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.
Through Dec. 31
Lions Food Drive: The Lions will be collecting food all December at the Lions Den, 81 E. Main St., to benefit the Ela Area food pantry at St Francis Church. For information, call (847) 847-2171.
Jan. 2
First Aid For Little People: 10-11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Children can learn basic first aid skills and safety tips and make a personal first aid kit to take home. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.
Through Jan. 4
Food for fines: Through Sunday, Jan. 4, Wauconda Area Public Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda. The Wauconda Area Library will accept donations for the Wauconda/Island Lake Food Pantry in lieu of library fines on overdue items returned through Jan. 4. New winter clothing will also be accepted. This does not include late video/DVD fines or previous fines. For information, call (847) 526-6225 or visit wauclib.org.
Jan. 5
Mitten Tree: Through Monday, Jan. 5, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The Friends of Ela Library are accepting donations of new and "like new" mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for the library's annual Mitten Tree. Call (847) 438-3433.
Emergency Preparedness Training: Series of classes begin Monday, Jan. 5, Emergency Operations Center at Palatine Village Hall, 200 E. Wood St., Palatine. Learn how to be prepared for a disaster and to help your family, co-workers and friends after one occurs. Evening classes held over a two-three week period include disaster medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, physiology of terrorism, more. Call Tom Smith, (847) 359-9056.
Jan. 19
Ela Area Library board openings: The filing period is Jan. 19-26, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. The Ela Area Public Library Board will have four trustee openings to fill for the April 7, 2009, consolidated election. Those interested may pick up filing information at the library's information desk, including a petition form that must be filed bearing a total of 50 signatures of district residents. Any registered voter who resides in the library's district may submit nomination papers for the election. Each elected candidate will serve a four-year term on the Board. For information, call (847) 438-3433, ext. 119.
Jan. 25
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.
Food for Fines: Sunday, Jan. 25, to Saturday, Jan. 31, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. For each can of food (unopened and not expired) donated, the library will waive $1 of fines (no fees or lost materials). For information, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.
Ongoing
Read-for-Wells: Jan. 2-31, Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Children in preschool through sixth grade can read for charity as part of the library's Winter Reading Program. Participants will track how many minutes they read in January, and based on the total number of minutes, the library will donate up to $5 per child to Charity:Water, a nonprofit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. For information, visit the Youth Services Desk or call (847) 356-7711.
Scholarship Offered: Application deadline April 15. The Grayslake Greenery Garden Club is offering up to $1000 in scholarship money to be applied to tuition and textbook costs to any full or part-time student resident of Lake County who is majoring in the field of horticulture. For application form and complete instructions, contact GGGC at 480 Rock Hall Circle, Grayslake, IL 60030, or call (847) 223-5682.
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.