Unity of Bandon will be kicking off their holiday activities with Christmas caroling at local care centers on Sunday,December 13th. Soup and bread will be served around 12:30 p.m., followed by Christmas caroling at several care centers. Anyone is welcome to join the group that will gather at Unity, located on Highway 101, one mile south of 11th Street. The congregation is also collecting socks, hats, and gloves for what they have dubbed the “Happy Feet” project. Throughout December, these items are being collected to be distributed through the Common Good in Port Orford and the Women’s Safety & Resource Center in North Bend. If you know of other groups who are in need of socks, hats and gloves, or if you wish to donate some items, please call Unity of Bandon at 541-347-4696. For more information about Unity, visit www.unityofbandonorg.¤

The Red Cross has scheduled blood drives at the following locations.
Please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule your donation appointment.
December 8: 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. Bandon Community: Holy Trinity Catholic Church , 355
Oregon Ave. 1-800-448-3543
December 9: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Port Orford Community: St. John's Catholic Church, 1476
Oregon Street. 1-800-448-3543
December 10: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. North Bend Community: College Park Community Church,
2548 Newmark St. 1-800-448-3543
December 16: 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Myrtle Point Community: Maple School, 413 C Street. 1-
800-448-3543
December 17: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Coos Bay Community: St. Monica’s Catholic Church, 357
S. 6th Street. 1-800-448-3543
December 21: 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. Reedsport Community: Masonic Temple, 626 Winchester
Ave. 1-800-448-3543
December 24: 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. North Bend Community: College Park Community
Church, 2548 Newmark St. 1-800-448-3543
December 29: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Gold Beach Community: Curry Showcase 29392
Ellensburg Ave. 1-800-448-3543
December 30: 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Brookings Community: Chetco Grange 97895 Shopping
center Ave. (Harbor) 1-800-448-3543
December 31: 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. Coos Bay Community: St. Monica’s Catholic Church, 357
S. 6th Street. 1-800-448-3543¤

Help children in need! Buy your Christmas toys at ORCCA’s Toy Tales
sale this December Community members can help children in need this Holiday Season by donating or buying gently-used toys, games, puzzles, and other items from the Toy Tales fundraising sale, sponsored by Oregon Coast Community Action from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2009, at Pony Village Mall. All items will be available for prices ranging from 25¢ to $10. All proceeds from the sale of toys, games, puzzles, and more will go to providing support for vulnerable children in Coos, Curry, and Western Douglas Counties.

Programs receiving support through Toy Tales include: Great Afternoons, South Coast Head Start, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and the Share Bear Snack Pack programs. The toys for sale are donated by community members and through toy drives at local schools. There are many different items to choose from at every Toy Tales sale, and each purchase makes a difference in the life of a child in our community.

“This Holiday Season we’re hoping families, grandparents, and even kids in the community can help support vital children’s programs in our region by purchasing toys or games from the Toy Tales event this December,” said MacKenzie Ross, AmeriCorps volunteer with Oregon Coast Community Action. “Every child deserves to have a full tummy, a safe and warm home, and a good education, and Toy Tales helps make that a reality.” Community members can participate in Toy Tales by donating toys or volunteering to sell toys during sales events. Donations can be made Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the ORCCA South Coast Food Share Warehouse.

Toy donations can also be dropped off at any Toy Tales sale event, and arrangements can be made for donation pick up. To help support local children through volunteering with Toy Tales, contact Madeline Enos at (541) 888-7070. Oregon Coast Community Action feeds, houses, warms and educates vulnerable children and families throughout the South Coast. For more information, visit http://www.orcca.us. ¤

The City of Coquille Police and Fire Departments are pleased to announce Shop with the Heroes 2009. Shop with the Heroes is an exciting and innovative program which directly supports impoverished and needy kids in our community, with the support of the community. Last year, the Coquille Police and Fire Departments helped 100 kids have a great Christmas, and we hope to do the same this year ... but we need your help! We are seeking donations for this program. Every dollar you give goes directly to an underprivileged kid within our community. If you should choose to donate, you can drop off or mail a check or money order to the Coquille Police Department, at 851 North Central Boulevard, Coquille, OR 97423.

Please make checks payable to: Shop with the Heroes. Our event this year will be held on December 12, 2009. All donations are tax deductible, and all proceeds go directly into the program (Tax ID # 93-6002143). If you wish to contact us by phone, please call (541) 396-2114.

The men and women of the Coquille Police and Fire Departments thank you!!!

The South Coast Folk Society will host a Community Sing-Along on Sunday afternoon, December 14th, at Colette’s Restaurant in North Bend. The public is invited, and all ages and voices are welcome. Join us at 4 PM for two hours of joyful harmonizing. Big songbooks, including holiday favorites, are provided. Colette's is located at 3229 Broadway, at the intersection with Newmark. Bring copies of your favorite songs to share.

 Musical instruments are also welcome. The Second Sunday Sing-Along is a free public event occurring on the second Sunday of every month from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Next month the sing-along will be on January 11th at Fiction 101 Books. For more information, contact Gail at 756-4701.¤

The Coquille Chamber of Commerce presents the 2009 Annual Tour of Homes & Points of Interest in Coquille, scheduled for Saturday, December 5th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for the Tour are $5, and for Fun Bus a $1 Donation.

 The bus departs from the Chamber office on the hour and from St. James Episcopal Church on the 1/2 hour. Stroll the Greater Downtown Area to see Points of Interest & pick up a Goody Bag.

 * Visit the homes of Tom & Linda Aiken, Hugh and Jaci Pinkston, Frank & Judith Smith, Phillipa Benson and Nadine Winberg.

* Tour through Historical St. James Episcopal Church and visit the new Downtown Emporium (have your picture taken with Ronald and see it posted!).
* Watch the Olios at Sawdust Theatre and see the Historic Photos of prior shows. Pose for a picture with your favorite "star!"

* Browse through Coquille's history at the Coquille Valley Museum.

* View the new Art Work, Carving and Paintings at the Coquille Valley Art Center.¤