Metro digest

Angel Giving Tree

YOUNGSTOWN — JCPenney Co. and the Salvation Army have teamed up for this year’s Angel Giving Tree program.

The 40-year-old program offers individuals the chance to buy Christmas gifts for a needy child by choosing an angel tag from a tree at participating locations.

JCPenney is taking the project to a new level through an online giving program. From now until Dec. 14, customers can choose an angel by visiting www.jcp.com/angel. Customers then have the choice of delivering gifts to a drop-off location or having an online order shipped. FedEx Ground is providing shipping to Salvation Army collection centers nationwide free-of-charge for those gifts purchased online at jcp.com.

Mahoning County Area Services of the Salvation Army helped 3,700 children last Christmas. More than 5,000 are signed up for the program this year.

5K, Kids Fun Run

McDONALD — Today, the McDonald Lions Club will have its first Feed the Need Holiday 5K and Kids Fun Run to help families in the community.

Each runner is being asked to bring two nonperishable food items to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. Visit the Web site www.mcdonaldlions.com for more details.

The 5K race or walk begins at 9:30 a.m., and the Kids Fun Run for age 11 and younger starts at 9:45, both at the Performing Arts Center at 201 Ohio Ave. Packet pickup and registration is from 8 to 9 a.m. There will be awards in several categories.

The entry fee for the 5K is $12 plus two canned items or $15 without canned food items; and for the kids race, one canned food item and no monetary charge.

All the proceeds will benefit the Lions Club’s charities of choice. All canned goods will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Grainger Foundation will present Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley with a check for $10,000 immediately after the 5K run about 10:30 a.m. at 201 Ohio Ave.

Winter clothing drive

LIBERTY — Winter clothing for the needy can be placed in barrels that are being set up at each township school building, at the school bus garage, the Jewish Community Center and Temple El Emeth.

Coats, hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks and all types of winter clothing will be accepted until February, or as long as there is a need.

The clothing will be distributed at the Liberty Township Administration Building from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

For more information, call (330) 759-1315.

Bowling for a cure

NILES — Youngstown Wedding Ministers is inviting the public to bowl for a cure from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 12 in support of the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.

Tickets will be $10 per person or $30 for a family pack of four tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $7 with a family pack. Children under 4 are free.

Each ticket entitles the bearer to two games of cosmic bowling (shoe rental included), a slice of pizza, bag of potato chips and pop.

For tickets, contact the Rev. Robert DeZee at (330) 530-8133.

‘Give the Gift of Shoes’

BOARDMAN — Podiatrists with Ankle & Foot Care Centers are urging holiday shoppers to “Give the Gift of Shoes” to help the area’s less fortunate.

Ankle & Foot Care Centers, a group of 15 local podiatric physicians and surgeons, announced the start of the 2009 shoe drive and hopes to collect more than 800 pairs between now and Jan. 9.

Shoe-collection stations are now in place at each of the group’s 19 locations throughout the region, all of which are accepting new or nearly new shoes.

Ankle & Foot Care Centers serves patients at 19 local offices. Locations and other information are listed on the group’s Web site, www.ankleandfootcare.com.

Fire cause undetermined

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The cause of a fire that destroyed a city restaurant remains undetermined, the New Castle Fire Department said Friday.

Matty’s, 1102 Croton Ave., burned overnight Nov. 16-17. The restaurant had been in business for about two months.

The fire department said the blaze is not suspicious.