COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Charitable events

• Gleaners Community Food Bank food distribution event is at the Oakland County Farmers Market, 9-11a.m. Dec. 15, while supplies last, for anyone in need. Drive-up and stay in the vehicle, or walk-up distribution, no need for proof of eligibility. For information, call 248-858-5495 or email OCmarket@oakgov.com.

Children’s activities

• “Nature Makerspace for Kids” program will be held 5-6p.m. Dec. 16; 10-11a.m. Dec. 18; 5:306:30p.m. Jan. 20; 5:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 17and 5:30-6:30 p.m. March 17. For ages 6to 12, accompanied by an adult, $3 per child, registration is encouraged at recreg.fhgov.com. 248-4771135 or email asmith@fhgov. com, www.fhgov.com.

Fundraisers/Toy drives

• Ortonville Community Emergency Fund Annual Food Drive donations due by Dec. 14, to benefit Ortonville residents in need, St. Anne Church, Ortonville, oceffoodpantry.org.

• The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit is working in collaboration with Southeast Michigan Walmart locations to provide Christmas gifts to children in need through its Angel Tree Campaign, through Dec. 15. In addition to participating in the Angel Tree Campaign, Salvation Army supporters can help support the nonprofit’s efforts by: Texting GIFT to 24365; Donating money via an online or physical red kettle; Volunteering as a virtual or in-person bell ringer at registertoring.com; Visiting salmich.org or Calling 877-SALMICH.

• Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Association annual toy drive to benefit The Bottomless Toy Chest, a local nonprofit that delivers toys and crafts to hospitalized children. All 38Chevy dealerships in metro Detroit will be collecting new toys through Dec. 15, chevydetroit.com.

• The Birmingham Fire Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages for Toys for Tots through Dec. 16. Contactless donations will be accepted at both firehouses, Station 1at 572South Adams Road (between Hazel Street and Bowers Street) and Station 2at 1600West Maple Road, (between Fairfax Street and Chesterfield Street). For information, contact Station 1 at 248-530-1906or visit toysfortots.org.

• Shoppers can donate to Beaumont Children’s, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at the following: Valvoline Instant Oil Change Miracle Balloon Campaign through November; Participating Ace Hardware locations will be asking shoppers to round up their purchase to the next dollar, through Dec. 24, and Ace is selling World’s Famous Chocolate bars for $1, (48 cents from each bar goes to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals); Duracell Battery will donate $1 to CMN with each purchase of select packages of Duracell Batteries, through November and December; Anthropologie locations will be matching donations collected at stores nationwide up to $100,000. Donations made at the Ann Arbor, Birmingham and Troy stores will benefit the programs of Beaumont Children’s, Beaumont.org/CMN.

Health/Safety

• The City of Troy is hosting Red Cross Blood Drives, 9a.m.-7p.m. Dec. 16, Dec. 22and Dec. 27 at the Troy Community Center, 3179Livernois. Troy. Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling 313-300-9617, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or by using the free Blood Donor App.

• The American Red Cross blood supply is at historically low levels. Donors who come to give Dec. 17-Jan. 2will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. The Red Cross seeks donations of all blood types — especially type O. To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.

• State of Michigan COVID-19 hotline for testing or vaccines is 1-888-535-6136, (8a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.), for information, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus or email COVID19@michigan.gov.

• Oakland County COVID-19 Vaccination, OaklandCountyVaccine.com.

Museums

• Thursday Teas: “Winter in the Civil War,” history talk on how soldiers and civilians lived in the winter during the U.S. Civil War at 2p.m. Dec. 16, inside Old Troy Church at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, $8/ Troy Historical Society members or $9/non-members. Geared toward adults and seniors. Register at troyhistoricvillage.org.

• Victorian Christmas: Tour decorated historic buildings and visit with reenactors to experience 1860s Christmas traditions, 6-8p.m. Dec. 17, 10a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 18and 10a.m.-3p.m. Dec. 19at Troy Historic Village, 60 W. Wattles Road, Troy, $10/ Troy Historical Society member or $12/non member, all ages. Register at troyhistoricvillage. org.

