• On Dec. 10, Citizens concerned about the recent dire climate change reports plan a creative display to demonstrate the rapid rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The 350 Eugene Creative Climate Action event takes place at Harris Hall, 125 E. 8th Avenue, preceding the Eugene City Council Meeting at 6:30 pm, and “is designed to bring attention to the worsening climate emergency and the need for local governments — including Eugene — to take bold action” according to event organizers.

• St. Vincent de Paul’s Holiday Joy Gift Giving Program recruits community members and business offices to “adopt” more than 1,400 individuals and families for the holidays to support residents living in affordable housing or participating in a housing program. To adopt, contact Ashely Hensley, 541-743-7147 or ashely.hensley@svdp.us. “SVdP will provide application(s) including: first names, gender, age, clothing sizes, things they would like or need and possibly a little information about themselves and their background.” Financial contributions can be sent to: Holiday Joy Department, P.O. Box 24608, Eugene, OR 97402.

• SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) needs volunteers. “SMART is an Oregon unique program that encourages the love of books and reading in young children by having the SMART Kids read every week for 1/2 hour sessions with the same volunteer SMART Reader,” Barbara George, the site coordinator at Cesar E. Chavez says. “In most cases, the reader would volunteer for an hour, reading one-on-one with two SMART Kids, for 1/2 hour each.” Readers are welcome to volunteer more. Twice each month the SMART Kids get to pick a book to keep, which George says, “is so awesome for the children.” To volunteer go to getsmartoregon.org, go to how to get involved and register to be a reader or call 541-600-8035 to request a paper form.

• The Camp Fire, California’s deadliest and most destructive recorded wildfire in Butte County, has claimed 88 lives with nearly 200 people still missing. Also heartbreaking is the toll on wild and domestic animals in the area. Local pet stores in Eugene are here to help. PetSmart in Eugene, with locations at 2847 Chad Drive and 2858 Willamette Street, has stepped up through the holiday season. Three Mini Pet Marts in Eugene have opened its doors, too, located at 974 W. 6th Avenue, 1875 W. 11th Avenue and 2636 Willamette Street Ste. A. These stores have donation barrels so Lane County residents can contribute blankets, food, litter and other badly needed supplies. Lane County residents also can contribute through North Valley Animal Disaster (nvadg.org).

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