and toys. The Pooch Pantry will be open for families in need from 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For information, call (847) 566-1960.
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.
Paper drive: 9:30-10 a.m. and 11 a.m. the third Sunday of each month, Grace Lutheran Church, 501 Valley Park Drive, Libertyville. Church youth will man the church recycling bin to assist with the unloading of cars. The bin is in place every day. For information, visit aboutgracelutheran.org/paperdrive.html or call (847) 367-7050.