Dec. 10
• Shop ‘Til You Drop, a vendor sale, sponsored by the Bowne-Munro Elementary School PTA, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the school, 120 Main St., East Brunswick. Proceeds fund cultural-arts assemblies for students attending Bowne-Munro. Free admission. Call Nicole at 732-257-3238, email [email protected].
Dec. 10, ongoing
• Adopt-A-Family, sponsored by the South River Elementary/Primary School PTA, to make the holiday season more enjoyable for disadvantaged children in South River. Seeking monetary donations, new clothing, new toys, food. Call Debbie Zemann at 732-841-1954 or Donna Geesey at 732-390-8202. Donations accepted throughout the year. Dec. 10 & 11
• Jersey Cares Coat Drive, conducted by Goddard School of South Old Bridge, 1480 Englishtown Road (Route 527), Old Bridge. Donations of gently used, clean coats may be dropped off at the school 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Contributions given to New Jersey families in need. Call 732-416-9600, log on to www.jerseycares.org.
Dec. 10-13
• Toys for Tots Collection, sponsored by Reformed Church Home, in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, at the home, 1990 Route 18 north, Old Bridge. Drop off new, unwrapped children’s toys, costing $10 or more, to be distributed as Christmas gifts to children living in the area. Toy weapons, candy, used toys, chemicals or toys that are dangerous not accepted. 732-607-9230.
Dec. 10-15
• Winter Coat Collection, conducted by the Oak Tree Elementary School PTA, Monroe, for the Jersey Cares Coat Drive. New or gently used (cleaned) men’s, women’s, children’s winter coats may be brought to drop-off boxes at the Monroe Township Public Library, 4 Municipal Plaza, and Oak Tree Elementary School, 226 Applegarth Road. All sizes needed. Hats, scarves, gloves not accepted.
Dec. 10-18
• Holiday Food Drive, to aid the Old Bridge Township Food Bank, sponsored by the Goddard School of South Old Bridge, donations accepted 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Mondays Fridays, at the school, 1480 Englishtown Road (Route 527), Old Bridge. 732-416-9600.
• Holiday Toy Drive, sponsored by Northfield Savings Bank. New, unwrapped toys for newborn-12 years may be brought to any Northfield Savings Bank branch including: Brunswick Square Mall, Route 18, East Brunswick; Ryders Crossing Shopping Center, 336 Ryders Lane, Milltown; Concordia Shopping Center, 1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe. Toys distributed to children through local charities. 732-499-7200, ext. 2512.
Dec. 10-23
• Holiday Boutique, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 2, at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton St., corner of George Street, on the campus of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Limited woodblock prints by Karen Kunc, hand-carved ebony vessels from Mozambique, raku pottery, jewelry by regional artisans, children’s books based on original illustrations in the Zimmerli collection. All proceeds support Zimmerli programs. Call 732-932-7237, log on to www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu.
Dec. 10-20
• Cash for Gold, sponsored by the Bowne-Munro Elementary School PTA. Receive cash for unwanted gold and silver jewelry, diamonds, coins, etc., at the East Brunswick Gold Exchange, 748 Route 18 north (immediately past Red Lobster), East Brunswick. Store donates 10 percent of all sales to PTA. Funds go to upgrade and improve the school playground; event flier must be presented. For fliers, log on to www.ebnet.org. Call Amy at 732-991-7951.
Dec. 11
• Tricky Tray, sponsored by the Old Bridge Friends of Seniors, doors open at 11 a.m., event begins at 12:15 p.m., at the George Bush Senior Center, township municipal complex, 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Route 516 and Cottrell Road. Free admission. Under age 18 not permitted. 732-721-5600, ext. 6615.
Dec. 12
• Breakfast With Santa, sponsored by the Sayreville War Memorial High School Choir, seatings at 9:30 and 11 a.m., in the cafeteria at Sayreville Middle School, 800 Washington Road, Parlin section of Sayreville. Kindergarten and first-grade students in borough schools invited. Crafts, breakfast for children, photos with Santa, choir performance. Cost is $5 per child. Reservations required. Call Lori at 732-390-0058, email [email protected]; include child’s name and choice of seating time. Seating limited.
• Comedy Night, sponsored by St. Thomas the Apostle Knights of Columbus, doors open at 7 p.m., event begins at 7:45 p.m., at the knights hall, 61 Pine St., Old Bridge. Comedians Kevin Fitzgerald and Todd Lynn, hot food, tap beer, wine, soda, entertainment. Tickets cost $35 per person in advance, $40 at the door. Call Ray at 917-301-0789, email [email protected]. Performers subject to change. Adult audience preferred.
• Pet Photos With Santa, sponsored by the Sayreville Pet Adoption Center, noon-4 p.m., at the shelter, 1400 Main St. Professional digital photos available for $5 each, including frame. Proceeds benefit shelter pets. Complimentary hot chocolate, refreshments, door prizes. Call 732-727-3895, log on to www.sayreville.petfinder.com.
• Holiday Cookie Walk, sponsored by Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 9 a.m., at the church, 568 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick. Variety of home-baked cookies, while supplies last. Pre-packaged cookies in holiday containers suitable for gift-giving also available. 732-254-7361.
Dec. 12, 13, 19 & 20
• Toys for Tots Collection, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, in the Santa Claus display, at Menlo Park Mall, Edison. New, unwrapped toys sought. Cash donations accepted. Call Eddy Androvich at 732- 698-2347.
Dec. 13
• Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by East Brunswick Elks Lodge No. 2370, 9:30- 11 a.m., at the lodge, 21B Oakmont Ave., end of Hardenburg Lane. Santa arrives at approximately 10:45 a.m. Home-cooked breakfast, music, prizes, children speak with Santa on his “Christmas throne.” Cost is $7; under age 10 admitted free of charge. Guests encouraged to bring a can of vegetables or box of stuffing to donate to the Elks Feed the Hungry Program. Reservations recommended. 732-821-9527.
Dec. 14, 15 & 17
• Holiday Benefit, sponsored by South Amboy Firemen Brothers Helping Others, 6-9 p.m., at 217 S. Pine Ave., South Amboy. Event honors Manny Rivera Sr. of the Trenton Fire Department, who perished in the line of duty after rescuing a man from a burning home. Proceeds go to Rivera’s wife and five children. For $1 donation, children visit and have their photos taken with Santa. All other donations gratefully accepted. Checks made payable to Bill Leveille also accepted. 732-525-8998.
Dec. 15
• Dining-To-Donate, sponsored by the East Brunswick High School Drama Club, noon-11 p.m., at Applebee’s, Ryders Crossing Shopping Center, Milltown Road and Ryders Lane, East Brunswick. Diners must present Dining-To-Donate flier. Applebee’s donates 10 percent of supporters’ bills (eatin or takeout) to the drama club. For fliers, log on to www.ebnet.org.
Dec. 16
• Dining-To-Donate, sponsored by the Bowne-Munro Elementary School PTA, 4- 11 p.m., at Applebee’s, Ryders Crossing Shopping Center, Milltown Road and Ryders Lane, East Brunswick. Diners must present Dining-To-Donate flier. Applebee’s donates 10 percent of supporters’ bills (eatin or takeout) to the Bowne-Munro Playground Fund. For fliers, log on to www.ebnet.org.
Dec. 17
• Proceeds Night, sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes School, Milltown, 5-9 p.m., at T.G.I. Friday’s, Route 1 south, North Brunswick. Restaurant donates 20 percent of each school supporter’s check (eat-in or takeout) to the school. Diners must present event flier for donation to count. For fliers, call school office at 732- 828-1951 or log on to www.ololschoolnj.org.