This Week: Toy Drive for Foster Kids; Lawyer in the Library

Heads up! Here are five things going on this week that you should know about:

• Make a difference this holiday season and "adopt" a family through Brighter Beginnings. The Bay Area-based nonprofit allows community members to donate gifts to families and individuals in need throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. When you sign up to "adopt" the family, you will receive a wish list. You then buy the items, wrap them and drop the gifts off at a Brighter Beginnings center. For more information and to sign up, visit the Brighter Beginnings website here.

• Help foster kids in need. From now through Dec. 16, Sleep Train Mattress Center is holding their annual toy drive for foster kids. The company invites community members to donate new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate children at their store located at 39166 Fremont Hub. To encourage people to donate, Sleep Train is also hosting its Be a Secret Santa Photo Contest on Facebook. Snap a photo of yourself donating a gift at the mattress store and upload it to the contest page for a chance to win a new Kindle Fire HD or a pair of Tempur-Pedic slippers.

• Stupid smartphone got you feeling not-so-smart? Then visit the Fremont Library every Monday at 1:30 p.m. Staff will be on hand for their weekly Computer and Gadget Help session to help you with email, computer questions and electronic gadgets such as cell phones, digital cameras, and more.

• Need legal advice? Head to the Fremont Library Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. for Lawyer in the Library. Free consultation will be provided by experienced attorneys from a variety of practices, including family, criminal and immigration law. To receive the free service, you must sign up at the library's info desk between 5 and 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Due to the demand, a lottery will be held at 5:50 p.m. to award slots to those wishing to have a consultation. For more info, call the library at 510-745-1401.

• Domestic violence affects more people than you think. If you're a victim, you don't have to live in fear — Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments is here to help. Drop in at SAVE's free support groups Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. and Fridays from 9:15 to 11 a.m. SAVE's meetings provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for victims to talk about their experiences and heal. The groups are moderated by trained counselors. The meetings are open to women currently experiencing abuse as well as those who have experienced it in the past.

Find more events on our calendar. Are we missing an event? Add it here.

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