• Need a Friend, a social group for singles ages 50-70, will meet for dinner Jan. 12 (every Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Bell Diner, Route 9, Free-hold Township. The group also meets for all-you-can-eat lunch every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Old Country Buffet, Pond Road Shopping Center, Freehold Township. Details: (732) 625-0605.
• Blood drives will be conducted by Central Jersey Blood Center at the following locations: Jan. 13, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CentraState Medical Center, Route 537, Freehold Township, in the Greenhouse Cafe; Jan. 13, 6-8:30 p.m. at Freehold Gardens Hotel, Gibson Place, Freehold Township; Jan. 17, 5:30-9 p.m. at Temple Beth Shalom, 108 Route 522, Manalapan; Jan. 18, 6-9 p.m. at Colts Neck Reformed Church, Route 537, Colts Neck; Jan. 23, 9 a.m. to noon at Temple Shaari Emeth, Craig Road, Manalapan; and Jan. 24, 3:30-8:30 p.m. at the Apple-gate School, 47 Jeanne Brennan Drive, Freehold Township. Details: (732) 842-5750.
• Sunday breakfast will be served at the Freehold Elks Lodge No. 1454, 73 E. Main St., Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost for “all you can eat,” cooked to order, is $5 per adult and $3 per child. Details: (732) 431-8707.
• Freehold Jewish Center is planning a family trip to Israel for this summer. A meeting for interested participants will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the temple, 59 Broad Street, Freehold Bor-ough. The trip is open to the community. Details: (732) 462-0254.
• Multiple Sclerosis Society support group will meet Jan. 17, 1-3 p.m. at CentraState Health Awareness Center, Gibson Place, Freehold Township; and on most Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the Marlboro library, Wyncrest Road, Marlboro. Details: (800) 344-4867.
• Marlboro K-8 Board of Education will hold a regular meeting Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. at 1980 Township Drive, Marlboro. Meeting is open to the public. Details: (732) 972-2000.
• “The Plot Against America,” a book by Philip Roth, will be discussed at the meeting of the National Council of Jewish Women, Central Jersey Section, Jan. 19 at noon at Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Symmes Drive, Manalapan.
• Credit management workshop will be offered by Mon-Oc Federal Credit Union Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. at its Howell branch, Route 9 in the Lanes Mill Marketplace. Topics will include how to manage credit, understand credit ratings, interpret a credit report, correct credit report problems, and more. Free and open to the community, but preregistration is required. Details: (800) 666-6295, ext. 640.
• ASPEN, a support group for families dealing with Asperger’s syndrome, will meet Jan. 19, 7-9 p.m. at the Monmouth County Library Headquar-ters, Manalapan. Dr. Jesse Mintz will give an overview of Asperger’s syndrome. Details: (732) 446-7610.
• Embroiderers Guild of America, Monmouth Chapter will meet Jan. 20, 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, Phalanx Road, Colts Neck. Nonmembers, novices and experts are invited. No fees. Details: (732) 536-0609.