Operation Christmas Child is once again accepting gift boxes for distribution in countries such as South and Central America and Africa.
The program is run by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian charitable organization, and boxes are typically filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items.
In the Tri-Cities, you can drop off the boxes at Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship, 1160 Lansdowne Dr.; the last day for making a donation is Sunday, Nov. 15.
For more information, including details on collection depots and what to pack in a donation box, visit www.smaritanspurse.ca.
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Harvest week fun
Harvest Week is Oct. 19 to 24 and you can celebrate at one of Coquitlam’s Harvest Festivals, which will feature free gardening seminars, apple tastings, family activities, and chances to ask a gardener your gardening questions.
•Scott Creek Community Garden Harvest Festival, tomorrow (Thursday), 3 to 6 p.m.: You can drop in after school to the community garden above the Coquitlam Crunch parking lot (off Lansdowne Drive). There will be a fall and winter gardening workshop from 3:30 to 4 p.m. and a canning presentation from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Representatives from Scotts Canada will be on hand to tackle your lawn and garden questions while Nutrients for Life will have interactive activities and an informative display on the role of fertilizers in our world. this event is presented in partnership with Scotts Canada, Nutrients for Life, the Compost Council of Canada and Communities in Bloom.
• Inspiration Garden Harvest Festival, Oct. 24, 2 to 5 p.m.: Drop by the Inspiration Garden (in the southeast corner of Town Centre Park, at Guildford Way and Pipeline Road) for a fall and winter gardening workshops from 2:30 to 3 p.m. or a canning presentation from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m.; or stay to ask a gardener all your gardening questions from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Parking is available on-site and in the surrounding areas. Find all the Harvest Week activities online at coquitlam.ca/garden.
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Quiz night to help Douglas with Uganda literacy work
Do you like to play Trivial Pursuit? You can show off your skills at the Uganda Project Quiz Night.
Organized by the Douglas College Foundation in partnership with the Rotary Club of Coquitlam Sunrise, the fifth-annual quiz night is set for Oct. 27, 7 to 10 p.m. in the main cafeteria of Douglas College’s David Lam Campus in Coquitlam and features Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart as MC.
Proceeds from the event will benefit literacy projects in Uganda.
Registered teams are encouraged to choose a name, dress up accordingly and come prepared to answer questions on eight subject areas. The event also includes snacks, a cash bar, a silent auction and great prizes.
“Currently, the literacy rate in Uganda is about 75%. The government has said they want the rate to come up to 90%,” event organizer and Douglas College instructor Wendy Parry said in a press release, noting that this year’s monetary goal is $4,500.
“The funds we raise will go towards sustainable literacy projects done in partnership with local organizations.”
The projects also provide service learning opportunities for Douglas students completing internships in Uganda, Parry added. Since 2005, more than 70 students have completed practicums in the east African country through the Uganda Project.
Following last year’s event, Douglas College partnered with a community organization to build a library and is now working on building school rooms for students with disabilities and special needs as well as providing solar power and computer labs.
“Uganda is a developing country with amazing potential. With small amounts of money and with local partners, we can make a big impact,” Parry says.
Entry fee for the Uganda Project Quiz Night is $20 per person. Must be 19 years or older to attend. Register online at www.douglascollege.ca/about-douglas/groups-and-organizations/community-relations.
For more information, visit douglascollege.ca.
@TriCityNews
