Six Fall Events to Add to Your Calendar

Day of Caring

Hundreds of volunteers will once again roll up their sleeves and tackle a variety of projects throughout our community with the United Way of IRC at at Holman Stadium October 11. 8 a.m. kickoff breakfast, 9 a.m. leave for project sites; free.

Holidays for Heroes

October 15 begins the 19th annual Holidays for Heroes drive, an initiative of our local Military Moms Prayer Group. Participation is easy and rewarding. Just pick up a mailing kit, consisting of a flat-rate USPS Priority Mail box, instruction sheet, list of suggested items, and sample customs declaration form, at one of 35 Indian River County locations. “If It Fits, It Ships,” so load the box up with some of our troops’ most-requested items, such as socks, snacks, and puzzle books, and ship it off. These simple packages bring our deployed service members a bit of joy and remind them that they are not forgotten during the holiday season. The drive runs through December 15. For more information, call 772-473-0288. The list of locations can be found at militarymomsprayergroup.com.

Fairways for Families

What’s better than enjoying a day on the links while helping homeless families in our community? You can do just that at the Hope for Families Center’s Fairways for Families event at the beautiful Bent Pine course October 27. After a continental breakfast, the shotgun start will take place at 9 a.m. The morning of golf will be followed by a barbecue lunch. The $200 entry price covers greens fee, cart, lunch, and course beverages. For more information, call 772-567-5537 or see hopeforfamiliescenter.org.

Soup Bowl Event

Several years ago, COVID put the kibosh on the popular Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Center Soup Bowl Event; the ceramic bowls were still sold at the Heritage Center (2140 14th Ave), but the event was not the community-wide effort it once was. Now in its 33rd year, this fundraiser in support of Samaritan Center’s work with local homeless families is “back in full swing”! Hundreds of lovely bowls made by the potters of Indian River Clay will be available for $20 each at the Heritage Center November 6 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and various local businesses, nonprofits, and places of worship will be serving soup ($5 per bowl or $15 per to-go quart) and selling the pottery bowls at their locations. For more information, call 772-770-3039 or take a look at the Samaritan Center Soup Bowl Facebook page.

A Night of Sunshine Gala

The nonprofit Sunshine Physical Therapy Clinic, which has been providing a wide variety of services to both adults and children in our community since the 1950s, will hold its annual fundraising gala November 6 at Pointe West Clubhouse (7500 14th Lane) from 6 to 9 p.m. The night is expected to be a perfect blend of sensory experiences, culinary delights, and engaging activities, including silent and live auctions. Tickets are $150, and the attire will be casual. To learn more about the event and Sunshine’s work, call 772-562-6877 or see sunshineptc.org.

Boujie Handbag Bingo

November 7 will be a good day to help promote mental health in our community. This fun inaugural event supports the Mental Health Association in Indian River County’s Parent & Child Center. Tickets are just $75 and include eight games of bingo, one free raffle ticket, light bites and charcuterie by Wild Thyme, a dessert table and candy bar, door prizes, and more. A cash bar and additional raffle tickets will also be available. The doors of the Heritage Center (2140 14th Ave.) will open at 5:30 p.m. and the first bingo game will commence at 6:30, with a chance to win a handbag with every game! For more information, call 772-569-9788, ext. 122 or visit mhairc.org.