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First Street Playhouse, a non-profit organization, will hold a barbecue fundraiser before a performance of “Greater Tuna” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the theater, 160 S. Water St. in Batavia. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for students and children. Tickets include dinner, raffle prizes and games. All proceeds help the playhouse. The play will start at 9 p.m. For more information or reservations, visit www.firststreetplayhouse.com or call 630-406-6367.
Volunteer opportunities
Literacy Volunteers of DuPage will hold a series of six tutor-training courses from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, 24, 29, 31, Feb. 5 and 19 in the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss St. Volunteers share their own abilities to read, write and speak English. No teaching experience is necessary. Anyone age 18 or older with a high school diploma can become a tutor. Tutors meet with adult learners once a week at a time and location convenient to both. To become a volunteer, visit www.literacyvolunteersdupage.org or call 630-416-6699.
The Village of Lombard will sponsor a community blood drive from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Community Room of Village Hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave. A photo ID is required. Everyone who donates will receive a coffee mug and three gourmet coffees from the Heartland Blood Centers. Walk-ins are welcome, but to make an appointment, call 630-620-5712.
Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities, a non-profit horseback-riding program for children and adults with special needs, seek volunteers to lead horses and ponies on a lead line and walk next to program participants as they ride. New volunteers must be at least 13. The program is at Kingsway Farm, 28W051 Liberty St. in Winfield. Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. through 4:45 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers may choose their own flexible hours. Information and training sessions will be held Jan. 13 through 18. For more information, call 630-588-8543 or visit www.ftea.org.
The SMART after-school program needs volunteers to work with children in 1st through 3rd grades on homework and reading. The program is based at Catholic Charities’ west suburban regional office, 1400 S. Austin Blvd. in Cicero. Volunteers must be age 14 or older and be able to commit to two-hour shifts (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during the school year). For more information, call Lisa Wolff at 708-329-4027.
Catholic Charities has volunteer opportunities through its Cicero food pantry and clothing room, as well as its Accolade Adult Day Care program based in Oak Park. For more information, call Daila Bagdonas Rocotello at 708-222-1491.
The DuPage Children’s Museum needs volunteers and will hold a volunteer open house from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16 and Feb. 5 in the museum, 301 N. Washington St. in Naperville. The museum will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For more information, call 630-637-8000, ext. 4680.
Those making a difference
Leyden High School District 212 faculty and staff held a raffle at the teachers union’s holiday social and raised $850 for local needy families with students attending either East Leyden or West Leyden High Schools.
Marklund, a non-profit network of services providing a full-life experience for infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities, recently received a $9,000 grant from the DuPage County Human Services grant fund. The funds will be used to support the therapeutic program at Marklund’s Philip Center for Children in Bloomingdale.
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