Community Datebook is a free service. Only nonprofit, general-interest events open to the public in Franklin and contiguous counties are listed. They must charge no more than a nominal fee.

(Weekly or monthly dance lessons, meetings, singles gatherings and support groups without, say, a specific topic or speaker are ineligible.)

Mail submissions to Community Datebook, Life, The Dispatch, 34 S. 3rd St., Columbus, Ohio 43215; send a fax to 614-559-1754; or e-mail datebook@dispatch.com. Include the name and purpose of the event; sponsoring organization; time, date and address; fee (if any) and contact number. For more information, call 614-461-5221.

To advertise an event that doesn't meet the guidelines, call 614-461-5555.

BENEFITS

The Arthritis Foundation's 26th Annual Classic Auto Show & Cruise-In: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 11 and 7:30 a.m to 11 p.m. July 12, Dublin Metro Center, Metro Place North (off Frantz Rd.), Dublin, proceeds to benefit the Arthritis Foundation, Central Ohio chapter; Friday entertainment The British Invasion; Saturday entertainment Phil Dirt & The Dozers concert; 614-876-8200, mthomas@arthritis.org, or www.ArthritisAutoShow.com

OTHER BENEFITS

Grove City Thrift Shop: noon-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, 3684 Garden Court; consignments until 3 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 1 p.m. Saturdays; donations accepted during store hours; proceeds benefit Columbus Cancer Clinic; 614-871-1126

Reynoldsburg Thrift Shop: noon-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays at 7125 E. Main St.; donations accepted during store hours, consignments until 2:30 p.m.; benefits Columbus Cancer Clinic

Topiary Park Museum Store and Visitors Center: 11a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 480 E. Town St.; 614-645-0197 or www.topiarygarden.org

Trading Post Resale Shop: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 1944 W. 1st Ave. (rear of First Community Church, 1320 Cambridge Blvd., Marble Cliff); 614-488-6564

Worthington Thrift Shop: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturdays, 5600 N. High St.; donations accepted during store hours, call for consignment hours; proceeds benefit Columbus Cancer Clinic; 614-848-8408

MEETINGS

The Humanist Community of Central Ohio: 1 to 3 p.m. July 12, Northwood High Building, 2231 N. High St., room 100, topic: History of Humanism and Humanist Education; presenters:  Warren Wolf and Bob Bhaerman; 614-470-0811 

MISCELLANEOUS

Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month: call for adoption fee information for the month of June   -- Cat Welfare Association, 741 Wetmore Rd., 614-268-6096 or www.catwelfareohio.com

Citizens for Humane Action Animal Shelter: 3765 Corporate Dr., call for additional information on extended adoption hours during June; 614-891-5280 or www.CHAAnimalshelter.org

First Saturday at Greenlawn: 11 a.m. July 5, Green Lawn, 1000 Greenlawn Ave., Huntington Chapel, speaker: historian Mark Passerrello will dress in mid 19th century garb as Nathan Kelley, the architect who designed the Ohio Statehouse; free and open to public; 614-444-1123 or www.greenlawncolumbus.org

Bexley Public Library event: 3 p.m. July 9, 2411 E. Main St., auditorium, free children's event, magician Jim Kleefeld performs "Buggy about Books;" 614-231-9709

VOLUNTEERS

If looking for volunteers or wanting to volunteer, contact Firstlink at www.firstlink.org or contact the following groups:

 American Red Cross Blood Services: to register donors for bloodmobiles and donor centers; 614-340-3737 (Ext. 234)

American Red Cross of Greater Columbus: training for transportation volunteers, safety training instructors, caseworkers, military presenters, and clerical help; 614-253-2740, ext. 2355

Arthritis Foundation, Central Ohio chapter: office and event help; 614-876-8200 (Ext. 107)

Buckeye Ranch: to serve as foster families; 614-539-6486

Capital Area Humane Society: assist with dog walking, cat socialization, special events, matchmaking and behavior techniques to increase adoptability; 614-777-7387, Ext. 248 or acastaneda@cahs-pets.org

Catholic Social Services Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: to visit and advocate for nursing-home residents; 614-857-1230

COSI Columbus: interact with guests of all ages, play with young children, tutor high school students, perform demonstrations, and provided varied services to individuals and groups; 614-228-2674 (Ext. 2174)

Columbus Literacy Council: call about  tutoring and other volunteer opportunities; 614-221-5013, ext. 215

Columbus Metropolitan Library: to assist in the library store; 614-849-1008

Columbus Recreation and Parks: 614-645-3325

Council for Older Adults, Delaware County: to deliver meals; 740-363-6677 (Ext. 108)