Libraries

• Baldwin Public Library is no longer charging overdue fines for materials returned after their due dates. The library has also removed all historic overdue fines from patron records. This is a part of an institutional movement from libraries nationwide, in an effort to increase free public access to library services, 248-554-4682, baldwinlib.org.

• Brandon Township Public Library, 304South St., Ortonville. Friends of the Brandon Library group is hosting a holiday basket silent auction through Dec. 18 at the library, to benefit library programs, brandonlibrary.org, 248-627-1460.

• Ferndale Library, 222E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale, Ferndale Library to be closed Dec. 23-Jan. 2for updates to Kids Corner and Atrium. Library patrons should plan on picking up any of their available holds by Dec. 22. Parents can stock up on children’s materials ahead of time, but digital content (for all ages) will always be available 24/7 to Ferndale Library cardholders, including eBooks/Audiobooks through LIBBY & HOOPLA, streaming music via FREEGAL, and video content from KANOPY. The library will reopen to the public at 10a.m. Jan. 3. The community room will remain closed until late January, fadl.org.

• Huntington Woods Library, 26415 Scotia Road, Huntington Woods. Holiday Book Sale is Dec. 6-16. For $5patrons can grab a bag and choose from a wide selection of books sorted by theme and genre including mystery, popular fiction, non-fiction, crafts, history, puzzles & games and children’s books. The library is open daily except it is closed on Fridays, masks required, 248543-9720, huntingtonwoodslib. org.

• Royal Oak Public Library, 222 Eleven Mile Road, Royal Oak, Virtual presentation for “Becoming the Motor City: A Timeline of Detroit’s Auto Industry” with Metro Detroit author, 7p.m. Dec. 14, ropl.evanced.info/signup/EventD etails?EventId=3257&backTo=C alendar&startDate=2021/12/09.

• Salem-South Lyon District Library, 9800Pontiac Trail, South Lyon. Cliffhangers and Cover to Cover December book club are combined, 7-8p.m. Dec. 13. The book is “Windhall” by Ava Barry. Register at ssldl.info, and download the book on Hoopla.

• Waterford Township Public Library, 5168Civic Center Drive, Waterford, 248-674-4831, Waterford Township Board of Trustees voted to eliminate fines on overdue materials. The library will continue to charge replacement costs for lost or damaged items, waterfordmi.gov/1140/ Online-Resources.

Parks/Outdoor activities

• Trail Hikes by Appointment are 10a.m.-2p.m. Dec. 17-18at Red Oaks Nature Center, 30300 Hales St., Madison Heights. Free with park entry, all ages. Register for a time slot, at 248-8580916. Up to three family groups per time slot. Dress for the weather. Masks are recommended, COVID-19screening, meet at the white tent near the nature center, canceled if inclement weather.

• Oakland County Parks and Recreation Appreciation Days are Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31, when visitors can enjoy free daily park entry with access to natural areas, trails, dog parks and all park amenities at county parks. Park hours are 30minutes before sunrise to 30minutes after sunset, or as posted at the park, OaklandCountyParks.com.

• 2022Huron-Clinton Metroparks annual park passes are on sale through Dec. 31, residents of the five counties served — Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne — can purchase a vehicle pass for $35, or $24for seniors 62+. Starting Jan. 1, the 2022annual pass will be $40for residents ($29for seniors 62+) or $45for non-residents ($34for Seniors 62+), metroparks.com. • Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Support activities

• Oxford Bank, Oxford Community Schools, and the Oxford Downtown Development Authority have established the Oxford Community Memorial and Victim’s Fund at oxfordbank.com/ donations, to accept donations for the families and community affected by the Oxford High School shooting.

• Genisys Credit Union is accepting donations to assist Oxford families. To donate to Oxford Strong, visit any of the 28 Genisys branch locations in Michigan. Checks can be made payable to Genisys Credit Union- Oxford Strong. For more information, visit genisyscu.org/locations.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24⁄7 — call or text 800-231-1127.

• Mental health resources: easterseals.com/michigan/exploreresources/mental-health-tipsduring-a.html.

• Hospice of Michigan continues to offer virtual grief support groups, hom.org.

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicidepreventionlifeline. org or text 741741.