HOPES AND WISHES: The 11th annual Holiday Hopes and Wishes event, hosted by the Kids Crew of Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, will take place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave., Boardman.

The event will feature a luncheon, basket raffle, silent auction and a holiday bake shop. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased by visiting www.akronchildrens.org/ holidayhopesandwishes or contacting Charlotte Diss at 330-746-8712.

All proceeds will benefit the Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Behavioral Health Fund.

COAT GIVEAWAY: The Northside Crime Watch in Youngstown will be hosting a Toy and Coat Giveaway on Dec. 21 on Oak and Fruit streets on the East Side of Youngstown. Two children per family will receive coats and toys.

For more information, contact Annie Hall at 330-742-4880.

WREATHS IN GIRARD: Wreaths Across America, a national project to honor veterans for their service to the community, will be held locally at the Girard City Cemetery. Blackstone Funeral Home and Girard American Legion Post 235 have teamed up to make sure the veterans have Christmas holiday wreaths.

The event is held each December as a movement to cover all veterans’ graves with a wreath. More than 250 wreaths have been purchased to adorn graves at the cemetery. Anyone wanting to purchase a wreath for $15 can call 330-539-5955 or the American Legion.

A ceremony will be noon Saturday at the cemetery chapel. After the ceremony, volunteers will place the wreaths on markers. Volunteers are needed to help with the project. The goal of the program is to remember the fallen, honor those who served and teach children the value of freedom.

ALTRUSA CLUB GIFT: The Altrusa of Youngstown Club presented 14 iPads and smart covers to Taft Elementary School Principal Todd Morris and to Jennifer Roseck, instructional framework coach for the kindergarten class. They were also given three complete sets of leveled readers for classroom work.

The Altrusa Service Project is named “Reading for Life.”