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.

Feb. 25

Blood Drive: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Scholl Foot and Ankle Center, 3471 Green Bay Road, North Chicago. The American Red Cross will host a blood drive. Donors must bring a photo ID. For information or to register, call (847) 578-3203.

March 30

Spring and Summer Clothing ReSale: Donations of clothing will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 30; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, March 31 and April 1; and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 2 , for sale to be held 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 3 and 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday, April 4, Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Road, Barrington. For information, call (847) 836-5540.

Through April 15

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.

AARP Tax help: Noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays until April 15, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. AARP-trained volunteers offer assistance with filing basic tax forms to taxpayers with middle and low incomes, with special attention to those 60 and older. To schedule a 45-minute appointment, call (847) 918-3225, or visit fremontlibrary.org. Filers are required to bring a copy of last year's tax return and all receipts for the 2008 tax year and know the amount of their 2008 economic stimulus check. Tax forms are available in the lobby during regular business hours.

Ongoing

Census testing for jobs: Nonsupervisory testing for United States 2010 Census jobs will be held at the following times:

• 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Village of Gurnee, 325 N. O'Plaine, Gurnee.

• 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Village of Island Lake, 3720 Greenleaf Ave., Island Lake.

• 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Wauconda Public Library, 801 N. Main St., Wauconda.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County, Waukegan.

• 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, Fox Lake Park District, 71 Nipppersink Blvd., Fox Lake

• 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, IDES - Job Center, 800 Lancer Lane, Grayslake.

• 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, Deerfield Library, 920 Waukegan Road, Deerfield.

• 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, Lake Barrington Field House, 28156 W. NorthPointe Parkway, Lake Barrington.

• 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, Laschen Center, Vernon Hills Park District, 294 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills.

• 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, Village of Wheeling, 255 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling.

• 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, Willow Creek Community Church, Room B207, 67 E. Algonquin Road, South Barrington.

• 10:30 a.m. Friday. Feb. 27, Village of Riverwoods, 300 Portwine, Riverwoods.

• 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, Antioch Village Hall, 874 Main St., Antioch.

• 2:30 and 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, Northbrook.

• 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, Waukegan City Hall, 100N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan.

• 10:30 a.m. and noon Friday, Feb. 27, Fremont Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein.

• 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, Gurnee Fire Department, 6581 Dada Drive, Gurnee.

• 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, Warren Township Center, 17801 W. Washington, Gurnee.

For information, visit www.census.gov/2010census.

Donate music supplies, toys and books: Students of Lake Zurich High School Jazz Bands will travel to New Orleans over spring break to build a house with Habitat For Humanity and perform for students and volunteers in the area. They are asking for donations of toys, books and music supplies to take with them to distribute at schools. Musical instruments, supplies, sheet music, gently used children's books or toys can be dropped off at Lake Zurich High School, 300 Church St., Lake Zurich, or e-mail band director Josh Thompson, at Josh.Thompson@lz95.org, or Clara Piecuch, at cpiecuch237@msn.com.

Free Tax Preparation: 9 a.m. to noon. (by appointment) Saturdays, Feb. 7 through April 11, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Free tax preparation help is available for seniors 60 years or older, families with incomes of $35,000 or less and individuals with incomes of $25,000 or less. Patrons must sign up in advance for appointments. Register by calling (847) 438-3433, online at eapl.org or up at the library's information desk.

Pooch Pantry: 12:30-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, B.C. Dog Training, 920 Turret Court, Mundelein. B.C. Dog Training and B.A.R.K are collecting dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, biscuits and any pet treats to help families in need feed their pets. Gift cards from are pet supply stores will also be accepted (no cash or check donations). For information or to suggest a family in need, call (847) 566-1960 or e-mail dobes8@aol.com. The Pooch Pantry will be open for families in need from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at B.C. Dog Training.

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.