comm brfs 11-25

Ministerial alliance will trade candy for cans

The Jackson Ministerial Alliance will hold their "Candy for Cans" campaign during the Jackson Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. Area pastors will be walking the parade route and picking up canned goods from the crowd in exchange for candy. Canned food donations will stock the ministerial alliance's food pantry to help alleviate hunger for low-income families.

Department store donates to local groups

The Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart recently donated $500 to each of the following organizations Missouri Veterans Home, Mid-America Teen Challenge, the Salvation Army, Birthright and FISH.

Church opens outlet for Santa in Cape

St. Mary Cathedral's CCW will open Santa's Christmas Store from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 4 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the school gym, 615 William St., Cape Girardeau. Breakfast and lunch will be available on Saturday with a 10 a.m. to noon time slot for cookies and crafts with Santa for children. Crafts, gift baskets, homemade cakes, cookies and candy will be for sale.

Scott City residents can compete with light displays

The Scott City Historical Commission and Sunny Village Garden Club will judge Christmas house decorations at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15. Community members who would like their house to be judged should have Christmas lights and displays on that evening. For more information, call Toni Senn at 264-3177.

Santa making calls to local boys and girls

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will be holding their annual "Calls from Santa" program from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13 through 16. To register a child to receive a call, contact the department at 335-5421 by Dec. 10.

Tanning salon collecting food for Jackson pantry

B-Tan Tanning Salon, 130 S. High St., Jackson, will be accepting donations for the Jackson Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Items -- listed in order of greatest need -- include 64-ounce bottles of apple juice, sugar, flour, plastic bottles of cooking oil, small and large cans of beef stew or chili, pancake syrup, plastic jars of creamy peanut butter, and jars of grape jelly.

Salvation Army giving away winter gear

The Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St., will be distributing winter coats from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday and again from Monday through Dec. 3. The coats were donated as part of the organization's Coats for Kids program. A Social Security card must be presented for each person in the household in order to receive winter gear. For more information, call 335-7000.

-- From staff reports