The Wake Forest Police Department will accept frozen turkey donations Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon, as part of this year’s Turkey Drive. Police officers will be available at the Police Department Substation, 225 S. Taylor St., throughout the morning to thank donors and unload the turkeys. The three-hour drop-off event will allow the Police Department to effectively coordinate the storage of the donated turkeys. Officers will also accept monetary donations and gift cards throughout the morning which will be used to purchase additional turkeys. Checks should be written to the Wake Forest Police Department. The police department will also accept online donations through midnight Saturday, Nov. 16, at http://bit.ly/WFPDTurkeyDrive. Police officers and staff will distribute the turkeys while they last on Monday, Nov. 25, from 7 to 9:30 a.m., at the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, 149 E. Holding Ave. For more information, email Officer K. Abshire at kabshire@wakeforestnc.gov. ###

The Town of Wake Forest has installed the popular “Letters for Santa” mailbox in Jones Plaza at the intersection of South White Street and East Jones Avenue. Children of all ages are invited to bring their letters to Santa’s Mailbox anytime between now and Monday, Dec. 23, for immediate delivery to the North Pole. No postage is required. A “Letter from Santa” which parents can download and personalize is available at https://bit.ly/WFLettersforSanta. For more information, contact Downtown Development Specialist Camryn Gutierrez at 919-435-9430 or cgutierrez@wakeforestnc.gov.   ###

A phone call from Santa Claus is on every child’s wish list. The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is making those wishes come true by offering “Calls from Santa” to kids ages 3-9 on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 6-8 p.m.   On Monday, Nov. 25, registration forms will be available online at http://bit.ly/WFCallsfromSanta. Hard copies will be available at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road, and Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Completed forms must be submitted online or received at the Joyner Park Community Center or Town Hall by 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2. Telephone registrations will not be accepted. There is no cost to participate, but all calls must be local. For more information, contact Special Events Specialist Suja Jacob at 919-435-9558 or sjacob@wakeforestnc.gov. To view our full array of holiday events and activities, including the Lighting of Wake Forest, visit https://bit.ly/TistheSeasonWF.  ###

The Wake Forest Woman’s Club is pleased to offer a scholarship competition for both male and female seniors attending Franklin Academy, Heritage High School and Wake Forest High School, who are in the top 25% of their class and will be attending an in-state, four year college or university in the Fall of 2025. The winner of the Wake Forest Woman’s Club Continuing Education Scholarship will receive a one-time $2,000 award from the club. Please encourage all seniors who meet the criteria for consideration to contact their guidance counselor for an application. The application period commenced November 6, 2024 and the submission deadline is January 10, 2025. Finalists will be interviewed in person or virtually.  For more information, please visit www.wake-forest-womans-club.com Wake Forest Woman’s Club is a proud member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs with mission to enhance the lives of others through volunteer service. ###

The Wake Forest Urban Forestry Division is inviting community members and visitors to explore a diverse collection of trees at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, through a new online virtual tour – just in time for fall foliage season. Available at https://bit.ly/JoynerParkTreeTour, the Joyner Park Tree Tour features a variety of tree species along the park’s three miles of paved walking trails. Nestled in the heart of Wake Forest, Joyner Park is a haven for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and families looking to explore the outdoors. The 117-acre park is home to a diverse range of native trees, many of which have stood for generations. Now, for the first time ever, nature lovers can learn more about 18 different tree species within the park with just the click of a button. These trees have been outfitted with QR code placards that invite visitors to learn more about each specimen’s