The National Honor Society at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville is hosting its first coat drive this winter to provide warmth to those in need.

NHS co-sponsor Billy Shulman said the donation drive is run nearly entirely by the students as something they wanted to do for the community.

“This is something new that the students really wanted to do,” he said. “They’re trying to start a new tradition.”

A large donation bin is located inside the school’s main office for anyone interested in donating a gently used coat.

Shulman said they are accepting every type of coat from baby coats to men’s and women’s coats. He said based on discussions with a number of organizations, the biggest need is for men’s coats.

Donated coats will go toward My Sister’s Place Emergency Shelters, a Washington, D.C.-based domestic violence shelter, and the National Coalition for the Homeless, a New York-based homeless advocacy and assistance organization, which has a branch in the District as well.

“We need to take care of our community members,” he said. “For many people, if you’re not warm, it’s hard to go to work and school. It’s hard to take care of your life if you’re not warm.”

The donation drive will run until Jan. 27.

Bladensburg High School graduate completes Air Force training

Air Force Airman Trent S. Morrison recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.

He completed an eight-week course that involved training in military discipline, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills.

Upon completion, Morrison earned four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Air Force Community College.

Morrison, the nephew of Phyllis Owens of Landover Hills, is a 2011 Bladensburg High School graduate.

UM program seeks volunteers to teach English

The University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking volunteers to help run the English as a Second Language Conversation Program, which offers one-on-one conversation time to help international students improve their English.

Clare Chang, the ESOL program coordinator, said they are looking for English-speaking volunteers who can dedicate one to two hours per week for a 10-week period. If 10 weeks is too long of a commitment for volunteers, she said the program can be flexible and work with schedules.

The fall program had 160 international students with 100 volunteers, who were able to provide either one-on-one or group setting conversations, Chang said.

Chang said UM President Wallace Loh would like to see 10 percent of the campus population be made up of international students, so there will be an even greater need for volunteers for the growing program.

“We need volunteers to come and help those students practice their English conversation skills,” Chang said. “They don’t get that assistance in their day to day interaction. To be able to have that one to two hour conversation every week it really helps them.”

Those interested in volunteering for the spring can contact Chang at 301-314-5919 or email umdesol@gmailc.om.

For more information, visit www.counseling.umd.edu/las.

Hyattsville Elementary receives donation for field trip fund

Hyattsville Elementary School received a $500 donation from PNC Bank to put towards its field trip fund Saturday.

The donation was made possible through PNC’s “Grow Up Great” program, an initiative to invest $250 million to early childhood education over the next 10 years.

Hyattsville Elementary Principal Jeanne Washburn attended a “ribbon tying” ceremony at the new PNC branch to receive the donation.

“It was very interesting because they were making connection with school, instead of cutting a ribbon they tied a ribbon to show the connection to our school,” she said.

Washburn said their school does not require parents to pay for field trips, which is why they have a fund to help give students experiences in the community.

She said the school plans on taking a field trip to the PNC branch to learn about the financial system that is in line with the state’s Common Core Curriculum to increase financial awareness.

Laurel seeks nominations for holiday spirit

Laurel officials are looking for the city’s most spirited homes and businesses for the Holiday Spirit Decorating Awards.

The city, along with the Laurel Civic Improvement Committee, is asking community members to nominate their neighbors, friends or businesses within the city limits.

Judging will take place Friday and Saturday, and winners will be notified by award display signs in their yards.

Community college students to pack food baskets in Brentwood

Students and staff from Prince George’s Community College in Largo will pack 500 baskets of food for needy families on Friday afternoon.

The service project, which will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Bunker Hill Fire/EMS Station in Brentwood, is part of the Prince George’s County Public Safety Assistance Program Inc., which will offer about 3,000 Christmas food baskets this year.

Black History Month essay contest open to middle school students

Giant Food is now accepting entries in its sixth annual Black History Month Essay Contest.

This year's contest will honor Martin Luther King Jr., and the theme is, "Making a difference: What can you do to help fight hunger in your community?"

The contest is open to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders living in Maryland as well as Washington, D.C., Delaware and Virginia. Entries must be turned in by Dec. 31.

Interested youths should visit www.giantfood.com/our_stores/mlk/index about contest rules and how to submit an application.

Soccer club hopes to get its kicks with toy drive

QuickFeet Soccer will host its first Toys for Tots Toy Drive at the Greenbelt Sportsplex from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 21 for children in need in Prince George’s County.

The drive will be attended by Marine Eric Porter, state Del. Justin D. Ross (D-Dist. 22) of Hyattsville and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D).

Those wishing to make a donation should bring a new, unwrapped gift.

Children must be between ages 5 and 12 to participate in Youth Soccer Drop-in, which starts at 6 p.m. and costs $5.

The SportsPlex is at 10011 Good Luck Road in Glenn Dale. Call Justin Reid at 301-577-7739.