Arlington EATS is again accepting food donations from the community, and it raised $30,846 on its first Thursday.

The nonprofit exceeded its goal of $20,000 to address the 60-percent increase in the number of families accessing its services. 

If you didn't get a chance to give on #GivingTuesdayNow, there is still time. Click the donate button below. 

Continuing 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 14, contactless donations can be made at St. John’s Church, 74 Pleasant St., at the donation table near the office door on Lombard Road.

Paulette Schwartz, left, and Peggy Gardiner Ride for Food for Food Link.

UPDATED, Oct. 4: The nine in-person Arlington participants (plus one adorable dog) had a great ride on lovely roads Sunday, Oct. 3, and are thrilled at the progress they have made.

They continue to accept donations through Halloween, Thanksgiving and until Giving Tuesday, on Nov. 30, as we enter the busiest season of the year for food insecurity. When the cold season brings heating costs, there is less money for food, and your support will help Food Link rescue more food.

Team members are bicycling, hiking, camping and kayaking this fall to fight hunger in a healthy way. All are a part of the Ride For Food team for Food Link, Arlington’s own food-rescue nonprofit.

The 10^th annual Ride For Food, a charity event, took place Oct. 3, in Dedham, with 20 hunger-relief charities fielding teams. Because of the pandemic, however, there is a “do it yourself” virtual option.

Team captain Karin Turer says, “During last year’s Ride For Food, each participant did their own activity since there wasn’t an in-person ride – people got very creative and really enjoyed getting to do an activity at a time and place that was convenient to them. So when you add the uncertainty of planning with a pandemic around, having a virtual option makes sense.”

Sixteen people are on the team, pretty evenly split between those participating in the ride and others doing their own thing.

UPDATED Nov. 2: The Arlington Democratic Town Committee will be holding a food drive for Arlington EATS, the local food pantry.

Contributions will be collected on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m., at First Parish Church, at Pleasant Street and Mass. Ave.

Donations can be brought to the parking lot between the church and the library.

In addition to the usual items (canned tuna, peanut butter, pasta, etc.), Arlington EATS is requesting soup, cereals (especially Cheerios), honey, cake/cookie/brownie mix and snacks (pretzels, crackers, granola bars, etc.).

Alzheimer's isn't waiting — and neither is Carmel Murphy-Kotyan of Arlington. She is participating in the Sept. 26 Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support and research.

Every dollar you donate helps the Alzheimer's Association provide care and support to those facing Alzheimer's and all other dementia, and advance critical research.

Will you support the resident's efforts by making a donation on her fund-raising page? Find it here >>  

UPDATED, June 23: After a one-year hiatus because of Covid-19, the Arlington High School’s Scoops club received approval from the town Board of Health and ran its annual Scoopermania fund-raiser. Inspired by Boston’s Scooper Bowl, the event helps raise money for the Jimmy Fund and benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer institute in Boston. This year, the amount was a little over $6,250.

For the past six years, Scoopermania has marked the beginning of summer in Arlington with its unlimited ice cream buffet. This year's event was to be hosted on the lawn of the Cyrus Dallin Museum in Arlington Center on Saturday, June 19, from noon to 4 p.m. But that location is undergoing renovation, so the eventt was held across the street, at Uncle Sam Park.

UPDATED, June 13: The Arlington Greek Festival returned for three days and nights in June 2021.

With safety measures and protocols, St. Athanasius the Great Greek Orthodox Church welcomed all back for its favorite event of the year.

In an email June 11, the town said Appleton Place between Mass. Ave. and Burton Street will be a one-way street heading up Burton street, including the closing of Acton Place. Please follow police detail instructions for the area. 

This year organizers have take-out/to-go dinners for those who prefer to pick up and eat at home.

The Harvest Moon Fair, an annual fall fund-raiser, returns Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 to 3, at First Parish church.

The fair offers one-stop shopping and unique gift ideas at yard-sale prices.

Booths include arts and crafts, books, jewelry, holiday decorations, toys and puzzles, baked goods, attic treasures, electronics, fragile fancies, plants, pet supplies, a raffle for a beautiful quilt and more.

This is a great place for parents to give their kids some cash and set them loose at the fair to do their holiday shopping, while parents do their own, too.

And when you’re ready to sit down and have a bite, stop by the Harvest Moon Cafe for a delicious lunch, made on-site by church chefs, while enjoying some live music.

After weeks of gloomy, rainy weather, it’s time to celebrate spring. The sun is shining, and Arlington’s annual Greek festival,  a major annual fund-raiser for St. Athanasius the Great Church and fun for young and old alike, is here.

Come and enjoy Greek culture – delicious food, live music and merchandise for sale – at 4 Appleton St.:

• Thursday, May 30, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Friday, May 31, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, June 2, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

UPDATED, June 27: Arlington's Got Talent was held Friday, June 26, and by the next day, the effort was nearing its goal of $1,000.

The live virtual talent show led by the AHS Scoops club invited Arlingtonians of all ages to connect and celebrate creativity, diversity and community, while raising money for the Jimmy Fund. 

For more details, click here >>

Food Link, an Arlington-based organization that rescues fresh food and contributes to environmental sustainability, is a Commonwealth Partner with Project Bread for their 53rd annual Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 2.

Join our team to put food on the table for families in need: 40 percent of the funds raised will benefit Project Bread's food-access work, and 60 percent benefit our work to rescue food to feed the community.

This walk is a virtual event, so participate however you feel most comfortable — whether that's walking on your own or with a friend, in your neighborhood or somewhere new.