Community & Clubs:

Share Our Selves (SOS) is looking for families, businesses and community groups to adopt families for the holidays. You are asked to provide food or grocery gift cards for a complete dinner for the family, at least two new gifts for every child and help deliver them Dec. 17. For more information or to sign up, contact Vanessa Ontiveros at (949) 515-5400 or by e-mail at [email protected].

NEWPORT ELKS BUSIER THAN EVER

The Newport Harbor Elks No. 1767 held its annual Spirit of America carnival Nov. 21, according to Lodge member and Public Relations Chairwoman Sharon Seal. Lodge members provided food, games, toys and crafts to the children of 100 military families from San Diego and Camp Pendleton. Many of the children have parents serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The lodge will host a luncheon in December for several soldiers from the Army Reserves and National Guard and provide Christmas baskets and toys for the needy children in the area.

Youth Activities Chairman Rick Blake and Lodge members will also be distributing 1,600 dictionaries to third-grade students at local elementary schools. Blake and his committee are also preparing for the annual Hoop Shoot on Dec. 12 at the Boys and Girls Club on Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa.

On Dec. 14, Elks from several lodges in the Orange Coast District will visit the Long Beach Veterans Hospital to deliver Christmas presents donated by the members. The members will also hold a Bingo game for the veterans.

Fifty new members have joined in the past six months, bringing total membership close to 1,020, Seal said.

LIONS SHARE FOR CHRISTMAS

The Harbor Mesa Lions are providing two families in Costa Mesa with their Christmas wishes Dec. 19.

The two families will be receiving clothing, toys, household articles and food gift certificates. Members of the Lions club have donated gifts to fulfill the wish lists of the families and the club will be purchasing gift certificates for food.

On the same day, Harbor Mesa members will be at the Westside Boys and Girls Club to wrap gifts the children have purchased with their earned credits for assignments given throughout the year by the Boys & Girls Club. The Lions have donated some of these gifts. For more information about the Harbor Mesa Lions Club, check out nhcmlionsclub.com.

WORTH REPEATING

Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council… “Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life…and the unhappiest of all mortals are those who have more of either then they know how to use.”

— Samuel Johnson

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Help your community and the world through a service club! For many, service club membership is an extension of our religious beliefs and congregation affiliation. You are invited to attend a service club meeting this week. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TODAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 20-member Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona Del Mar, for a business meeting. For more information, visit www.coronadelmarexchangeclub.org.

5:15 p.m.: The 10-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Ramada Inn & Suites, 1680 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa.

6 p.m.: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by Dr. Jerry von Talge on P.A.W.S. Therapy Program (Pets Are Wonderful Support). For more information, visit www.newportbalboa.org.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, 1835 Newport Blvd No. F.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn, 3131 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.CostaMesaKiwanis.org.

The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.

The 85-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, at UC Irvine. For more information, visit www.ni-rotary.org.

The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions Club and the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club holds their combined Family Christmas Dinner at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar, for a presentation by Monica Benable on Underage Drinking. For more information, visit www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to [email protected] .