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St. Martin's Church pantry, which distributes 200 bags of groceries to needy families and individuals on Mondays, is seeking donations of nonperishable foods and supplies to meet an increased demand.
Drop off items at the Upcounty Regional Services Center 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays through Oct. 24.
Non-perishable items such as canned goods, cereal, rice, noodles and peanut butter are preferred.
Safeguard your pet
The Montgomery County Humane Society is giving cats and dogs adopted this month a free microchip, which is used to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
Adoption fees vary depending on whether the animal has already received specified services. These include microchipping, which normally costs $25 for implant and registration, a rabies shot, flea treatment, temporary ID tag, and mandatory purchase of a spay/neuter coupon.
For details about how to adopt an animal, visit www.mchumane.org. For more information on microchipping and other identification tools, visit www.mchumane.org/
preventionisthebeststrategy.shtml.
Community Service Day
Montgomery County residents are invited to volunteer in communities and their neighbors by working on any one of a variety of projects throughout the county for the 23rd annual Community Service Day Oct. 24-25.
Groups can develop their own projects or join one offered by nonprofits through the Volunteer Center's Web site at www.montgomery
countymd.gov/volunteer.
Some upcounty volunteer opportunities include:
Help out around the farm with the Star Gazing Farm or Great and Small in Boyds on Oct.24; collect food with Women Who Care Ministries of Montgomery Village on Oct.24; organize a Clothing Drive for Interfaith Clothing Center in Gaithersburg or Rockville on Oct.24 or 25; be part of "The World's Largest Indoor Picnic" with A Wider Circle in Potomac on Oct. 25; and be part of "The Great CSS Cook-Off" with Community Supportive Services in Gaithersburg on Oct. 25.
For more information about CSD, contact the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at volunteer@
montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-2600.
Don't forget ...
Two events focusing on the C&O Canal are this weekend.
On Saturday, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park will present the much-anticipated "Life and Death on the C&O Canal." The performance features costumed interpreters acting out gory tales of life along the canal from the 1830s through the Prohibition Era along the candlelit towpath at night. The program is slated to take place from 6:30-9 p.m., Saturday, at the Great Falls Tavern, 11710 MacArthur Blvd., in Potomac. Tours begin every 15 minutes. Reservations are required. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for seniors and children. Free for children 3 and under. To make a reservation, call 301-767-3714. Parental discretion is advised.
A benefit for the C&O Canal Trust, a fundraising and advocacy group geared at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, is slated to take place 3-6 p.m. Sunday, at the Artists Circle Fine Art gallery, in a renovated, timber frame barn at 13501 Travilah Road in North Potomac. The benefit will feature photographs by artist Robert Buelteman. To RSVP or to make a donation, e-mail Jenna Warrenfeltz at Warrenfeltz@canaltrust.org and include a note that the donation if for the benefit. For more information about the event, visit www.canaltrust.org/benefit.php.
Share your good news! Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Germantown-Boyds-Poolesville Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Photos will be considered.