Fundraisers/Charitable activities
• Busch’s Fresh Food Market 13th annual “Season of Sharing” food drive is through Nov. 29, to benefit local food banks and rescue agencies. Donations will be accepted at all Busch’s locations in Southeast Michigan. Donation options include purchasing a pre-made “Ready to Go” donation bag with 16 items for a family in need, making a monetary donation at a Busch’s checkout register, purchasing gift cards, and donating bottle return slips, buschs.com/community-giving.
• “Coats for the Cold” coat drive collection is through Nov. 30 in Oakland County. Donations of new or gently-used, clean coats and jackets are sought to be distributed to those in need. The coat drive is a partnership of the sheriff’s office, Genisys Credit Union, Real Estate One, McKenzie Moving and 1-800-Self-Storage, oakgov.com/sheriff/Community%20Services/domestic/Pages/Coats-for-the-Cold.aspx.
• The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit mission to Rescue Christmas in 2020. On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, all donations up to $25,000 will be doubled, due to a pledge by TCF Bank. Individuals can contribute to The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s Red Kettle Campaign, Dec. 1, by: Texting GIFT to 24365, calling 877-SAL-MICH or visiting www.salmich.org
• Paws With A Cause fundraiser is through Dec. 1, Pawswithacause.org, www.justgiving.com/campaign/thankful.
• Coco-Ray Boutique will host a GivingTuesday holiday shopping fundraiser to benefit New Day Foundation for Families, 5-9 p.m. Dec. 1, at the pop-up shop located in the Village of Rochester Hills, 346 N. Adams, Rochester Hills, facebook.com/cocoray1111.
• The city of Auburn Hills is hosting its Giving Tree to benefit Neighborhood House, to provide holiday gifts for 500 low-income children of families in the greater Rochester/Auburn Hills area. Unwrapped gifts may be donated to Auburn Hills City Hall or other locations listed on the website, by Dec. 7, or purchase gifts online through Amazon fundraiser, amzn.to/32TIo06. For information, contact Stephanie Carroll at 248-364-6802 or email scarroll@auburnhills.org.
• The City of Farmington Hills Senior Division Secret Santa Program seeks individuals to volunteer as Secret Santas. Items requested include household supplies, warm outerwear and holiday treats such as candy or cookies. The City’s Division of Public Works will deliver packages during the week before Christmas. To participate, contact Teresa Jergovich at tjergovich@fhgov.com or 248-473-1826. Presents need to be dropped off by Dec. 11 at the Costick Center in Farmington Hills, fhgov.com.
• Forgotten Harvest is offering its annual holiday cards, with the ability to customize the message inside. Cards and envelopes are available in packs of 25 for a suggested donation of $30 per pack, including shipping. Special tribute cards available for a donation of $5 each. Contact Laura at lburton@forgottenharvest.org or call (616) 405-5109 with any questions. Order by Dec. 14 for guaranteed delivery by Dec. 24, forgottenharvest.org.
• For those who give blood through Dec. 15, the American Red Cross is automatically entering donors in a sweepstakes for a chance to win an Outdoor Living Experience, donated by Suburban Propane, RedCrossBlood.org/Comfort.
• Chase Plastics kicks off annual holiday “Giving Card” campaign. Nominations are sought for charitable organizations, to be selected to receive a $1,000 award, through Dec. 15, www.chaseplastics.com/giving. The selected charity(ies) will be announced on www.chaseplastics.com and Chase’s social media pages, Dec. 22.
• Loves Furniture & Mattresses is hosting a food drive to benefit nonprofit Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan through Dec. 31. Shoppers can donate non-perishable food at Loves stores, including the Royal Oak and Waterford stores. Loves is appropriating 5,000 sq. ft. of space at the company’s Warren distribution center to store and sort food, lovesfurniture.com.
• Thankful Hearts, a Pontiac nonprofit, is seeking donations of new or gently used coats or jackets, toys, hats/gloves, and monetary donations, which can be sent to: Thankful Hearts, 257 Rapid St., Pontiac, MI, 48341. For more information, call Ruth Montague at 248-563-3191.
• Oakland County Children's Village Foundation is hosting a coat, hat, and glove drive for the residents of Children's Village. For information on how to donate items or funds, visit Cvfoundation.com.
• Evolve12 seeks nominations for Holiday Meal/Gift Giving, for a family or individual to receive holiday assistance, evolvek12.org.
• The Suburban Collection announced the launch of “Drive Away Hunger,” a fundraising campaign to raise 1 million meals for Gleaners Community Food Bank by the end of 2020, feed.gcfb.org/driveawayhunger.
Holiday activities
• The in-person Holiday Lights Ceremony at Farmington Hills City Hall scheduled for Dec. 1 is canceled. A virtual event, including Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the City Hall campus, will be posted across city social media channels in the first week of December, according to a press release. Farmington Hills residents can register to have their child receive a telephone call from the North Pole, starting Nov. 23, at recreg.fhgov.com.
• Canterbury Village announced its opening night for the Holiday Stroll, Dec. 3, will be a charity initiative with all proceeds to benefit Jay’s Juniors, a program to support chronically and terminally ill children. Children can bring their letters to drop in Santa’s personal mailbox. Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll will take place December 4-6, 11-13, and 18-20 on the outdoors at Canterbury Village, 2325 Joslyn Ct. in Lake Orion. Tickets are $9.99 each and children younger than 2, Military and Veterans are free. Advance ticket purchase only, limited capacity sessions with timed tickets, masks required, www.CanterburyHolidayStroll.com.
