n Barnesville: An American Cancer Society Chinese Auction and selective raffle will be held March 23 at the Lakeside Ballroom, Route 54. Doors will open at noon and the auction will begin at 3 p.m. with more than 500 prizes. There will also be a 50/50 and bake sale. Food will be available. People can buy "white tickets" now. Prizes include $1,000 cash, a laptop, fuel oil, four Disney hopper passes, an Xbox One, Kindle, iPad, Air Nascar tickets, gas cards, vacations, a 32-inch TV and restaurant certificates among other items. Tickets are on sale throughout the area. For more information or to donate or bake, call 570-645-04228 or email madula@ptd.net.
n Bethel: Camp Dragonfly sponsored by Hospice of Central PA is a free weekend camp for children ages 6 to 12 who have experienced the death of a loved one. It is set for 6 p.m. June 6 to 2 p.m. June 8 at Camp Swatara. Participants will have opportunities to explore their loss, learn healthful ways of coping and also have fun. Families with children interested in attending camp or adults interested in volunteering to help at Camp Dragonfly are asked to call Hospice of Central PA at 717-732-1000 or go to www.hospiceofcentralpa.org for information and applications.
n Danville: The free Saturday trains program continues from 10 a.m. to noon at Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, Pine and East Market streets. Dozens of trains are available for children and adults to play with. Parents who need diapers can get a one-week free supply at the church while their children play with the trains.
n Orwigsburg: A blood drive by the American Red Cross Blood Services Northeast Pennsylvania Region is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Friday at Schaeffer's Harley Davidson, 1123 Brick Hill Road. To make an appointment to donate blood, call 800-733-2767 or go online to redcrossblood.org. People 17 or older (16 with parental permission) weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are eligible to donate blood. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or another form of positive identification.
n Pottsville: A Chinese auction and home party expo to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation is set for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 1 at the Fairlane Village mall. The auction will have more than 200 prizes with a huge lottery ticket prize, specials and a 50/50 drawing. Winners will be drawn starting at 3 p.m. March 2. The event also will include home party vendors. For more information, call 570-429-1563.
n Pottsville: Diakon Living & Learning will sponsor an event called "Unleash Your Inner Writer" from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 11 at Diakon Community Services for Seniors, 118 S. Centre St. Participants will get tips for getting started and "getting unstuck writing a novel or articles through a combination of lectures and hands-on writing exercises," according to a release. The cost is $50 for three session and the registration deadline is Tuesday. Participants will "learn what to do when you're finished, whether your goal is publication or finding an audience for your writing. For more information or to register, call 570-624-3018.
n Primrose: The St. Nicholas Holy Name Society is sponsoring an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. today at St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12. For more information, call 570-544-4581
n Shenandoah: Shenandoah Community Watch meets at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month in borough hall, Washington and Main streets. Meetings are open to the public and new members are always welcome. Gordon Slater, SCW president, has called for more people to attend and become involved for the betterment of the community.
n Tamaqua: Free community soup socials - outreach soup kitchens - are held from 4 to 6 p.m. the first Saturday of the month in Founders Hall at Trinity United Church of Christ, 22 Lafayette St. All are welcome. People should use the lower parking lot entrance to the hall.