Photo by: Rick Danzl/The News-Gazette

Tammy Brown, left, president of Diamond Kut Divas Motorsports Club, and co-worker Troya Collier sort through donated coats at The Hair Gallery in Danville on Friday. The club is collecting coats, hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for children and adults in need.

DANVILLE — There's still time to participate in a coat drive sponsored by Diamond Kut Divas Motorsports Club.

The club has been collecting new and used coats, hats, scarves, mittens and gloves for needy children and adults since Nov. 7.

Organizers hope to collect 400 items by Friday. But only about a week away from their deadline, they said they have only collected about 100.

"We really need children's items," said business manager Billie Miles, who blames the poor economy for donations being down this year.

The club started the coat drive last year with the goal of collecting 300 items. Miles said the group was excited to give away more than 400 items to infants through seniors in Vermilion and Champaign counties and in Covington, Ind.

Miles said people can drop off donations through Friday at the following Danville locations: The Hair Gallery, 1515 N. Bowman Ave.; Jim and Jo's Bar and Grill, 821 E. Fairchild St.; Dis-n-Dat, 19 E. North St.; Sarge's Tap, 409 E. Main St.; and the Untouchables Motorcycle Club, 106 Commercial St.

Organizers plan to distribute coats and other items from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Hair Gallery. Miles said organizers will pick up donations as well as deliver the clothing.

For more information or to arrange a pickup or delivery, call Miles at 497-4642 or club president Tammy Brown at 304-2758.

Cellular One voting to decide donations

Cellular One will donate a total of $6,000 to 12 area charities this holiday season, and it needs your help in deciding which charities will receive a donation.

Under the company's "You decide, we donate" program, residents can stop by any of the 12 Cellular One stores in East Central Illinois and vote for a nonprofit organization in the community. Then each store will give a $500 donation to the organization receiving the most votes.

"We are pleased to continue this program to help our local organizations that give so much to our communities. As a family-owned and locally operated company, Cellular One of East Central Illinois focuses on giving back to the communities that support us," assistant general manager Colleen Wright said of the company that's marking its 20th year.

Ballots will be available through Dec. 24 in stores located in Casey, Charleston, Danville's Towne Centre and Village Mall, Flora, Hoopeston, Lawrenceville, Mattoon, Newton, Olney, Paris and Robinson.

People must be at least 18 to vote, and each person can cast only one vote per day. No purchase is necessary.

The winners at each store location must be a charitable organization organized or created in the United States that is a corporation, trust, community chest, fund or foundation (including a private foundation) that's organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, scientific or literary purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals. It also must be registered with the Internal Revenue Service under the charitable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Wright said the $6,000 donation is one of several contributions the company will make during the year. It also presents $6,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors and supports many other organizations. Other donations include the use of phones and service for public school nurses, police, senior citizens and others.

Oakwood school's toy drive starts today

OAKWOOD — Oakwood Junior High School's annual toy drive kicks off today and runs through Friday.

The school is collecting toys for needy children, pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, in the Oakwood school district.

Toys can be dropped off at the junior high school, 21600 N. 900 E Road, Danville, from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. or at Dollar General in Oakwood during the store's regular business hours.

If people need to make other drop-off arrangements, they can call junior high Principal Sam Erwin at 443-2883.

People also can get into the junior high boys' basketball game at 6 p.m. Thursday by bringing a toy.

Erwin said all the toys will be taken to Oakwood Grade School on Dec. 19, and school counselor Laurie Neumann will distribute them on Dec. 20 or 21.

Gift-wrapping event to aid cancer society

URBANA — The Urbana Business Association will help raise money for the American Cancer Society on Saturday by offering gift-wrapping at the Holiday Market inside Lincoln Square Village, Urbana.

Cancer society volunteers will be doing the wrapping at the business association's booth from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All proceeds will go the cancer society.

Spirit of Giving day to assist Toys for Tots

DECATUR — Can you help a needy child get a present for Christmas this year?

WAND-TV will hold its third annual Spirit of Giving day Friday to help Toys for Tots get more toys to kids in Macon County for Christmas.

Donors are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys to employees of the station, who will collect them from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday in the parking lot at 904 South Side Drive, Decatur.

The toys will go to Toys for Tots, then to the Salvation Army to distribute to children in Macon County on Dec. 19.

Other Spirit of Giving sponsors include St. Mary's Hospital, Caterpillar, Physician's Choice Wellness LLC, Flooring America, G&H Marine and Poague, according to a WAND news release.