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The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program is in full swing at the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department.
The department is collecting new and unwrapped toys to be distributed locally by the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve, according to a statement from volunteer firefighter/EMT Jeffery Eck.
If you can't get to a toy store, drop off a donation by Dec. 17 to the fire station at 19801 Beallsville Road, Beallsville. Checks should be made payable to "UMCVFD Toys for Tots."
Toys for Tots collection boxes located at Selby's Market, Poolesville Hardware, Healthworks Fitness Center, Cugini's Pizza, Kristophers Pizza, Harris Teeter in Darnestown and the UMCVFD fire station.
"Your contribution will put smiles on the faces of our firefighters and most importantly on the faces of the children who receive the gifts," Eck wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette.
The US Marine Corp will pick up the toys to prepare for distribution. For more information, contact Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Jeffery Eck at 240-529-3438.
Be an angel this season
Stop by the Upcounty Regional Services Center to pick up an angel ornament with the wishes of a needy child in the community.
Each angel ornaments on the Salvation Army Angel Tree represents a child and contains information about that child, including their age, clothing size and gift requests. The tree will be on display through Thursday at the center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown.
Last year, more than 1,000 children in Montgomery County were served through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, according to a statement from the county. Unwrapped gifts are returned to the center and distributed to the children by the Salvation Army.
For more information, call the Upcounty Regional Services Center at 240-777-8000.
Raise money, awareness for animals in need of TLC
A new upcounty horse and dog boarding facility will host a fundraiser for Pet Connect Rescue of Potomac on Saturday.
Tiffany Reynolds, owner of Potomac Stables, 23000 Whites Ferry Road, Dickerson, says she is hosting the event to help raise money for the nonprofit organization that helps match pets with adoptive families.
The fundraiser will be held 10 a.m. to dark, rain or shine. There will be pony rides, face painting and other children's activities. Food and drinks will be available to purchase. Leashed pets are welcome. Cost is $5 per vehicle and the money goes to Pet Connect Rescue.
For more information about Pet Connect Rescue, visit www.petconnectrescue.org. For more information about the fundraiser, contact Reynolds at info@301petcare.com.
Give a little, help a lot
Interfaith Works, a non-sectarian nonprofit coordinating more than 140 member and affiliated congregations toward a goal of helping the needy, has taken over Montgomery County's Holiday Giving Project this year. The project, long run by the Montgomery Volunteer Center, has been aiding lower income families for 30 years and this year aims to help 9,000 county families.
Interfaith Works could use your help.
Civic groups, companies, schools and faith communities can help by organizing a food, gift card or toy collection drive or sponsoring a family or families within a specific neighborhood or ZIP code. To help, call Marci Greenstein at Interfaith Works at 301-315-1107 or e-mail giving@iworksmc.org. For more information on the Holiday Giving Project, visit www.iworksmc.org/
holidaygiving.html.
For more information about other ways to help during the holidays, visit the Montgomery County Volunteer Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteer or call 240-777-2600.
Help stuff a minivan
Health-minded helpers can spread holiday cheer and provide healthful food to the needy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Thyme Out, a prepared food market at 504 Main St. in Gaithersburg.
At the "Stuff-a-Minivan" food drive, an empty minivan will be sitting outside the store to collect non-perishable food donations for Manna Food Center in Rockville. The food bank helps feed more than 800 families and 600 elementary school children per week, according to a statement from the nonprofit.
For more information about Manna, visit www.mannafood.org.
Submissions for People and Places must be received by 10 a.m. Thursday. Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Photos will also be considered.