The Merle Hay Neighborhood Association will host its second annual food and clothing drive for the less fortunate at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19 at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. Food collections will once again be donated to the DMARC Food Pantry program. A list of most-needed food items can be found online at: www.dmarcunited.org/movethefood/most-needed-items/

Clothing items will be donated to children at Moore Elementary School, which includes Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. We are accepting new stocking hats, gloves, mittens, snow boots, and winter coats. Winter boots and hats are always the biggest need. Boot sizes generally range between children’s sizes 8-13, and youth sizes 1-7.

Please join MHNA for our annual observance of National Night Out, America’s night out against crime from 6 p.m. to 8 on Tuesday, August 4 at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave. There will be free food, family friendly entertainment, door prizes, and great tips and information from public safety personnel about how to safeguard your property against crime. For the kids in our neighborhood, we will have games, a bounce house, and our friends from Bankers Trust will do face painting.

Please spread the word! We look forward to having a great turnout on Tuesday.