The Jewish Federation is collecting funds for Hurricane Sandy victims.
The federation is a 501c3 tax-deductible organization and all participants will receive a thank you note for contributing.
Anyone who would like to contribute, can mail a check to the Jewish Federation, 470 Andalusia Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174 and in the memo column put hurricane relief.
Festival of Trees scheduled
The New Smyrna Beach Garden Club will host its annual Festival of Trees & Wreaths from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2000 Turnbull Bay Road.
The event will feature decorated Christmas trees and wreaths for silent auction, raffle prizes, a Golden Elephant Boutique, plant and bake sale.
Donations needed
Edgewater Fire-Rescue is in need of donations for its Operation Caring program.
Donations of new clothes, gift cards for teens and new, unwrapped toys are being accepted at Station 55 (1605 S. Ridgewood Ave.), Station 57 (2628 Hibiscus Drive) and City Hall (104 N. Riverside Drive).
There is also a need for non-perishable food and personal care items. Monetary donations are accepted as well. Checks can be written to Edgewater Fire-Rescue Association. Donations of food, toys and money will be accepted without deadline.
All of these items will be distributed to people in the Edgewater area.
Signups for assistance will be from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Nov.29 and Dec. 5, at the Edgewater Fire Rescue Association Fire Hall (2616 Hibiscus Drive).
Applicants must provide for children a birth certificate and Social Security card and for adults a Social Security card, picture ID, proof of income and proof of residence. In order to be eligible to receive assistance, the applicant/family must reside in Edgewater.
For more information, call (386)424-2445.
Card party slated
Knights of Columbus No. 4939 will host a card party at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at its clubhouse, 516 S. Orange Ave., New Smyrna Beach.
Cost is $5. Participants should bring their own cards.
Lunch will be available for purchase. All proceeds go toward the club's charity fund.
For more information or to buy tickets, call (386) 690-6219.
Tickets also will be available at the door.
Sponsors needed
Sponsors are needed for the Southeast Volusia Golfin' 4 Homeless Prevention Fundraiser.
This event will be on Dec. 1 at the Preserve at Turnbull Bay, including a raffle, lunch and $10,000 for a hole-in-one.
All funds raised will support Halifax Urban Ministries Feed a Family Services now serving the Southeast Volusia Community at five locations from New Smyrna Beach to Oak Hill.
For sponsor information or an entry form, visit www.halifaxurbanministries.org.
Pancake breakfast planned
The New Smyrna Beach Middle School's Stingray Stingers dance team is sponsoring an All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18, at all three New Smyrna Beach McDonald's.
Tickets may be purchased in advance for $4 each or from the dancers at each McDonald's on the morning of the breakfast.
The dancers are hoping to raise funds to participate in several more competitions this year, as well as to help with the costs of sponsoring and performing in two shows at the middle school in December and again in the spring.
For more information, call (386) 405-5328 or e-mail michelensb@yahoo.com.
Community Thanksgiving Day dinner slated
The 12th annual free Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at First United Methodist Church Hollister Hall, 215 Palmetto St., New Smyrna Beach.
An invitation is extended to all residents (including families, homeless and unemployed of Southeast Volusia), to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner.
There is no charge for the dinner, but donations will be accepted to help the sponsoring churches with their costs to provide this annual community service.
The 2012 dinner is sponsored by 13 churches in the Southeast Volusia area.
For more information call (386) 428-4371 between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday.
Council on Aging conducting holiday drives
The Council on Aging is conducting a holiday food drive.
The council's Santa for Seniors collection will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at four Lohman Funeral Home locations.
'¢935 E. New York Ave., DeLand
'¢168 Providence Blvd. Deltona
'¢733 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach
'¢3751 S. Ridgewood Ave., Port Orange
Participants may drop off a gift of cash, gift card or new unwrapped gifts for a senior.
The council is also collecting for its Angel Tree. To receive a name, call the council and it will be mailed to you. Items should be returned by Dec. 7.
For information, call (386) 253-4700, Ext. 250, e-mail lcampbell@coaiaa.org or visit www.coavolusia.org.
Chisholm Alumni donate to elementary school
The Chisholm Alumni Association presented $500 to Chisholm Elementary School.
The funds were donated by alumni of the former Chisholm High School (1924-1969), who gathered in New Smyrna Beach for the celebration of their 13th reunion.
The donation was received by Principal Kelly Carter to be used as she and her staff determines there is a need to foster student success.
See the Jaguars
On Dec. 23, the Knights of Columbus is taking a double decker bus to Jacksonville, to see the Patriots vs. the Jaguars.
The bus will leave Knights of Columbus hall, 516 S. Orange Ave., New Smyrna Beach, at 9:30 a.m.
Only 55 tickets are available at $90 per person, food and libations included.
For more information, call (386) 576-6662 or at (386) 428-7161.
Holiday waste collection schedule for unincorporated areas
There will be no garbage, recycling and yard trash collection for residents of unincorporated Volusia County on Thanksgiving day. The makeup day will be Saturday, Nov. 24.
Unincorporated areas are outside city limits.
There also will be no collection on Christmas and New Years days. Collection days normally scheduled between Dec. 25 and Jan. 4 will be the following day. For instance, Wednesday collections will be on Thursdays.
The Tomoka Landfill and West Volusia Transfer Station will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's days.
For more information, call (386) 943-7889 or visit www.volusia.org/recycle.
Kids can receive a postcard from Santa
Santa is making his list and checking it twice at Volusia County's Parks, Recreation and Culture Division.
As part of an annual tradition, recreation employees will send personalized postcards from Santa to children up to age 11.
Parents can have their children added to Santa's mailing list by e-mailing the child's name, address and ZIP code to elves@volusia.org, calling (386) 736-5953 or faxing (386) 943-7012. Requests will be accepted through Dec. 9.