• March campaign: St. Joseph's Social Care and Thrift Store, 620 Eighth Ave. S., Grand Forks, is accepting donations of food or cash throughout March for the St. Joseph food bank. Info: JoAnn Brundin, (701) 795-8614.
• Sherry Slominski benefit: A benefit for Sherry Slominski, who will undergo a bone marrow transplant in St. Louis, Mo., will be March 26 at the Thompson (N.D.) School. A spaghetti dinner will be 5 to 8 p.m. along with the All School Carnival 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dinner will be by freewill offering. Tickets for the carnival will be 25 cents. Info: (701) 780-0847.
• Benefit basketball: The NVYP Sparks will play the Harlem Ambassadors professional basketball team at 7 p.m. March 28 at Grand Forks Red River High school as a benefit for RSVP + NE ND programs. The Harlem Ambassadors are a co-ed team dedicated to youth development. The NVYP Sparks have recruited community members for its team, a news release said. Tickets are available for $10 at some Valley Dairy locations. Sponsors can purchase blocks of tickets for youth groups and donate to future RSVP events. Info: Kurtis Shelton, (701) 787-0043.
• 'Raise Your Paws for Pets': The Circle of Friends Humane Society will host the 12th annual "Raise Your Paws For Pets" dinner and auction with a social hour at 6 p.m. April 4 and dinner at 7 p.m. at the Alerus Center Junior Ballroom. A live auction will follow dinner and a silent auction will run throughout the evening. Raise Your Paws has combined with another popular fundraiser, the Celebrity Cake Auction. New this year will be a Super Silent Auction, games and raffles. Last year's event raised $20,000 to help shelter lost, unwanted pets at the Circle of Friends Humane Society. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at the Humane Society. Registration: www.gfpets.com , (701) 775-3732. The Humane Society is at 4375 N. Washington St., Grand Forks, and is open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
