Current events

Donations for soldiers overseas

Grovetown City Councilwoman Marjorie Adams is seeking donations of items for service members serving in the Middle East. Especially needed are blankets, brown T-shirts, cotton underwear and boot-length socks, toiletries and magazines. Donations may be dropped off during office hours at Grovetown City Hall, 103 Robinson Ave. For information, call 863-4576.

Pancakes breakfast

In an effort to raise funds for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, the management, staff and residents of the Washington Commons retirement community, on Washington Road in Evans, will hold a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. today. There is no cost to attend, though a $5 donation is suggested. Additional donations will be accepted. For information, call 860-0402.

Special ed meeting

Columbia County Advocates for Special Education will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at Gibbs Memorial Library, with doctors sharing information on behavioral strategies. For information, call 860-9222.

Country bazaar

The North Columbia Fire and Rescue Ladies Auxiliary will hold a "country bazaar" from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fire Station No. 33, 5830 Columbia Road. Crafts, yard sale items and food will be sold; vendor spaces are available. For information, call 541-0268.

Empty Stocking applications ready

Applications for the 2004 Empty Stocking Fund will be available beginning Monday at The News-Times office in the Publix shopping center on Washington Road in Evans; at the News Building, 725 Broad St. in Augusta; and the Aiken Bureau of The Augusta Chronicle, 123 Pendleton St. Forms may be picked up Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Completed forms can be returned to any of these locations by Nov. 19, or mailed to Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, Ga., 30903.

The Empty Stocking Fund is sponsored by The Augusta Chronicle and offers assistance to families in the CSRA who are in need this year during the holiday season