Nov. 12-18

• Clothing Drive, sponsored by the PTA of Memorial Elementary School, East Brunswick, during school hours, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., at the school, 80 David St., South River. Seeking gently used clothing, shoes; accessories (purses, backpacks, belts, hats, gloves, scarves, ties, baby accessories); household items made of fabric (blankets, sheets, comforters, etc.); soft toys; hard toys; baby gear. Soft items should be placed in welltied plastic bags; hard toys may be placed in boxes. PTA receives money for total weight collected. Clothes are shipped to developing countries, sold at affordable prices. Email Valerie Gerlach at valerie. gerlach@yahoo.com, call 732-238- 3056.

Nov. 12-Dec. 11

• Jersey Cares Coat Drive, conducted by Goddard School of South Old Bridge, 1480 Englishtown Road (Route 527), Old Bridge. Donations of gently used, clean coats may be dropped off at the school 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Contributions given to New Jersey families in need. Call 732-416-9600, log on to www.jerseycares.org.

Nov. 13

• Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Spotswood Fire Department Hook and Ladder Company, 6-9 p.m., at the Spotswood Firehouse, Main Street. Cosmetics, jewelry, toys, gourmet items, home decor, candles, more. Refreshments.

• Peace, Love and St. Bart's Basket Raffle, 6-10 p.m., at the East Brunswick Chateau, Cranbury Road. Tickets cost $4; includes salad, entree, desert, soda, coffee, tea. 732-254-7105.

• Country Line Dance, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1451, 7- 11 p.m., at the post home, 31 Reid St., South River. Admission is $10; includes dance lesson. Call Pete Christiano at 732-254-9834, email VFWPOST1451@aol.com.

Nov. 13 & 14

• Colonial Fair, presented by First Presbyterian Church, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 14, at the church, 45 Market St., Perth Amboy. Colonial display on stage; homemade food available 11:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Nov. 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 14; handmade items; photos with Santa. Free admission. 732-826-2132.

Nov. 14

• Pedals for Progress Used-Bike Collection, sponsored by the South River-East Brunswick Rotary Club, 9 a.m.-noon (rain or shine), at East Brunswick High School, 380 Cranbury Road. Adult or children's bicycles in repairable condition are sought. "Bikes for parts" or disassembled bikes not accepted. Bikes are reconditioned in developing countries and distributed at low cost to poor working adults. Suggested minimum donation: $10 per bike to help collect, process, ship, rebuild, distribute each bike. Working portable sewing machines also accepted. Log on to www.p4p.org, call Fumiji Aoki at 732-991-8906, email RotarySREB@ aol.com.

• Yard Sale, sponsored by the East Brunswick Youth Council, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine, in the Crystal Springs Family Aquatic Center parking lot, 388 Dunhams Corner Road, East Brunswick. Bargains, treasures, collector's items, household items, games, linens, stuffed animals, pet supplies, sports equipment, furniture, luggage, more. Proceeds support the council's charitable projects. Donations for the sale accepted 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 12 and 13. Items sold and/or supplied to families moving from shelters to homes. Hangers, sheets, towels, silverware, glassware, lamps, small furniture items, tools, etc., needed. 732-390- 6797.

• Fall Festival and Bake Sale, sponsored by Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at the church, 568 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick. Breakfast, light lunch available. Handcrafted holiday decorations, ornaments and gifts, homemade pies, cakes, breads, more. Proceeds help needy families in East Brunswick and surrounding communities. 732-254-7361.

• Vendor/Craft Night, sponsored by the Monroe Wolverines Pop Warner cheer and football teams, 7:30-9:30 p.m., at the Monroe Township Community Center, 120 Monmouth Road. Vendors, crafters, raffle prizes, 50/50. Individuals who arrive 6:30- 7 p.m. will be entered into an Early-Bird Special Raffle. Admission: $2.

