I love to see our local students getting involved in ways to make a difference. The Reservoir High School golf team has joined with Rachel Quade, a Soles4Souls representative and they are collecting gently used footwear thart is still in good shape to be given to those in need. Reservoir has collection bins at the student services office and the other is in the atrium. All types of footwear is needed: shoes, sandals, boots and even athletic cleats. The goal is to collect 50,000 pairs of shoes by Nov. 1.
Summer may be ending, but outdoor fun is not. The North Laurel Civic Association will be holding a family picnic Oct. 9 at 12:30 p.m. at the High Ridge Park Pavilion. There will be food, games and a disc jockey to entertain the crowd. Donations will be collected that will go to help pay for next year's picnic. The association would love to make this an annual event. The Pavilion is at 10100 Superior Ave.
Laurel Woods Elementary School families! Don't forget to attend the PTA's NFL-themed picnic Friday, Sept. 16. This is a great time to meet the new board, other parents and get involved in your PTA. Everyone should wear their favorite team colors.
And speaking of Laurel Woods, the school has scheduled its back-to-school nights Tuesday, Sept. 20 for grades 3-5 and Wednesday, Sept. 21 for Kindergarten through second grade. Both will start at 6:30 p.m.
Did everyone sign up to donate at Emmanuel United Methodist Church's blood drive for the American Red Cross Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8 a.m.? The Red Cross is in urgent need of blood. For information or to sign up go to http://www.eumclaurel.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Use sponsor code 13952.
The Southeast Horizon Council will hold its eighth annual Family Health Expo at the North Laurel Community Center Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There will be a shuttle from the Dollar Store in the Whiskey Bottom Shopping Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road. The event is free and will have free health screenings as well as a mobile food pantry for those in need.
Laurel Park is offering its very popular Racing 101 program Sept. 24. The day starts out at 8:15 a.m. and you will meet trainers, grooms and riders. Then you will gain wagering skills, enjoy a buffet lunch and even get to the winner's circle. All for $40, but you need to make reservations by Saturday, Sept. 17. For more information, call Phoebe Hayes at 301-470-5454 or email phayes@marylandracing.com.
Make sure you sign up at Terrapin Adventures for its Zombie Apocalypse Survival Training Oct. 2. This four-hour session costs $75 and 10 percent of the proceeds will be going to Family and Children Services, in the Multi-Services Center on Route 1 and in Columbia.