The Imperial Court de San Diego is launching their 28th annual Toys for Kids drive, the GLBT community’s oldest holiday toy drive. The drive was established in 1976, and later named Toys for Kids Drive after the Marines’ Toy Drive refused to accept any donations from the GLBT community. Last year, the Imperial Court de San Diego distributed over 1,200 toys to under-privileged children at San Diego and Tijuana nonprofit agencies and shelters. Kids and families from Barrio Logan Station, North County Health Services-Encinitas Chapter, Bienestar, Interfaith Shelter Network, American Red Cross, Clark Middle School, H-Town, ACOSIDA, Las Memorias AIDS Hospice, APICAP, YMCA, Mission Hills Health Care Center and various Tijuana orphanages all benefited from last year’s drive. Numerous drop-off locations are participating this year; participants are asked to donate a new, unwrapped toy.

The Toys for Kids drive culminates in an Imperial Court-sponsored holiday show entitled “Little Holiday Star” taking place at Numbers on Sunday, Dec. 12. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with appetizers; live entertainment and a holiday auction/raffle begins at 7:30 p.m.

Drop-off locations for new, unwrapped toys include: The Center, Rainbow Road, Moby Dick’s, The Brass Rail, The Hole, Flicks, Martinis Above Fourth, Bacchus House, The Caliph, Pecs, 6 Degrees, Hamburger Mary’s/Kickers, Bourbon Street, GSDBA, Numbers, #1 Fifth Ave., San Diego Eagle, Patti’s Bar, The Flame, Hairspray, Cheers, The Loft, Secrets Wig Design, SRO Lounge, Fox Channel 6, Grand Pacific Palisades Resorts and Schumacher Carlsbad.

For further information, call Emperor Noel and Empress Katrina Yen at (760) 550-8015 or Czar Nathan at (619) 298-6972.

The San Diego Men’s Chorus performs a Christmas concert Sunday, Dec. 5, at 5:00 p.m. at All Saint’s Episcopal Church, located at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Pennsylvania in Hillcrest. There will be a wine and cheese reception following the concert. Call (619) 298-7729 for more information.

The San Diego Men’s Chorus is also performing Friday, Dec. 3, at December Nights in Balboa Park, and is holding their annual holiday concert, “Come Home for the Holidays”, Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. at University Christian Church, located at 3900 Cleveland Ave. Tickets are $20. Call the chorus office at (619) 296-SONG for more information.

A Cal State University San Bernardino master’s study seeks to understand how gay and lesbian parents are treated and perceived in their children’s schools. Gay and lesbian parents are still needed for the research study, which is anonymous. The study aims to understand the complexities that gays and lesbians experience as parents with children in the public or private school systems and to explore areas in which the current system does not meet their unique needs. The more responses they get, the better the data will be and the better the study can draw conclusions on how best to improve conditions for gay and lesbian parents.

Link to the brief online questionnaire via San Diego News Briefs at www.gaylesbiantimes.com, or call Dr. Brian Heisterkamp at (909) 880-7665.

Special Delivery San Diego has kicked off a new fundraising effort to provide urgent nutrition for people with AIDS by raising $100,000 by December 2005 for the all-volunteer, nonprofit agency. Called “The 240 Club: Power in Numbers”, the campaign has a goal of signing up 400 people who would donate $20 per month for one year, said executive director Ruth Henricks.

Founded in 1991, Special Delivery prepares, packages and delivers meals to over 350 people living with HIV/AIDS annually in San Diego. Since its inception, the agency has served more than 1 million meals to over 2,500 people with AIDS in San Diego.

“This seemingly small donation of $20 per month can collectively make a significant and powerful difference in the lives of many sick people in our community who rely on the nutrition provided to them from Special Delivery just to survive,” says Henricks.

She added that this fundraising campaign was created at a very important time for Special Delivery. “In light of the fact that our agency was denied the Federal Government’s Ryan White CARE Act funding last year after receiving this funding for many years, we are challenged to replace the financial shortfall experienced by the absence of this funding source. We appreciate the community’s support now more than ever as we increase our fundraising efforts.”

For more information, contact Special Delivery San Diego at (619) 297-7373; or contact Angelo at (619) 294-7519 and avitale1@cox.net.

Gay Men’s Chorus San Diego rings in its 13th season with its annual holiday concert, “An Evening in December – American Highlights”, taking place at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4. The concert will be held at University Christian Church, located at 3900 Cleveland Ave., in Hillcrest.

Audience members can also participate in a silent auction featuring dozens of wreaths hand-made by chorus members, as well as other items donated by local merchants, including hotel packages and spa, facial and massage treatments. Bids will be accepted Friday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 12:00 noon. General admission tickets for “An Evening in December” are $25 and can be purchased from any GMCSD member, at Obelisk Bookstore, or via the chorus’ website.

Incorporating humor, a bit of choreography and a few surprise guests, the holiday concert includes favorites like “The Christmas Song”, “Merry Christmas, Darling”, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “White Christmas”. Audiences will also be treated to traditional music such as “I’m Goin’ Away”, “Moon River” and “Shenandoah”. Other featured selections are by well-known American composers George and Ira Gershwin, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and Cole Porter.

For more information about “An Evening in December – American Highlights” call the chorus hotline at (619) 275-2787.

On Monday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m., Fraternity House, one of San Diego’s only licensed homes for the chronically ill, will go before the City of San Marcos Planning Commission at San Marcos City Hall (1 Civic Center Plaza) to request the renewal of their Conditional Use Permit. A candlelight vigil will take place before the hearing, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

As a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Chronically Ill (RCFCI), they need a conditional use permit in order to house and care for the eight men currently living with AIDS at their Elfin Forest location, as well as those who may need help in the future. Several of their neighbors are opposed to the permit renewal.

Join Fraternity House’s supporters at the candlelight vigil and hearing, or write a letter to the Planning Commissioners at San Marcos City Hall (1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069) in support of Fraternity House.

To get involved or to learn more about Fraternity House, call development manager Abby Schwartz at (760) 736-0292 ext.103.

The Center’s Women’s Resource Center is looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of running and shaping the programs, including clerical and reception duties, and dance, fitness and arts/crafts instructors. If you’re handy with a computer and don’t mind research and data entry, volunteers are needed for miscellaneous administrative duties, as is anyone available to fill desk reception shifts; hours for both are flexible. If you’re good at arts and crafts, a talented dancer or educated in fitness, contact the resource center about being a class instructor. Contact Claudia Lucero at (619) 692-2077 ext. 206 or clucero@thecentersd.org.