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Mercy Center Turkey Drive

With the goal of providing 250 Thanksgiving baskets, Mercy Center will be collecting 10 to 15 pound turkeys from 8:30 .m. to 4 p.m. through Wednesday. Located at 1106 Main Street, the support agency offers services and programs for economically disadvantaged and vulnerable children and families in Asbury Park. For more information, email donate@mercycenternj.org.

Harvest of Empire Screening

The Racial Justice Project Film Series continues 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with the free screening of Harvest of Empire: The Untold Story of Latinos in America at Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 503 Asbury Avenue. The documentary traces a direct connection between the nation’s historic military interventions in Latin America to today’s immigration crisis. Dr. Kasturi ‘Rumu’ DasGupta, author of Introducing Social Stratification: The Causes and Consequences of Social Inequality and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Georgian Court University, will lead the after screening Community Discussion.

Business Made Social

The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce hosts two Business Made Social events this week. Join them from 6 to 8 p.m. at Taka, located at 660 Cookman Ave, for their monthly networking event, featuring light fare. Then from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, they co hosts a free wine and cheese networking event with the Greater Ocean Township Chamber of Commerce at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, located at 100 Grant Avenue in Deal Park. The free event features round robin intros, a tour of the Jekyll & Hyde set and a chance to win tickets to the show, starring Remember Jones. Tickets to the Taka event are $15.

TEDx Asbury Park Open Mic

Whether you want to vie for a spot at TEDxAsburyPark in May, watch the talent, or looking to catch a glimpse or be a part of the behind the scenes development, Thursday’s Open Mic event offers it all. This year’s theme is Passion and an array of speakers and performers will offer showcases before a live voting audience at the Paramount Theatre, located at 1300 Ocean Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and a cash bar will be available. For more information, visit www.tedxasburypark.com.

Thanksgiving Basket Assembly

Join The Center of Asbury Park in building holiday baskets for its over 300 clients. Needed to fill the baskets are donations of gravy, stuffing mix, canned vegetables, canned yams, canned potatoes or instant potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, corn muffin or biscuit mixes, canned fruit, candies, nuts, cookies, pudding, cake mixes and frosting, frozen turkey or canned hams. Assembly will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at 806 Third Ave.

Expungement Session

A free Expungement Service Session for Monmouth County residents will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 1001 Springwood Avenue. Expungement asks courts and/or law enforcement agencies to modify, seal, or eliminate criminal records. Once complete, a criminal record cannot be viewed by the public and recipients do not have to disclose past criminal activity to employers or landlords. Sponsored by Asbury Park Community Action Network [CAN], attorneys will be on hand to discuss cases and the process. For more info, call 732-361-0952.

Santa’s Toy Shoppe Collection

The Charity Kings are accepting donations for the Annual Santa’s Toy Shoppe. On the list are toys, new clothing, books, gift cards, electronics, and stocking stuffers appropriate for ages 0 to 16; gift baskets for parents, gift wrapping supplies, artificial Christmas trees, lights decorations, cards, food, and monetary donations. Last year the nonprofit served 2,500 students and families throughout the state. For more information or to arrange a pickup, email sherrice.lyles@gmail.com or charitykingsinc@yolasite.com.  

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