• Doo-Wop Show, featuring Remember When, sponsored by the Milltown Lions Club, 7:30-10 p.m., at American Legion Post No. 25, JFK Boulevard, Milltown. Donation is $20; includes show, snacks, dancing. Cash bar. Proceeds benefit the visually impaired. 732-239-7600.

• Benefit Concert, featuring Nancy Scharff, singer, guitarist, pianist, songwriter and worship leader, 7 p.m., at Jamesburg Presbyterian Church, 11 W. Church St. Proceeds go to the Deacon's Food Pantry at the church. Tickets cost $15. 732-521-1711.

• Family Portrait Day, sponsored by the Monroe Wolverines Pop Warner cheer and football teams, 5-9:30 p.m., at the Monroe Township Community Center, 120 Monmouth Road. Photos by local photographer. Portrait package costs $49.99. Wolverines receive $10 from each booking. Sittings by appointment only. Call Christine Deak at 732-672-4713, email christinedeak@yahoo.com.

• A Taste of Holy Trinity, sponsored by Holy Trinity Church, 4-7 p.m., in the parish hall, 90 Leonardine Ave., South River. Parish and community members invited to bring signature dishes, desserts, drinks, music to celebrate their ancestry. Food and beverages available by ticket only. Tickets, in advance or at the door, sold in strips of 12 for $10; individual "taste" tickets offered for $1 each. RSVP to avpatton@hotmail.com, joann03257@hotmail.com or 732-967- 1938.

Nov. 15

• All-You-Can-Eat Pancake and Much More Breakfast, sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Post No. 25, 8 a.m.-noon, at the post home, 4 JFK Blvd., Milltown. Donation is $6 for adults, $3 for children under age 10; under age 5 admitted free. Parking across the street from the post home. 732-828-7125.

• Family Portrait Day, sponsored by Little House of South River, by appointment only, at Little House, 12 W. George St. Professional photographer; choice of Christmas or formal background. Cost is $29.95. Additional prints, Christmas cards may be ordered. Make checks payable to Little House Association; cash not accepted. To book appointment, call Diane at 732- 651-2202, email DianeNale@aol.com. Little House provides a meeting place for South River and Milltown Girl Scouts.

• Apple Festival, sponsored by the Madison Township Historical Society, noon-4 p.m., at the Old Bridge Municipal Center, Route 516 and Cottrell Road. Vendors, baked goods, snack bar, more. Proceeds support the Thomas Warne Museum. Free admission.

• Polish Dinner, sponsored by the Spotswood Polish-American Citizens Club, 3-7 p.m., at the club, 66 Adirondack Ave. Admission is $8 for ages 10 and above, $5 for ages 5-10, free for youngsters up to age 4. Tickets available at the club; should be purchased by Nov. 13. Takeouts available.

• An Afternoon With the Accordion Pops Orchestra, conducted by Dan Desiderio, featuring tenor Rodolfo Veneziano, to benefit Project Child and Casa de Luz, an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, 3 p.m., at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. 732-257-8198, 732-257-6636.

• Cash for Gold, sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes School, Milltown, after the 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) Church, Main Street, Milltown. National Gold Buyers will offer cash for old, broken and unwanted gold, jewelry, silver, old coins, vintage watches, other items of value. A percentage of the cash paid out will benefit OLOL School.

• Holiday Bazaar and Gift Auction, sponsored by Assumption Catholic School, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., at the school, Meredith and Jacques streets, Perth Amboy. Prizes include LCD HDTV, laptop computer. Food, wheels of chance, games, raffles, vendors, crafts. Free admission. 732-826-8721.

Nov. 19

• Basket Raffle, sponsored by St. Thomas the Apostle HSA, doors open at 6:45 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., in the school auditorium, Route 18 south, Old Bridge. Admission is $20; includes coffee, dessert, door-prize entry, four prize-table tickets. Additional raffle tickets available for purchase. Participants may bring food into the event. Individuals under age 18 not admitted. Smoking not permitted. Call Diane at 732-360-0640.