Northwest suburban 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. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Nov. 18

Food drive: The Social Ministry of St. Peter Lutheran Church will be organizing a food drive to help Chicago Uptown Ministry and Jehovah Lutheran Church and School stock their food pantries for the winter. Food collection will be from now until Nov. 18. Please bring your nonperishable items to the narthex closet at St. Peter Lutheran Church 111 W. Olive St., Arlington Heights.

Nov. 20

Identity Theft Seminar: 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Northbrook Park District Senior Center, 3323 Walters Ave. Northbrook. Police officer Michael Shep explains how identities are stolen and how to reduce your chances of becoming a victim Register at (847) 291-2988.

Nov. 21

Blood drive: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Bartlett High School, 701 Schick Road. For appointments, (630) 981-4432 or heartlandbc.org. All donors will receive a pair of flannel pants.

Nov. 22

Blood drive: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Congregation Beth Judea, Route 83 and Hilltop Road, Long Grove. Hosted by the Men's Club of Congregation Beth Judea. For an appointment, (847) 634-0777.

Food drive: Living Faith Church is hosting a Thankgiving Food Drive. All are encouraged to bring in nonperishable food items for the next weeks. All food donations will be available on Sunday, Nov 22, for those needing food for the Thanksgiving holiday. Call the church office, (847) 382-1830, if you need to make special arrangements for your donations. Living Faith Church meets at the Bethel Lutheran Church building, 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine.

Food collection: St Paul United Church of Christ, Barrington, is conducting a Share the Harvest food collection to benefit local food pantries. Much needed non-perishable foods and paper products can be dropped off at the church office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or brought to the worship service at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 22. St Paul is located at 401 E. Main St. in Barrington. (847) 381-0460; stpauluccbarrington.org

Nov. 23

Holiday Meal Basket program: The village of Mount Prospect Human Services Departments is conducting its holiday meal basket program for Mount Prospect residents in need. For the Thanksgiving program drop off frozen turkeys or canned hams on Monday, Nov. 23; for the Christmas program drop off nonperishable food items before Tuesday, Dec. 15 and frozen turkeys or canned hams on Monday, Dec. 21, at 50 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect. For information, (847) 870-5680

Dec. 5

Ivy Hall Holiday boutique: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Ivy Hall Elementary School, 1072 Ivy Hall Lane, Buffalo Grove. Vendors will sell clothing, personalized stationery, books, accessories and more. In conjunction with the boutique, the school will hold a Community Awareness/Resource event, with representatives from charities and organizations, including the Leukemia Research Foundation, Cancer Wellness Foundation and others, on hand to provide information about their activities. For information, call Randi Sobel, at (847) 370-8419, or Ellen DeLay, at (847) 226-6444.

Ongoing

Winter Wear Drive: Drop- off through Friday, Nov. 20, Streamwood Village Hall, 301 E. Irving Park Road; Park Place Recreation Center, 550 S. Park Blvd., Streamwood; Poplar Creek Library, 1405 S. Park Ave., Streamwood; Gymkhana, 1700 Tower Drive, Hanover Park; Ridge Circle School, 420 Ridge Circle, Streamwood; Citibank, 800 S. Barrington Road, Streamwood; First Midwest Bank, 2601 Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg; Fifth Third Bank, 121 N. Barrington Road, Schaumburg; and Associated Bank, 200 W. Bartlett Ave, Bartlett. Kiwanis Club of Streamwood is sponsoring a Winter Coat Drive for children in Hanover Township Donations may include any gently worn winter clothing such as coats, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, sweaters.

Bikes for kids: Mike's Bike Shop, 155 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, will be collecting bikes for under privileged children through Thanksgiving. Mike's Bike Shop takes in unwanted bikes and refurbishes them for donation. For information, (847) 358-0948.

Food drive: The Arlington Chiropractic Clinic, 1702 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights is collection food donations through Thanksgiving. Bring in nonperishable, unopened canned and packaged foods from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8-11 a.m. on Saturdays. No glass, perishable or homemade items. The drive benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository. For information, (847) 259-4493.

Thanksgiving food drive: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Meadows Credit Union, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 100, Arlington Heights. Food is being collected for the Wheeling Township Food Pantry to provide Thanksgiving meals. Items needed include stuffing mix; rice; dinner rolls; and canned vegetables, fruit and pumpkin. For a complete list, visit www.mcuonline.com or call (847) 342-9300.

Elk Grove Leo Club pet food drive: The Elk Grove Leo Club, a volunteer organization for children ages 12-18, in cooperation with the Elk Grove Lions Club, is conducting a pet food and supply drive benefiting the Elk Grove Village food pantry. Look for specially marked boxes around the village, including village hall. For information, call Beth, (847) 758-0034.

