In Brief: Holiday live-streamed concert, Breakfast Club for kids and more in Pine, Richland

Annual Community of Music concert going virtual

The annual Community of Music event sponsored by North Hills Cares will be switched to a virtual performance this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The live-streamed concert from the Block Northway in Ross will be performed from 7:30 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 4.

The concert will feature choirs, bands and orchestras from the North Hills, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Avonworth and Hampton school districts.

Recording artist Melina Bowser also is scheduled to perform and Santa Claus will make an appearance.

The shopping center also is sponsoring a Fill the Sleigh drive on Dec. 6 and 7 to collect nonperishable single-serving food items that will be donated to local school “backpack” programs. There also will be prizes, a Santa’s Mailbox, a gift-wrapping service and a holiday photo booth at the event.

The concert is sponsored by North Hills Cares, which also is accepting donations for the backpack drive online.

Breakfast Club

Hosanna Industries is providing a place where students can gather safely on days when they are doing virtual learning to complete their school work with other students. The program is designed to remove the isolation of studying at home by providing a place where students can see and communicate with each other.

Social distancing and facial coverings are required.

The Breakfast Club runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information, visit hosannaindustries.org.

NHCO toy drive runs through Dec. 9

North Hills Community Outreach is holding its annual toy drive to help needy children through Dec. 9.

Last year, the charity provided holiday gifts for nearly 800 children in the North Hills and expects to exceed that number this year because of the financial difficulties created by the coronavirus pandemic.

To reduce the need to shop and drop off items, the organization recommends this year’s donations be made in the form of gift cards or by selecting items from an Amazon Wish List.

People who prefer to directly purchase new unwrapped toys, games and other gifts for kids of all ages can drop them off at any of NHCO’s three offices weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gift cards should be mailed to the organization’s main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101.

The other offices are at the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and at Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Pittsburgh.

Choral students sending letters from Santa

Pine Richland High School’s choral students will be sending Letters from Santa to children of all ages. The cost is a $5 donation for a personalized letter from Santa for your child including the details provided.

For more information, email Michelle English at MichelleEnglish92@hotmail.com.

The deadline to submit a request is Dec. 9.

Drive-thru holiday light display

The North Hills School District is hosting a drive-through light display at the high school/middle school campus from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.

The decorations and light displays are being designed and created by student clubs, schools and organizations from elementary through high school. The students also are seeking donations of new and gently used strands of lights, which can be dropped off in collection boxes at the entrance to all school buildings.

The event is free, but donations are being collected to help needy families during the holidays.

Collection to help Toys for Tots

Three McCandless volunteer fire departments are joining forces for the sixth annual drive to support Toys for Tots. Residents can help bring joy to needy kids during the holidays by donating unwrapped toys during any of the following times:

• Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. at any fire station in McCandless.

• Nov. 27 to 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Target parking lot at Pine Creek Plaza, 9805 McKnight Road.

Donations also can be dropped off at boxes located at the Marshall Township Municipal Building at 525 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 100.