BRIEFLY.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Veneta program to offer

toys and trees to parents

VENETA - Organizers are still seeking donations of new children's toys, books and clothing for the 11th annual S.A.N.T.A. (Sharing Among Neighbors Toy Appeal) here.

The donated items will be available free to area low-income families on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Veneta Elementary School gym, 88131 Territorial Road.

Children do not attend the event, according to chairpersons Inez Brooker and Dana Keeney. Rather, parents may make selections and wrap gifts for their children. The program will even provide a Christmas tree to those who need one.

Adults shopping at the event will be asked to show proof of local residency such as a utility bill and proof that children live with them, such as a school report card, a child's Social Security card or a health plan card.

Items may be donated at Lane Fire District No. 1's Veneta station, 88050 Territorial Road.

Volunteers seek goods

for senior gift baskets

OAKRIDGE - A local family that has packed and delivered bags of groceries to local senior citizens here every December for 20 years is once again seeking donations of nonperishable food, paper goods, and toiletry items.

The Senior Citizen Christmas Baskets program last year delivered meat and two bags of groceries to 246 Oakridge-area households, said Susan Knudsen Obermeyer. She and her husband took over the annual project more than two decades ago, after the couple who'd started it moved out of Oakridge.

"This is truly a community effort," said Obermeyer. "Everything that is donated stays in the community."

Participants this year include local Scout troops who conducted a canned food drive; community volunteers who pack the baskets; St. Michael's Catholic Church, which will open its facilities for basket packing at 7 p.m. Dec. 17; and local high school students who help deliver the baskets.

Donations can be mailed to Obermeyer at P.O. Box 936, Oakridge, OR 97463; or delivered to her home at 76388 Crestview St. For information or to volunteer, call 782-3592.

Send announcements to: Briefly News at The Register-Guard, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440, fax [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].