Around Town: SPCA plans tour

Tickets are on sale for the Merced SPCA's 16th annual holiday home tour on Dec. 14. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the home of Robyn and Vince Piro, 336 W. 21st St. For information, call (209) 631-2557.

MERCED

Share food

Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Club and Merced County Food Bank are asking for food donations to feed the needy, elderly and shut-ins during Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

Canned and nonperishable food item can be taken to In-Shape City, 2159 G St.; the chamber office, 360 E. Yosemite Ave., and Rent-A-Writer, 580 Seminole Drive. Donations are to be placed in the green and white Food Bank barrels found there.

ATWATER

Thanksgiving dinner

The Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church is hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 559 Broadway in Atwater.

Dinner may be eaten at the church or taken out and eaten at home. For those without transportation, dinner can be delivered in the Atwater area only. Everyone is welcome.

For more information or to order dinner, call (209) 358-3031.

PLANADA

Share possessions

The Humane Society of Le Grand High School is having a yard sale Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Planada. People who have items in good condition to donate, may call (209) 742-4451, leave a message and arrangements will be made to pick up donations. Christmas decorations and gift items are especially needed.

LIVINGSTON

Gifts wrapped

The Livingston Lady Wolves softball team will hold a gift wrap fundraiser on four Sundays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21 at the Livingston High School gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gift wrapping and custom wrap is available on gifts of all sizes, varying in price from $3 to $8. All proceeds will go towards Livingston High softball for equipment and uniform needs.

For more information, call the student body office at (209) 394-7937.

MERCED

Donate to soldiers

The Merced County Office of Education and Cell Phones for Soldiers are working together to help soldiers have more time to talk with their loved ones.

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect more than 50,000 cell phones, which are exchanged for calling cards, to help keep troops connected with their families.

Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at the Merced County Office of Education, 632 W. 13th St., in Building K. For more information, call Cyndie Bray, career educator for the Merced County Office of Education, at (209) 381-5926.

The organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

Around Town items are to be delivered to the Merced Sun-Star office, 3033 G St., or e-mailed to bhale@mercedsun-star.com at least one week in advance of the event.