Donations

Gov. Martin O'Malley said Thursday that he will follow the lead of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in returning donations from Richard Stewart, a political mover and shaker who pleaded guilty this month to tax evasion. Stewart's conviction brought calls from Maryland Republicans for Democrats who received donations from Stewart to return them. Cummings became the first prominent Democrat to announce he would do so, and Brown said this week that he has sent back $5,750 in contributions from Stewart.

In light of recent news articles pertaining to homelessness in Harford County, Harford Mall management is partnering with the Welcome One Emergency Shelter in a collection and donation drive to benefit the shelter. The collection drive, called Have a Heart for Harford's Homeless, is taking place until Feb. 29. The goal of the Have a Heart for Harford's Homeless campaign is to collect needed items from the Welcome One wish list, as well as monetary donations. Donations for the shelter can be placed in the display area at Harford Mall's center court. Mall representatives will be on hand throughout the donation period to accept monetary donations to the shelter.  "This is a wonderful opportunity for the mall to provide some much needed assistance to our neighbors in Harford County," Harford Mall General Manager Lauri Altman said in a news release. "It is one small way that we as a community can give back to those who need it. " The kickoff for Harford Mall's campaign was last Friday afternoon in the mall's center court.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. said Monday that it had launched a new program that allows customers to make a tax-deductible monthly donation to the Maryland Fuel Fund, which helps low-income families with bill assistance and energy conservation. Under the new Dollar Donation Fund, BGE customers can elect a monthly amount - $1, $2, $5 or $10 - to give to the Fuel Fund. The utility will add that amount to the bill and when customers make a full payment, BGE will forward the contribution to the Fuel Fund.

Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit volunteer items, mail to Volunteers, Patuxent Publishing Co., Third Floor Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com ; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497. Small Miracles Cat Rescue - Seeking volunteers to help with cleaning and feeding at the shelter, as well as a morning or evening at either the Columbia or Ellicott City Petco, and the adoption process.

Today is the first Giving Tuesday, a national event that encourages charitable donations and hopes to become as popular as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. GiveCorps.com is a Baltimore nonprofit crowdfunding program that is helping donors to maximize their giving today through a matching program. It has more than 50 Baltimore nonprofits trying to raise money on its site . These nonprofits include Real Food Farm, Maryland SPCA, Living Classrooms Foundation, Child First Authority and Athletes Serving Athletes.

Start of the school year offers a test for community support As our community approaches the end of August, we are confronted with both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to provide supplies to those students in need in our community. The opportunity is experiencing the joy of service to others in the process. The faith community at English Consul Christian Church recently felt such joy after successfully collecting two full pallets of new and gently used school supplies, which were then donated to Southwest Emergency Services (SWES)

The Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, Inc., along with the Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Foundation, have designated the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps station as a Toys for Tots drop-off location again this year. "We are looking for new, unwrapped toys or clothing items that will be distributed to needy children in our community during this holiday season," Ambulance Corps spokesman Mark Hemler said. Last year the Ambulance Corps was again, the 3rd largest Toys for Tots drop off site in the State.

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching and once again The Aegis Empty Stocking Fund is offering help to needy Harford County families through the generous donations of money and toys from local residents, organizations, schools and businesses. This year, there are a number of community events that will benefit the Empty Stocking Fund and its goal of making Christmas a little merrier for some less fortunate Harford County residents. The Empty Stocking Fund's fundraising goal again for this year has been set at $80,000.

About 60 Corvettes, vintage, new and of every hue, parked four across on a closed-off block of North Chester Street in East Baltimore for several hours Saturday. Members of the Baltimore County Corvette Club had traveled from M&T Bank Stadium with a police escort to the Bea Gaddy Family Center. Each delivered a trunkful of donations, mostly food, for the center's 29th annual Thanksgiving dinner. Cynthia Brooks, Gaddy's daughter and executive director of the outreach center, thanked an exuberant crowd of volunteers and Corvette owners, who have contributed in increasing numbers since 2006.

The Laurel Regional Hospital Auxiliary is holding its 13th annual Tree of Lights fundraiser to benefit capital improvements at the hospital. Participants can purchase lights for an outdoor tree at the hospital to honor or remember a family member, loved one or friend. Donations for white lights are $5 per name, and names are listed on a Scroll of Honor and displayed at the hospital during December. Gold Life Lights are $100 for each name, and red Eternal Lights are $500; both gold and red lights are lit annually and the names of those honored or remembered are permanently displayed on a Wall of Honor at the hospital.