by deborah giattina

Cultivate nature

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 'tis the Earth Season, when the Redwood Creek Nursery replants native plants in and around Muir Woods. Help it repopulate these areas with indigenous flora. Snacks, tools, and training provided to all volunteers. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Redwood Creek Nursery, near Muir Woods National Monument. (415) 383-4390, cfriedel@parkconservancy.org.

Feed the hungry

Wednesday, Dec. 21, volunteer at the San Francisco Food Bank, which redistributes donated goods to feed 50,000 San Franciscans every day. One Brick organizes a social gathering at a nearby bar for volunteers to mingle and reflect on their good deeds. 6-8 p.m., San Francisco Food Bank, 900 Pennsylvania, SF. RSVP at www .onebrick .org.

Help homeless children

Wednesday, Dec. 21, join the Homeless Children's Network on the last day of its holiday mailing parties to make an appeal for donations to the organization, which provides mental health services to kids without homes. 6-9 p.m., 2940 16th St., Suite 301, SF. (415) 437-3997.

Improve Foster care

Wednesday, Dec. 21, the East Bay Animal Advocates calls upon you to phone up Safeway today and ask it to pressure Foster Farms to treat its birds better. According to the group's recent investigation (www.fosterfacts.net), Foster Farms is in violation of animal cruelty laws. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (877) 505-4040, www.eastbayanimaladvocates.org.

AFL-CIO in Haiti report

Thursday, Dec. 22, Jeb Sprague, graduate student in history at California State University Long Beach, discusses his controversial research on how the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center in Haiti spends the money it receives from the United States Agency for International Aid. Pierre LaBossiere of the Haiti Action Committee also speaks, and Dave Welsh gives a report-back on his recent labor tour of the country. Potluck 6 p.m., presentation 7 p.m., ILWU Local 6, 255 Ninth St., SF. $3 donation, bring a potluck dish. (415) 282-1908.

Get free toys

Thursday, Dec. 22, bring your kids and queue up for Glide Memorial Church's annual toy giveaway. Keep in mind that toys are given only to adults with children, and a long line forms early. 10 a.m.-11 a.m., Glide Memorial Church, 330 Ellis, SF. To volunteer, go to www.glide.org or call (415) 674-6080.

Procession for peace

Saturday, Dec. 24, participate in the silent procession for a resolution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the second annual "There Is No Peace in Bethlehem," organized by the Middle East Children's Alliance. 4:30-6:30 p.m., Union Square, corner of Geary and Powell, SF. (510) 548-0542, meca@mecaforpeace.org.

Free Christmas meal

Sunday, Dec. 25, enjoy a festive meal of ham, turkey, and all your favorite side dishes at Glide Memorial Church's annual Christmas dinner. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Glide Memorial Church, 330 Ellis, SF. Free. To volunteer, go to www.glide.org or call (415) 674-6080.

Holiday helpings

Sunday, Dec. 25, volunteer to help serve the homeless at the Tenderloin Tessie Holiday Dinner. The feast includes turkey, ham, and all the trimmings. 1-4 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin, SF. Contact Toby at (415) 255-7503.

Death and taxes

Tuesday, Dec. 27, join the San Francisco Friends and Northern California War Tax Resistance as they strategize about how to defeat the war tax in the upcoming year. 7:05 p.m., 65 Ninth St., SF. Free, please bring a snack to share. (510) 843-9877, www.nowartax.org.

Eco-living event

Wednesday, Dec. 28, fantasize about your own sustainable dream castle at Skip Wenz's seminar, "Creating an Ecological House." The author of Adding to a House and Ecotecture: Designing a Sustainable Future discusses solar design and alternative construction, among other topics. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Building Education Center, 812 Page, Berk. $75. (510) 525-7610, www.ecologycenter.org.

Call counselors

Ongoing. Provide emotional support and peer-counseling services to callers on the AIDS/HIV/Hepatitis C Nightline. Evening or nighttime hours are available. The Nightline's number is (415) 434-2437, and volunteers take calls throughout the holidays, including Christmas Day. To volunteer, contact Rolph at (415) 984-1902 or e-mail rolphs@sfsuicide.org.

Construction coordinators

Ongoing. Join Habitat for Humanity as a crew leader and help the site supervisors and other volunteers construct new homes. Crew leaders lead small groups on project tasks and must commit to two days a month for six months. Contact Eric Knackmuhs at (415) 406-1555 or eric@habitatsf.org (reference crew leader/craigslist in the subject line).

Ladies' intern

Ongoing. Intern at the Community Resource Room this spring at the Women's Building. The intern helps at the center; aids women to find employment, housing, and other resources; and works on special outreach projects. Unpaid. E-mail resourceroom@womensbuilding.org.

Mail items for Alerts to the Bay Guardian Building, 135 Mississippi St., SF, CA 94107; fax to (415) 255-8762; or e-mail alerts@sfbg.com. Please include a contact telephone number. Items must be received at least one week prior to publication date. Call (415) 255-3100, ext. 573, for more information. For more events, see the Benefits listings in the Calendar section.