Around Town (12-09-14)

Foster children’s party

The Merced County Foster Parents Association will have a Christmas party for foster children Saturday. The group is looking for donations of money, toys, clothing, diapers and canned food to benefit the children. For more information, call Louise Klock at (209) 658-0445.

Christmas home tour

The Merced Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ 22nd annual Christmas Home Tour will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 each. Proceeds benefit the SPCA Adoption Center. After the tour, there will be a raffle at Vista Ranch and Cellars, 7326 E. Highway 140. Tickets are available at Maciel and Co., A Blooming Affair, Wash and Wag, Christina’s Fine Clothing and Expressions of Love Floral. For more information, call (209) 384-7722.

No Tea Party meeting this month

The Merced-Atwater Tea Party will not hold a meeting in December. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Jan. 15 at the Atwater Memorial Building in Atwater. The program for the evening will be announced at a later date.

World Dance course

A World Dance course is being offered through Merced College Community Services and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Merced College in Gym 4. The cost will be $40 per person per six-week session, the first of which begins Jan. 14. Applicants can register for free online at www.mercedcommunityservices.com.

Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’

The Mitchell Senior Drama Department will present Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at 7 p.m. Friday. More than 40 Atwater Junior High students will bring to life the classic holiday tale of Scrooge’s journey of self-redemption through the help of three ghosts and a lad named Tiny Tim. The free performance will be held in the Mitchell Senior Cafeteria, 1753 Fifth St., Atwater. Doors open at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be sold. For more information, call (209) 357-6124.

Care packages for the troops

Members of Merced Kiwanis will be creating care packages for troops serving overseas. The event is scheduled for 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church, 1345 E. Olive Ave., Merced. Please bring items for care packages. Needed items include toothbrushes, toothpaste, unscented deodorant, socks, shoelaces, handkerchiefs, mini flashlights, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, cookies, treats, candies, movies, books, batteries, video games (used are OK) and word puzzles. Travel sizes are best. Visitors may also bring a dessert for a raffle. Please RSVP by calling (209) 383-5341 or email jtw465@hotmail.com.

This story was originally published December 8, 2014 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Around Town (12-09-14)."