Council for Older Adults: to deliver meals, work at farm market, help with chores, provide transportation to doctor visits; 740-363-6677 or e-mail amy@growingolder.org

Cozy Cat Cottage Adoption Center: to assist with animal care and feeding, shelter cleaning, fundraising, sewing and foster care for no-kill cat shelter; 614-309-2524

Discovery Shop: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 1198 Kenny Center Mall; for the American Cancer Society; 614-457-4227

Dublin Arts Council: to help with special events, serve as gallery sitters and docents, assist in the gift shop and with educational art project preparation; 614-889-7444, langston@dublinarts.org. or www.dublinarts.org

FOODLINK: to connect callers with emergency three-day supply of food; 614-221-6766 (Ext. 150) or managerfl@firstlink.org

Foundation for Intercultural Travel: to serve as host families for high-school exchange students; 1-877-439-7862

Franklin County Animal Care & Control: to help with customer service and Mingle With Our Mutts; 614-462-7282

Franklin County Children Services: to share time with children at least twice a month for at least six months; 614-275-2690

Franklin Park Conservatory: to help with gardens, aviary, gift shop and other areas; 614-645-5922

Friends of the Topiary Park: to weed and plant and assist in the museum store and visitors center; 614-645-0197

Godman Guild Association: to tutor and mentor children ages 7 to 18, tutor those pursuing high-school equivalence certificates, maintain the library and help the staff; 614-294-5476 (Ext. 113)

Golden Hobby Shop: to assist with sales, greeting customers and signing in new crafts; 614-645-8329

Goodwill Columbus: to assist adults with physical disabilities; 614-583-0329

Heartland Hospice: 614-840-9856

Highbanks Care Center: to help with activities; 111 Lazelle Rd. E., Worthington; 614-888-2021

Jazz & Rib Fest: to staff information booths, take surveys, and asist with artist transportation at Music in the Air's July 25-27 event downtown. Volunteers may choose which job they wish to do; emhostetler@columbus.gov

Junior Achievement of Central Ohio: to teach business and financial-literacy programs to students; 614-771-9903

Mentoring Center of Central Ohio: to spend about four hours a month with a child; training and ongoing support provided; 614-233-6368

Mount Carmel Hospice: to serve hospice patients and families; 614-234-0264

LifeCare Alliance: to deliver Meals on Wheels; 614-437-2859

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition: to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer; 614-237-0917

National Wildlife Federation Habitat Program: 614-791-0529

Northwest Counseling Services: to help with the older-adult program; 614-457-7876

Odyssey HealthCare/Hospice: volunteers of all ages needed to visit with patients, bereaved, or in other ways, serving Columbus and the surrounding counties; 614-414-0500

Ohio Historical Society: 614-297-2679

Ohio Statehouse: to conduct tours and work in the museum gift shop; 614-728-2697

Ohio Wildlife Center: 614-761-0134

Operation Backpack 2008: to organize workplace backpack drives, offer retail locations/businesses as drop locations, make donations to purchase new backpacks and more July 1-31; sponsored by Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio, all ages welcome; 614-372-3102, email megan.ericson@voago.org, or www.OperationBackpackGO.org

PanCan (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network): to help raise awareness of pancreatic cancer; 614-459-0344

Peace Corps: call about serving in the Peace Corps at any age; 1-800-424-8580 or www.peacecorps.gov

POEM (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms): to assist with phone support, outreach and fundraising for mothers and families with pregnancy and postpartum emotional difficulties; 614-315-8989

Program of Academic Exchange: to serve as host families for students from Brazil, Germany, India, South Korea and Thailand; 614-846-7451 or 1-800-555-6211

Stratford Ecological Center: to lead school groups (ages 18 and older) and assist with secretarial tasks;  740-363-2548 or SECVolunteer@aol.com

Suicide Prevention Services: to offer support and information about community resources to people who don't know where to turn for help; 614-299-6600

Supreme Court of Ohio: to lead building tours and work with groups in the Visitor Education Center, daytime and weekdays only; training and parking provided; 614-387-9223

VistaCare: to provide companionship for hospice patients; 614-476-6900

VOICECorps reading service: to read all manner of local and weekly newspapers, regional and national magazines, grocery and retail ads, and other helpful information for radio broadcast to 21 central Ohio counties; 614-274-7650 or www.voicecorps.org

Volunteer Guardian Program: to serve as court-appointed guardians for adults with mental disabilities; 614-645-1928

Women For Women Entrepreneurial progam: seeking volunteer web designer to help with web site and volunteer crafter/quilter to teach other women; 614-542-0515.