COMMUNITY & CLUBS:

On Sept. 29, from 1 to 5 p.m., the Eileen Fisher store at South Coast Plaza will sponsor a shopping event to benefit the Soroptimist International of the Newport Harbor area. Shoppers will be treated to champagne and dessert while they meet soroptimists and receive $25 off and a new Eileen Fisher tote bag with a purchase, and 10% of proceeds will benefit the projects of Newport Harbor Soroptimists, according to soroptimist Carolyn Turner.

Soroptimist International of Newport Harbor is one of 1,500 clubs that make up the Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation.

Worldwide, soroptimist members of 3,000 clubs in 125 countries and territories contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls.

For more information on how the organization makes a difference, e-mail club President Denise Glass at dgsinh@cox.net. For more information on the shopping event, call the store at (714) 437-3111.

 4TH ANNUAL CHILDRENS BOOK FESTIVAL

The Best Children’s Book Festival in the World will take place Sept. 29 and 30 on the campus of Orange Coast College from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days, according to Pat Burns, festival co-founder.

This year’s festival includes authors, illustrators, storytellers, exhibitors, a wild animal area, literacy resources and events, costumed bok characters, a superheroes stage and top-notch entertainment. Families can ride the colorful Orange Coast College train and eat food prepared by award-winning chefs of Orange Coast College. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.kidsbookfestival.com.

 ROTARY CLUB CO-HOSTING CHAMBER MIXER

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s After Hours Business Mixer is Sept. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is being co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Costa Mesa and the Marriott Suites.

Admission is free for chamber members and $10 for potential chamber members. Marriott Suites is located at 500 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa. For more information, contact Sandy Roy at the chamber, (714) 957-9090 or Joan Archibald, of the Costa Mesa Rotary Club, at (714) 350-2282.

 WALK TO ERASE HUNGER

The 19th Annual United Interfaith Hunger Walk will take place Oct. 14, with registration beginning at 1 p.m. and either 5K or 7K walk beginning at 1:30. Congregations, service clubs, student groups and families are invited to walk to help erase hunger locally and around the world.

More than 30 congregations from around Orange County are expected to participate in the walk, according to Bob Johnston, event co-chair.

“The goal this year is to have 350 walkers and raise $35,000, with 25% of the funds staying local with SOS, Jewish Family Services, Orange County Interfaith Shelters and Catholic Worker and 75% going to the individual walkers designated worldwide charity that fights hunger,” Johnston said.

The walk begins and ends at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach. Registration information can be obtained at www.hungerwalknewportbeach.org. For more information contact Johnston at (949) 644-4949.

 WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” — Mother Teresa of Calcutta

COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Sundays in the Daily Pilot. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to [email protected].