Dock Phillips and Jack "Candyman" Millwood are pictured at a past meeting of the 4-H Club at Draytonville Baptist Church. The next meeting will be Thursday at noon in the church's Family Life Center. Church news

The Helping Hands Ministry of Limestone Missionary Baptist Church is giving away free clothing for men, women and children to anyone who needs it. If you are in need of clothing, go by the church on Tuesdays from 11:30-1 p.m. and 5-6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, 12-2 p.m.; and Thursdays, 5- 6:30 p.m. Some canned foods are also available. For more information, call 864-489-8391 during the above hours.

The York-Chester District Mass Choir will rehearse Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6:45 p.m. at Wilson Chapel in Sharon. The rehearsal is organization and preparation for a Lay Council installation service. Two or more members from each church are asked to attend and musicians thoughout the district are welcome to participate. The Rev. Heyward Boyd is the director.

Appearing in person at Buffalo Baptist Church on Dec. 11 is the world famous Chuck Wagon Gang, which is currently celebrating 72 years of singing Gospel music. The program begins at 7 p.m. For more information, check out the band's website at www.thechuckwagingang.net.

The Children's Choir of Southside Church in Gaffney will be presenting the Christmas musical "Glory to God in the Highest" this Sunday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. For more information, call 489-6504 or check out www.gaffneysouthside.com.

Shady Grove Baptist Church Sunday School Department will present their annual Christmas Program on Saturday December 20th at 5:00 p.m. at the Thickety Mountain Associational Building. The program will be a dinner theater. All classes from beginners through adults will perform Christmas skits, songs, and dances. Following the program, the Shady Grove Church family will have their annual Christmas dinner. Ms. Bridgett Rainey and Ms. Elizabeth Hawk coordinate the Culinary Ministry.

Shady Grove Church Senior Missionary and Young Womenís Auxiliary Christmas project is to help provide Christmas gifts for the residents of Brookview Nursing Home. They will be providing the square boxes of facial tissue for each resident. Interested persons are invited to participate in the effort. If desired, the square box(es) of tissue can be wrapped for gift giving. For more information, call Mary Jones at 490-1027.

Meetings

Blacksburg VFW Post 4941 and its Ladies Auxiliary will be meeting Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Community Building in Blacksburg. It will be having its Christmas gettogether at this time. All Post and Auxiliary members are urged to attend.

Cherokee County Branch of the NAACP will have its monthly meeting and a reception for all lifetime members Dec. 9 at Westside Full Gospel Church at 7 p.m.

Gaffney Masonic Lodge No. 186 meets on the second Tuesday every month at the Masonic Lodge located at 219 E. Floyd Baker Blvd. A meal is served at 6:45 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

Cherokee County Republican Party will hold a short business meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 at 106 Frederick St.

Drop-in will follow the business meeting. The public is invited.

Activities for seniors

Senior Centers of Cherokee County will be offering classes on the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Jan. 6.

The program will run for eight weeks. This non-clinical group exercise designed to help those who have joint or muscle problems achieve improved joint mobility, muscle strength and endurance, helping them to improve performace during daily activities. This program consists of exercise, health education, movement activities and relaxation exercise.

A Chronic Disease Living Well Program will be offered to those who have a chronic disease but are not educated about their illness. The best way to help is to give them information so they can manage their illness better. These classes will start Jan. 7, running every Wednesday for six weeks.These classes will be held at the Blacksburg Senior Center on Pine Street. If anyone is interested in these classes call 487-2725.

Fund raisers

Brookview Healthcare Center is selling a cookbook of its residents' and staff's favorite recipes, "From Our Family to Yours." The cookbook has over 350 recipes and is $10, with all profits going toward supporting special events at the facility. To purchase a cookbook, go by the facility or contact Mary Klein at 864-489-3101, ext. 53

Mt. Whitaker Baptist Church in Blacksburg is selling tickets for a chicken/fish fry to raise money for a Montana mission trip. Plates are $8 and include a choice of chicken tenders, flounder fillet or a combination of both, plus fries, hush puppies, slaw and sauces. The event will be Saturday, Dec. 13, from 4-7 p.m. Eat-in or take out. Tickets must be purchased in advance; to order a ticket, contact Ellen Owen, 864-839-5047. Grahams Fish Camp of Gastonia, N.C., is catering the fundraiser.

Special events

The U.S. Marine Corps League and Reserves are collecting toys and funds for its Toys for Tots program. The Broad River Leathernecks Marine Detachment, the Cherokee County unit, has placed collections boxes and containers in various local business and banks. All funds and toys will go to help needy children and families in Cherokee County. For more information, call John Fowlkes, 864-489-6636.

FYI...

The City of Gaffney Sanitation Department will observe Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008, as a holiday. That day's route will be picked up on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. Please have your carts out on the curbside by 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Gaffney Little Theatre will hold auditions for the musical 'Willy Wonka Jr." on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 from 2 to 3:15 p.m.

Any student in grades 2-5 may audition for a role in the production. Interested actors may bring an accompaniment CD or cassette. For more information, please call 487- 4395 for details.