When: Dec. 2-5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sponsor/location: Texas Roadhouse, 1931 Bluegrass Circle, Cheyenne.

How it’s used: Donations from this third annual event will go to Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Project and The Salvation Army.

To donate: Come for a free lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, two side items and drink in exchange for a donation to one of the charities.

What: Day of Thanks Blood Drive

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28.

Where: United Blood Services, 112 E. Eighth Ave., Cheyenne

To schedule an appointment: Call 638-3326 or go to www.bloodhero.com and use the sponsor code DayofThanks.

What: Craft Fair and Bake/Rummage Sale

When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22

Where: AMVETS Canteen and Bingo Hall, 3839 E. Lincolnway

Who benefits: The Cheyenne Children’s Christmas Fund.

For more information: Call Heidi at 635-0483 or 286-6849.

What: Boy Scouts food drive

When/where: Non-perishable food items can be left by your front door before 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22 or you can take items to the following grocery stores between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.: Albertsons on Pershing and Yellowstone, Walmart on Dell Range, Safeway on South Greeley Highway and King Soopers on Dell Range.

Who benefits: Needs Inc., to restock the local food pantry’s shelves.

More information: Scouts will be out from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. picking up the food left on front porches by 8:30 a.m. They will not be ringing doorbells or knocking on doors.

For more information: Contact Bob Bolton at 638-2259.

What: “Turkey Bucks” are being sold at both Albertsons grocery stores locally.

Where: Albertsons at 2065 Pershing Blvd. and 2066 Yellowstone Road.

When: Now through the end of November.

Who benefits: Needs Inc. will get at least $15,000, which has been raised over the last two weeks, in the form of complete turkey dinners for those less fortunate in the community, as well as food to restock the local food pantry’s shelves.

What you can do: Shoppers can have their donation added to their grocery bill at the checkstand.

What: Operation Christmas Child, in which local volunteers are collecting simple shoe box gifts personally packed by children, families and individuals in Cheyenne.

Collection dates/times: Today through Nov. 24, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Where: Pointe Frontier, 1406 Prairie Ave.

What you can do: Enlist families, churches, Scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy children worldwide.
Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items, candy and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step packing instructions can be found at www.samaritanspurse.org.
Sign up to join Operation Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in Cheyenne as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.

For more information: Call 307-635-6953 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

What: Kyle Barrett Memorial Basketball Tournament.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Burns High gymnasium, Burns.

Cost: Free, but spectators are encouraged to donated to Barrett’s fund at the door.

More information: Three teams of Burns High basketball alums and a team of Laramie County Community College basketball alums will square off in what is expected to become an annual tournament.
A $500 scholarship will be given to both a male and female Burns High graduate starting next spring using money from the fund.
Kyle Barrett died this past summer and was a Burns High athlete during his time there.

For more information: Contact Casey Schmidt at 214-9743 or Britt Bath at 631-3357.

What: Benefit fundraiser for cancer victim Amelia Martinez.

When: Saturday, Nov. 8. Dinner is from 6-8 p.m. Dance is from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Where: Eagles Lodge at West Lincolnway and Thomes Avenue, Cheyenne.

Cost: $10 donation

More information: Amelia is a 27-year-old mother of three. In April she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Amelia had surgery and due to complications had to undergo another surgery.  Amelia had to travel back and forth to Denver for cancer treatment on a daily basis.

For more information: Contact Linda 635-4369 or Liz at 638-0748.

What: Hands in Harmony “Pay It Forward” non-perishable food drive

When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8

Where: Cole Shopping Center Safeway store parking lot, 469 Cole Center (in front of Crossroads Cafe)

What you can do: Bring your non-perishable items on Saturday and donate them.

Who benefits: The Salvation Army in Cheyenne and Needs Inc.

What: Eighth annual 5K Turkey Trot and Gobble Wobble

When: Begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8

Where: COMEA House homeless shelter, 1504 Stinson Ave.

Cost: Turkey Trot registration fee is $20. Fee for Gobble Wobble is $5 per child or $10 per family.

Who benefits: The Turkey Trot and Gobble Wobble are major fundraisers for COMEA House, which provides emergency shelter for the homeless and a Transitional Living Program for people who are moving into independent living.

How it works: The Turkey Trot takes off from the shelter and uses the Greater Cheyenne Greenway as a 5K course along Crow Creek.  Medals and prizes will be awarded for three age divisions of men and women, and all participants will receive a race T-shirt.

The Gobble Wobble is new this year for youngsters 3 to 11 years old and is being coordinated by Cheyenne’s East High student Anna Kingston, daughter of COMEA Board Member Tim Kingston. The youngsters’ course is in the parking lot between the Hitching Post Inn Resort and Conference Center and the Taco John’s Events Center, across Lincolnway from COMEA House.  Every child will win a prize.

For more information: Call Tim Kingston at 638-8885 or e-mail Kingston@rockymtnlaw.com.