Helping out

COLLECTING HOLIDAY ITEMS FOR TROOPS

Give2theTroops Inc. will collect holiday items to ship to military members who are away from home, family and friends for the holiday season.

The organization, a national nonprofit, is seeking donations such as: decorations including small decorated trees, wreaths, wall hangings, holiday crafts, or stockings filled with goodies; holiday foods; holiday-themed DVDs and CDs; toiletries such as shampoo, lotion, shower gel, toothpaste and brushes, body powder, razor and shave gel, hand sanitizers, baby wipes, foot powder, lip balm, eyedrops, vitamins, toilet paper, tissues, air fresheners; small gifts such as hand-held video games; skin care products; socks; paperback books; towels and twin-size sheets sets; battery-powered camping lamps, headlamps, travel pillows; disposable cameras; blankets; recreation items such as footballs, baseball equipment, dartboards, table tennis sets, horseshoes; video game systems and games; board games; and cards and letters of support and encouragement.

The group also needs donations to pay for shipping and packaging materials such as tape, Ziploc bags, and copy paper boxes.

Donations may be mailed to or dropped off at: North Carolina branch, Give2TheTroops Inc., 3109 Landmark St., Greenville, Mondays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Items for holiday delivery need to be at the center by Dec. 6.

For details, call 252-321-8227 or see www.Give2theTroops.org.

GALA WILL HELP CANCER SOCIETY

The Red Sword Guild's Raleigh Roundup, a fundraising gala for the American Cancer Society, will be held Friday starting at 7 p.m. at the Kerr Scott Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

The event will feature music by country-western band Dakkota and dancing band Right On, and the Pork Promenade, presented by the N.C. Pork Council.

Tickets cost $150 per person and can be bought online at www.RaleighRoundup.com or by calling 334-5218.