Surviving the Holidays Sunday at Brush Creek

Facing a holiday after the death of a loved one can be more difficult that your friends and even family members may realize. The GriefShare Surviving the Holidays video, discussion group and devotional materials will help you not only to survive the holidays but to find strength, healing and tools to move forward in your daily walk through the deep pain of grief.

Surviving the Holidays is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Brush Creek Mill, 121 State St., Hillman. For more information, call Kathy Whittman at 989-472-3120 or Steve Atchatz at 989-255-6126.

Blood drive Wednesday

A blood drive will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena, by Versiti Michigan Blood.

All blood donors will receive a $10 e-gift certificate for donating.

Versiti hosts a blood drive at the hospital once every two months. Versiti Michigan Blood is the sole supplier of blood to local hospitals, and they rely on volunteer donors to keep the blood supply strong.

Thanksgiving dinner at Hope Lutheran Thursday

Hope Lutheran Church in Hubbard Lake will host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, for couples or individuals who would not make a dinner for themselves. The outreach committee is sponsoring this dinner so no one has to spend the holiday alone. A freewill offering will be accepted.

Come at 11:30 a.m. to visit before the meal, served from noon to 1 p.m. The menu includes roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, homemade bread and pies, and beverages.

For reservations, call Renee at 989-727-3206 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. by Tuesday. Take-outs available. The church is at 5462 W. Nicholson Hill Rd.

Jingle Bell Run before parade

The second annual Besser Museum Jingle Bell Run will be run prior to the Bolenz Jewelry Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 29.

The run will start at 5:15 p.m. down the parade route, starting from the Alpena County Annex building parking lot on the corner of Chisholm Street and Ninth Avenue. The route travels down Chisholm, turns left onto Second Avenue, right on Water Street, and ends in the parking lot behind City Hall.

Run participants are encouraged to wear festive costumes and/or bright holiday colors. For more information, call the Besser Museum at 989-356-2202.

Falls Creek event Nov. 30

Falls Creek will hold its holiday market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Culligan Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 30.

They will be selling handcrafted specialty wreaths, porch pots, potted paperwhites and winter decor, in celebration of Small Business Saturday.

For more information, visit fallscreekmi.com.