Support Our Strays: Support Our Strays, a fundraiser for the Circle of Friends Humane Society, will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Club, East Grand Forks. Participants can shop from vendors of Blessings Unlimited, Lia Sophia, Mary Kay, Norwex, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Tupperware and Wine Purses by Wendy with a portion of each purchase going to the Humane Society. There will be family-friendly activities for children and participants can register for prizes by bringing in dog/cat supplies for the shelter animals. A taco in a bag lunch will be available for a freewill offering. Info: Becky, (701) 775-3584.
Monkeying Around for Jeana: A benefit for Jeana Wilde, "Monkeying Around for Jeana," will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Eagles Club, 227 10th St. N.W., East Grand Forks, featuring a spaghetti feed and karaoke. Karaoke will be $1 per song, $1 to request a song from someone and $1 to get someone to stop singing. Wilde is a second grader at Grand Forks Ben Franklin Elementary School who was born with a heart condition. She has undergone dozens of surgeries and medical procedures, has a rare drug-induced hypersensitive syndrome and a blood disorder. For more information, go to Facebook and check out the "Monkeying Around for Jeana" page, or to contact benefit organizers Hillary Kempenich, Jane Pasley and Nikki Nelson. Contributions also can be made to the Jeana Wilde Benefit Fund at Gate City Bank.
Food Drive for American Crystal Sugar workers: A food drive is underway through Feb. 19 for American Crystal Sugar's locked out workers. You can drop off non-perishable food items at the BCTGM Union Hall, 110 N. Third St., Suite 50, Grand Forks, or at the IBEW 1426 Union Hall, 1714 N. Washington St., Grand Forks. If you would like to donate money, please make checks to BCTGM 167G Food Drive. Questions: Debra Kostrzewski, (218) 478-4045; John Riskey, (701) 746-6133; or Ken Lamberson, (218) 230-4129.
Blood donation challenge: The South Forks Lions Club and Dak-Minn Blood Bank are challenging other Greater Grand Forks service organizations to take part in the second annual "Giving from the Heart" blood donation challenge. The challenge will continue through February at Dak-Minn Blood Bank, 1200 S. Columbia Road (The entrance is near the main entrance of Altru Health Systems.). The service organization with the most donated pints of blood at the end of the challenge will be named the winner of this year's challenge and will have bragging rights for the year. The Dak-Minn Blood Bank is a not-for-profit volunteer community blood center dedicated to providing and maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply for patients at local health care facilities.
Enchanted Exchange: The Enchanted Exchange, a program to help teens find clothing and accessories for the prom, is under way at Grand Forks Public Library and will run through March 24 .You can help by bringing gently-used prom dresses and accessories to the library. Info: (701) 772-8116.
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Spin for Kids Bake Sale: A bake sale to benefit Spin for Kids will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 10 in the center area of the Grand Cities Mall. Spin for Kids is a program that provides supportive programs, services and equipment to children with special needs in the community and region. For more information or to donate baked goods or money: Louise Anvarinia, (701) 775-8934, ext. 28.
Frozen Feat benefit for Special Olympics: The fifth annual Frozen Feat run will begin 10 a.m. Feb. 11 at the Herald, 375 Second Ave. N., in downtown Grand Forks to benefit Special Olympics of Grand Forks. You can register at FrozenFeat.com for the 5K Run/Walk and/or the 10K Run. Early bird registration will end today. Packet pickup will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10 at Scheels in Grand Forks, with race day registration starting at 8 a.m. Feb. 11 at the Herald. There will be finisher medals, a Lovebirds Run, door prizes, trophies for the top finisher and long-sleeve shirts for the first 400 participants. Info: FrozenFeat.com.
n Team E-Race Cancer Sweet-Tarts: The Relay for Life Team E-Race Cancer will present the second annual Sweet-Tarts featuring area race-car drivers in drag at 7 p.m. Feb. 11 at the VFW Club, 312 DeMers Ave., East Grand Forks. Admission: $7. Sloppy joes, chips and pickles will be served.
Winter Carnival: A Winter Carnival benefit for Grand Forks Head Start will be from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Alerus C enter ballroom, Grand Forks. The Great Brodini, a music and comedy act from St. Paul, will perform at 1 and 3 p.m.; admission will be $5. Admission to the carnival will be $1 for adults, free for kids. It will feature inflatable games, face painting, balloon twisting, carnival games, tic tac bowl, fishing for prizes, Plinko, cake walk, prize wheel, a raffle, silent auction and more, with performances by ATA Karate, Red River Valley Gymnastics and the Red River High School drum line.
Giving Hearts Day: Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online fundraising event on Feb. 14 created by the Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Institute. For one day, DMF and other community donors will match online contributions of $10 or more made through www.ImpactGiveBack.org to benefit any of 142 charitable causes. Among them are the North Dakota Women's Network and First Care Health Center, Park River, N.D. (For a complete list of charitable causes to which you can donate, go to www.ImpactGiveBack.org or www.DakMed.org .) All the nonprofit participants chosen to be a part of the event have received in-depth fundraising training from Impact Institute. This day affords them an opportunity to build their capacity to raise money in an online environment. Last year, 7,089 donations totaling more than $1.1 million were made in 24 hours.
Benefit for Nick Willett: Friends and family of Nick Willett are planning a spaghetti dinner benefit and silent auction starting at 11 a.m. Feb. 26 at the VFW Club in Thief River Falls. Willett was seriously injured in a car accident Oct. 25 and currently is being treated at Sister Kenny's Rehabilitation Institute in Minneapolis. Questions/donations: Call (218) 686-1998.
