Buy a pie for a cause at Nick's Pizza next week

Recently, my colleague Harry Hitzeman wrote a story on local restaurants serving up "meal deals" in the tough economy.

One of the eateries featured was Nick's Pizza and Pub in Elgin, which promises half-price pizzas on Mondays "until unemployment lines go away."

The restaurant this week announced it would be making efforts to help out another group in need.

From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. next Thursday, June 25; Nick's, at the corner of Bowes and Randall roads, will host a fundraiser to benefit a Good Shepherd Lutheran School family of seven who lost their home and all of their belongings in a fire.

According to a news release from the Elgin school, Nick's will donate 15 percent of all proceeds from June 25 to the family. The only requirement is to bring the flyer that is being distributed and is posted on the Good Shepherd Web site at www.goodshepherd-elgin.org.

For details, call Good Shepherd at (847) 741-7795, or Nick's at (847) 531-5550.

Relay raises cash: Elgin Community College's Relay for Life on June 12 and 13 raised more than $25,000, college officials announced this week.

The event, held June 12 and 13 at ECC's Main Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, saw students and area residents walk all night and into the morning to raise funds for cancer research.

Relay For Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, raises funds for cancer research, education and advocacy. Since ECC's first relay in 2002, the college has raised nearly $320,000.

Help out for a show to remember: Sleepy Hollow Service Club writes in its July Fourth flyer that it will need residents help to make the holiday fireworks a night to remember this year. The club, which puts on the annual show, does not receive any funds from the village, relying solely on donations from residents. If you're a resident, look in your mailbox for a flier spelling out the details of how to donate to the cause.