• The M1 Concourse is hosting the annual Holiday Extravaganza parade on their track in a new drive-thru format. The special Holiday Extravaganza Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru Event is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the M1 Concourse, Pontiac, (off South Blvd., west of Woodward Ave.), HolidayExtravaganza.org, free event.
• Orion Lighted Drive-Thru Christmas Parade: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5, downtown Lake Orion, orionlightedparade.org. Instead of floats parading up Front Street to Broadway through downtown; parade participants will be positioned along Broadway with spectators driving by in their vehicles, facebook.com/OrionLightedParade.
• Winter Wonder Lights, interactive outdoor holiday light display, rescheduled to Dec. 11-Dec. 30, Meadow Brook Hall, on the campus of Oakland University, Rochester. Optional tour main floor of the historic mansion with COVID-19 precautions. Timed tickets at meadowbrookholidays.com, $22-ages 13+, $12-youth, free for children 2 and younger, $18 for active military and veterans, parking is free, shuttle available.
• Outdoor Holiday Magic is through Dec. 24, at The Village of Rochester Hills, at the corner of Adams and Walton Road, in Rochester Hills, featuring festive lights, reindeer, holiday carolers, horse and carriage rides, reindeer, elves, live musical performances. Register for a Santa visit time slot, www.thevorh.com.
• Magic of Lights drive-through display is through Jan. 2 at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Independence Twp., 1.5-mile route of holiday lights, soundtrack played through FM car radio, 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Purchase advanced tickets, $25+, MagicofLights.com/events/Clarkston.
• Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo is select nights, through Jan. 3, 8450 W. 10 Mile, Royal Oak, 248-541-5717, advance tickets only, $15-$20, plus $8 parking, wildlights.detroitzoo.org.
• Big Bright Light Show is 5 p.m.-midnight, through Jan. 3, and weekends through Jan. 17, downtown Rochester, downtownrochestermi.com.
Holiday decor contests
• Nominations are being accepted for Troy’s Best Holiday Decorated Homes. Residents can nominate themselves or a home they spot. Multiple categories will be awarded. Selected homes will be featured on Troy’s Best Holiday Lights Tour Map at troymi.gov/HolidayLights. Nominations including the homeowner’s name and phone number (if available) along with the address, can be emailed to Cindy.stewart@troymi.gov, or call (248) 524-1147, by Dec. 6.
• Ace Hardware is hosting “Light Up the Town” holiday lights contest. Area residents are asked to submit photos of their light displays through Dec. 7. The cities sending the most entries win up to $7,500 for their local Beaumont Children’s, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. For details, visit acehardware.com/lightsupthetown.
• The Birmingham Shopping District will host The Great Decorate, a holiday tree decorating competition between downtown restaurants and retail stores that partner with local artists to win a small business grant – while raising funds for local foster teens, in partnership with the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange. Visitors to downtown Birmingham, through Dec. 24, can view the decorated trees at each venue and vote for their favorite by donating any amount in person or online at thegreatdecorate.com.
Libraries
• Surviving Virtual School for Parents webinar is 6:30-8 p.m. Nov. 30, online through Zoom, Lyon Township Public Library at lyon.lib.mi.us/ltpl-calendar-of-events, free.
• Tidying Up with Kate Sood, a virtual program presented by Oxford Public Library is at 6 p.m. Dec. 2, register at miopl.org, or call 248-628-3034.
Parks
• Huron-Clinton Metroparks offers free admission on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 8 at all 13 parks. Regular admission prices apply Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Toll booths remain staffed daily, metroparks.com.
• Winter Solstice Event is Dec. 19, Hawk Woods Park & Campground, 3799 Bald Mountain Road, Auburn Hills, short hike, fire and wreath making. Pre-registration is required, space is limited, call 248-370-9353, auburnhills.org/departments/parks_and_recreation/community_events/index.php.
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation offers access to natural areas, trails, dog parks and park amenities, OaklandCountyParks.com. Park entrance fees apply.
• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas and campgrounds, DNR boating access sites and shooting ranges are open. Fishing and hunting licenses are available for purchase online, www.michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.
Seniors' activities
• Medicare Open Enrollment is approaching. The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is offering free appointments to review Part D prescription drug plans, through Dec. 7, via Zoom. Call for an appointment, 800-803-7174.
Support activities
• State of Michigan COVID-19 hotline - 888-535-6136. For information, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifeline.org or text 741741.
• Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, provides immediate crisis counseling to people affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The helpline connects callers to trained professionals from the closest crisis counseling centers in the nationwide network of centers, disasterdistress.samhsa.gov.
• National Alliance on Mental Health offers support and education for families and individuals living with mental health conditions, 1-800-950-6264, nami.org.
Volunteer opportunities
• The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is looking for volunteers for its Red Kettle Campaign. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers now have the ability to safely host an online Red Kettle by becoming a virtual bellringer. The Salvation Army offers an opportunity to win one of two Apple or Android smartwatch, valued at approximately $300, when they sign up to volunteer at RegistertoRing.com as either a virtual or in-person red kettle bellringer. In-person bellringers are also needed for Red Kettles at select metro Detroit storefronts, through Dec. 24, and must follow a strict set of health and safety guidelines. Visit RegistertoRing.com to signup for in-person or online bellringing opportunities.
Please submit any community event requests to marcellhana@maxbroock.com to be added!