Holiday book drive: Through Tuesday, Dec. 1, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave. Hardcover, paperbacks for babies through teens in English and Spanish are being accepted, at the check out desk, for donation to Wheeling Township's Adopt-a-Family holiday basket program for information, call Deb Whisler, (847) 506-2613.

Read and Feed Food Drive: Through Tuesday, Dec. 1, donate food pantry items when you check out or return library books at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave.; on the Book mobile or at the Reading Room of the Arlington Heights Senior Center, 1801 W. Central Road. Items donated will be delivered to the food pantry at Wheeling Township. Donations of dog and cat food are also being accepted for donation to The Buddy Foundation. For information, visit ahml.info or call Deb Whisler, (847) 5-06-2613.

Winter Coat Drive: The Palatine Police Department is holding a winter coat drive through Sunday, Dec. 6. New and gently used winter jackets, hats, gloves, scarves and boots for children ages 17 and under are being collected. Items will be donated to the Palatine Opportunity Center and distributed to needy families within the community. Donations can be dropped off at the police station, 200 E. Wood St. or the Palatine Opportunity Center, 1585 N. Rand Road. For information, (847) 359-9000.

Snug Hugs for Kids clothing drive: Through Wednesday, Dec. 9, Merlin 2000,000 Shops. New and like new children's winter outerwear and clothing is being collected for the 18th annual Snug Hugs for Kids program. Coats, boots, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, sweaters, pants and socks to benefit Children's Home+ Aid. For participating locations, visit merlins.com.

Community Partnership Coat Drive: Through Monday, Dec. 14, Devon Bank, 561 N. Milwaukee Ave.; America's Market, 9 Huntington Lane; Wheeling Park District Community Recreation Center, 333 W. Dundee Road, all in Wheeling. The Wheeling Park District in cooperation with School District 21 is holding its annual coat drive. New and gently-used coats, hats, scarves, snow pants, boots, gloves and mittens are being collected for low-income children and teens. For information, (847) 465-3333.

Food/Toy drive: Through the holidays, Park Chiropractic, 321 Prospect, Mount Prospect. Collection of non-perishable food/supplies or new/slightly-used toys to benefit the Lamb's Fold Center for Women & Children, New Moms Shelter, and Connections for Abused Women and Children. For information, (847) 253-7600.

Bikes for Needy Kids program: Through Nov. 24, Mikes Bike Shop, 155 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Unwanted bikes are taken in, cleaned and tuned up for donation to under privileged children. Donate that bike you haven't ridden in years. For information, (847) 358-0948.

Mitten Tree Project: Through Friday, Dec. 18, Des Plaines City Hall lobby, 1420 Miner St.; Prairie Lakes facility, 515 E. Thacker St; Des Plaines Public Library children's department, 1501 Ellinwood Road; First Bank, 678 Lee St.; Fifth Third Bank, 510 Metropolitan Way; Plaza Bank, 379 S. River Road; Des Plaines Frisbie Senior Center, 52 Northwest Highway; Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, 310 N. River Road; and Science & Arts Academy, 1825 Miner St., all in Des Plaines. Donate new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves for individuals in the community who are in need. Adult and children sizes.

Reading tutors needed: 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, one-two times per week, Chippewa Middle School, 123 N. Eighth Ave., Des Plaines. Volunteers are needed to fill one-to-one reading tutor positions immediately. A literacy specialist provides training and ongoing support. For information, contact Michael Sibert, (847) 343-4513. For a volunteer application, call Mindy Ward, (847) 824-8070.

Bingo Bus to Hines Hospital: Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Bartlett is forming groups to visit and play bingo with veterans at Hines Hospital in Maywood. If you would be interested in going once a month on a Saturday, call (630) 837-1166 for information.

Volunteers needed: Kenneth Young Center is seeking Vocational program volunteers; resale shop volunteers' a graphic person for special event materials; and Donor Perfect volunteers. For details visit kennethyoung.org.

Prescription drug discount card: The village of Hoffman Estates Department of Health and Human Services is offering free prescription drug discounts cards to Hoffman Estates residents through a program sponsored the National League of Cities. For information, (847) 781-4850; (888) 620-1749 or caremark.com/nlc.

Volunteers needed: Volunteers are needed to help with the holiday rush at the Hanover Township Astor Avenue Community Center in Hanover Park. Join the team and help with administrative duties, stocking shelves, client check-in and holiday applications. For information, (630) 540-9085.