Lake Co. public service calendar

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. 14

Veterans breakfast: Friday, Nov. 14, Grayslake Central High School, 400 N. Lake St., Grayslake. The Key Club and Public Service Practicum class will host a breakfast to honor local veterans. The breakfast will feature performances by the GCHS choir and band, a student presentation of gratitude, and an opportunity for veterans to share their experiences with students. Any veteran who would like to attend can RSVP by calling (847) 986-3334.

Nov. 15

Kirk of the Lakes craft show and bake sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, Kirk of the Lakes Presbyterian Church, 1500 W. Hawle St., Mundelein. Crafters are being sought. Booth space is $45. For application, call Lori, at (847) 277-1495.

Cell phone recycling: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 14, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 15, Jewett Park Community Center, 836 Jewett Park Drive, Deerfield, or Patty Turner Senior Center, 375 Elm St., Deerfield. The public is invited to put used cell phones in the recycling boxes. For information, call JPCC at (847) 945-0650 or PTSC at (847) 940-4010.

Nov. 16

Letter Writing Campaign: Through Sunday, Nov. 16, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Send messages of support to American troops via the library; drop boxes will be placed in the lobby. Address unsealed letters to "Dear Military Person." No postage is needed. For information, call (847) 438-3433 or stop by the library's information desk.

Nov. 17

Book drive: Though Monday, Nov. 17, Laura B. Sprague Elementary School, 2425 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire; Half Day School, 239 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire; and Daniel Wright Middle School, 1370 Riverwoods Road, Lincolnshire. Girl Scout Troop 2660 is sponsoring a book drive to benefit the "Reach Out and Read Program" at the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center. Gently-used books appropriate for children up to age 10 will be collected for children who come to the Lake County Health Department medical clinics with their families.

Nov. 22

Friends of Kevin and Regina fundraiser: 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Nov. 22, Jesse Oaks, 18490 W. Old Gages Lake Road, Gages Lake. Fundraiser for the Kevin Dalton and Regina Dunn families to defray medical costs. Kevin has aphasia as a result of a brain bleed associated with an arteriovenous malformation; Regina fought a MRSA infection for 11 months and succumbed in August. $15 cover charge; all proceeds benefit the fundraiser. With bands Good Call and Betty Soul, food, raffles and a Silent Auction. For information, e-mail jkdalton55@aim.com or kelykelley@comcast.net, or call (847) 382-8767 or (847) 884-8584.

Dec. 3

Gift distribution site needed: Catholic Charities, Lake County Services, needs a distribution site for its annual Christmas Gift Program from Dec. 3-16. Sponsors deliver the gifts to the distribution site, and clients pick up the gifts shortly before Christmas. The site should be about 30,000 to 40,000 square feet. To provide space, contact Jim Wogan, at (847) 782-4126 as soon as possible.

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.

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.

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 Thanksgiving and 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.

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.

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.