RED means we care

First Long Beach got TED, now Long Beach goes RED. Yes, Mayor Bob Foster will host a RED rally in downtown Long Beach on December 1. To support AIDS awareness, most of downtown will be illuminated with red light. The rally begins at 5:30 in front of the Terrace Theatre with giveaways for the first 500 attendees and music for all. There will be an after party at SIP (WHAT'S with all the capitalizations?) in the Renaissance Hotel and several downtown restaurants are donating part of their proceeds to AIDS charities.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman --but where?

Long Beach Cinemateque is presenting an outdoor screening of Superman on November 20. Events begin music at 6 pm, and everything's free. Donations of canned food are requested to help with Food Finders' Thanksgiving food drive. Sounds fun is a bit chilly, but the location is top secret. Just follow the man in the red cape or contact LB Cinemateque

Progressive Diners Party On

The Progressive Dinner Party has been revived to offer people a chance to socialize and help a worthy cause at the same time. For $35, you can enjoy a good meal and good company in the home of one of the PDP organizers and the money will go to a local group. On October 17, the dinner proceeds will go to CANTO!, a downtown Long Beach afterschool program.

Got Scrabble?

Rising TIDE, an afterschool program housed at the Marguerite Keifer Educational Center in Covenant Presbyterian Church (607 E. Third Street), will host its annual Scrabble Scramble on Friday, September 17. Admission is $25 for three rounds of the game, and prizes will be awarded to the winning scores for an individual and a team. Doors open at 6 for pre-game refreshments (hot off the grill!) and viewing silent auction items.

Seriously--pull a plane?

On Saturday, August 21 at 10 am, Long Beach Airport will be sponsoring a plane pull. Sort of like a tractor pull and sort of like a tug of war, teams of 25 will be given two tries each to pull a FedEx Airbus 310 airplane for 12 feet on the tarmac. Teams will be judged for distance, speed, and creativity of their T-shirt design. The cost to participate is $50 per person, and proceeds will go to Special Olympics of Southern California.

A Feast on the Beach

This Sunday, August 1, Taste of the Coast, sponsored by Kids Connection, comes to the Belmont Pier. From 3 to 7 pm, more than 40 area restaurants will offer samples and there will be music and a fireboat show as well. Tickets cost $50 and proceeds will go toward local children's charities.

They're going the distance to stop cancer

Tonight in Long Beach at Saint Anthony High School track many dedicated souls will be participating ing the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. From 6 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday at 4832 Clark Avenue over 150 will walk the track, raising about $13,000 for the cause. There will be a survivor's lap and after sunset the area will be illuminated by luminaria commemorating loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

Mental Health Village

Just wanted to create a link to Mental Health Village website. This extraordinary group was mentioned in The Soloist, this year's Long Beach Reads One Book selection. Organized for the people who come for help not the convenience of the staff, this organization has brought about innovation in the way the needs of homeless people are addressed.

Help for Haiti Event at El Dorado Park

This Sunday, from 11 am to 3 pm at El Dorado Park, 40 in 4 Haiti Relief will attempt to raise $40,000 in 4 hours to be sent to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. There will be a drive-up donation booth and also, food, music and games for the kids if you'd like to stay and play

Give Yourself for Christmas

I always think of taking a little time from tinsel and sugarplums to give some help where it's needed. Here are some more groups that welcome help at Christmas and all year through.

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles

Global Volunteer Network

VolunteerMatch

Habitat for Humanity

Mercy and Truth Medical Missions

Children's Hopechest

Friend Ships Unlimited

Wish a soldier Merry Christmas

There's still time to get a few Christmas cards out to military members and veterans. The deadline is December 7 and several cards can be sent in one envelope to be forwarded by the Red Cross through its Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Swords to Ploughshares

I'm thrown by the decision to continue the war in Afghanistan. The one small ray of hope is the stated plan to begin withdrawal within two years. I came across this heart-lifting story to lighten my spirits. Brenda Krause Eheart redesigned a former Air Force base in downstate Illinois 15 years ago so that retirees could move in to act as foster grandparents and role models for children removed from their biological parents by the court. Hope Meadows has been so successful that it has been awarded an $8 million grant to replicate the model across the country. That's the kind of innovative program that could make a difference in this country.

Websites with a heart

To add a little sugar to your shopping this CyberMonday, you can use GoodShop to link to retailers online who will donate from 3% to 30% of your purchase price to a charity you choose. GoodSearch donates about a penny to any one 0f over 83,000 you name when you use it as a search engine.

FreeRice offers a way to build your vocabulary and feed the hungry. For each correct definition you give, this organization donates ten grains of rice to a needy country. Animal lovers can click on FreeKibble or FreeKibbleKat to answer daily trivia questions and send food to animal shelters.

Food Bank in Los Angeles

I'm still looking for a link for a Long Beach food bank, but in the meantime, I did come across a Los Angeles food bank--the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. They need volunteers as well as donations of food and money. They have something called a virtual food drive where donations are augmented by corporations or other organization so that $1 donated is increased to $5 by the sponsoring group. A group called Feeding America has an easy to use locator database to find food banks throughout the country, but none is listed for Long Beach

People who need people

Here's a few Long Beach organizations who need a helping hand:

Hide and Seek Boutique at 203 Covina needs volunteers to repair and deliver items as well as to work in the shop. Donations of furniture are gladly accepted.

International City Theatre could use some ushers for its performances at the Performing Arts Center. Call 495-4595, ext. 10.

Bolsa Chica Conservancy has openings for people to greet guests or give tours of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands and to help restore the native habitat. Call (714) 846-1114

There's always something to help with at Justin Rudd's Community Action Team. I've got my eye on the Haute Dog Poetry Contest.

University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach, is in need of volunteers and docents. Call 985-7601.

Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center needs some volunteer talent for Musician Fridays. Call 933-0961.

Literacy Network will provide training for people interested in helping adults improve their reading or math skills. Call (213) 237-3010

You Know--for the Kids

There's going to be some partying going on this Sunday down by Marine Stadium at 5255 Paoli Way from 9 am to 4 pm. Not only will there be food and entertainment, but such deals. Antiques, vintage clothing, appliances and other treasures too numerous to mention. Proceeds will bot to Kid's Connection, a local group that supports needy children in the Long Beach area.

Ooh la la La Strada!

The waitresses of La Strada Restaurant (on Second Street) agreed to display some of their (ahem) hidden talents and posed for a 1940s-style pinup calendar to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. A long-time customer of the restaurant died of pancreatic cancer at age 55 about a year ago, and owner Lisa Ramelow organized the production of the calendar. If the calendar is half as much campy fun as the YouTube video of the photo shoot, it should be a big seller at the Belmont Shore Car Show on September 13. Part of the proceeds will go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, which funds research as well as supporting victims of the disease and providing community outreach.

Canstruction OC--Yes, they can

South Coast Plaza is hosting a monthlong event starting September 5 called Canstruction OC. It's an ongoing project established by the design and construction industry to benefit local food banks. Teams of architects, engineers, designers, xontractors and students compete by designing and building structures made entirely out of canned foods. After "Build Night" and judging, the structures will be on display to the public. Awards are given in such categories as best use of labels, most cans, and structural integrity. Canned food is ultimately donated to the OC Food Bank.