This Week: Donate to the Food Bank; 'Adopt' A Family

Heads up! Here are five things going on this week that you should know about:

• Make a difference this holiday season and "adopt" a family through Brighter Beginnings. The Bay Area-based nonprofit allows community members to donate gifts and supplies to families and individuals in need throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. When you sign up to "adopt" the family, you will receive a wish list. You then buy the items, wrap them and drop the gifts off at a Brighter Beginnings center. For more information and to sign up, visit the Brighter Beginnings website here.

• Give back to the community by donating to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Helping to lead the charge is 1st United Services Credit Union. The local business, which has a branch on Alvarado-Niles Road, has set up a virtual food drive where community members can donate money or shop online for food items that the Food Bank needs. To view the virtual food drive, click here. To establish your own virtual food drive, visit the ACCFB website here.

• Want to be a medical assistant of phlebotomist? You don't have to go far to receive training. Boston Reed College is hosting medical assistant and phlebotomy programs at the New Haven Unified Adult School. Classes begin soon. For more info and details, click here.

• As it does the fourth Monday of every month, the Washington On Wheels Mobile Health Clinic returns to the Ralph and Mary Ruggieri Senior Center today from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The mobile clinic provides health care to uninsured and underserved residents. To make an appointment, or for more information, call 510-608-3203.

• Is your kid the next chess wizard? Then hone his or her skills at the Union City Library's free Kids Chess Club. Held Saturdays from 4 to 5 p.m. and led by two chess masters, the club will help children ages 8 to 14 learn how to play and the best strategies for winning.

Find more events on our calendar. Are we missing an event? Add it here.

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