Charitable activities

• The City of Troy is hosting American Red Cross Blood Drives, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 3 and April 5; 1-7 p.m. April 18 and April 22; at the Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy. Donation appointments can be scheduled by calling 313-300-9617 or visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering zip code 48083. Photo ID or Red Cross Donor Card will be required. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds, and be in good general health.

• Detroit PAL to host annual “Swing for the Fences” fundraiser, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., April 5, The Corner Ballpark Detroit PAL HQ, 1680 Michigan Ave., Detroit, in celebration of Detroit Tigers’ opening day. Baseball fans can get 10 swings for $10 with proceeds benefiting PAL programming. Free admission, fans can watch the Detroit Tigers take on the Oakland Athletics on the ballpark scoreboard, at 1:10 p.m., www.DetroitPAL.org, 313-833-1600.

• Comerica Bank is collecting donations for its annual prom dress drive for teens in need, at bank locations across Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. Individuals and businesses may drop off new or gently used dresses, along with accessories, such as jewelry, shoes, purses, and wraps, through April 12, in support of community partner Jackets for Jobs, https://www.facebook.com/comerica.

• Spring Blood Drive is 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. April 12, at Bloomfield Township Senior Center, Community Room A and B, 4315 Andover Road, Bloomfield Hills, schedule an appointment in advance by visiting Red Cross Blood and enter sponsor code: BHRotary or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), sponsored by the Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club.

• Feeding Detroit Together, benefit for Forgotten Harvest is 6 p.m.-midnight, April 12, at the MGM Grand Detroit in Detroit, gourmet course dinner, entertainment, and dancing with live music by The Killer Flamingos, www.forgottenharvest.org/feedingdetroittogether24, $150+.

• A Magical Night of Comedy is 6-10 p.m. April 13, at Baker’s of Milford, https://givebutter.com/DvoNY6. Charity event for Blessings in a Backpack.

• HAVEN of Oakland County invites the community to support survivors of sexual assault and help raise awareness at its annual gala, April 19, at The Royal Park Hotel. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour. Silent auction, entertainment, and inspirational speakers will be featured. Tickets are $250 per person. HAVEN offers a discounted $150 Young Professional ticket for those 35 and younger, haven-oakland.org.

• Henry Ford College Culinary Arts + Hospitality Management department to host Spring Scholarship Event-Courses XXV Chef’s Dinner, a culinary extravaganza to support the HFC Hospitality Scholarship Fund, 6 p.m. April 20, at the John McDonald Student & Culinary Arts Center, Building M on the main campus, in Dearborn, tickets are $65, https://foundation.hfcc.edu/culinary-scholarship-dinner.

• Community Housing Network annual fundraising gala, Bring it Home, is 6-9 p.m. April 25, at The Community House, 380 S Bates St., Birmingham, https://communityhousingnetwork.org/bring-it-home, $125.

• Luncheon on the Aisle is April 25 at Meadow Brook Theatre, box lunch and excerpts from the musical “Route 66”, The Meadow Brook Theatre Guild annual event, proceeds support the theater, bake shoppe, cash wine bar, door prizes, raffle baskets, doors at 10:30 a.m., tickets are $50 at https://meadowbrooktheatreguild.com, MBT Box Office at 248-377-3300, indicate lunch preference of regular, gluten-free or vegetarian.

Community activities

• Southeast Michigan Bridge Association Chuck Burger Sectional is April 4-7. Events each day beginning at 10 a.m. at The Michigan Bridge Connection, 26776 W 12 Mile Road, Southfield, https://tournaments.acbl.org/schedule.php?sanction=2404324, $12 each.

• Cornerstone Community Financial to host its annual, “Shred Day,” 9 a.m.-noon April 6, at the Troy Family Aquatic Center, 3425 Civic Center Drive, Troy. Free public drive-through event with mobile Shred-It trucks. Also, the credit union will be collecting donations for Troy-based Paws for Life Rescue, including pet food, toys, bedding, etc., www.pawsforliferescue.org.

• Grand Slam Frenzy, held in partnership with Disability Network of Eastern Michigan, will be held from 6-8 p.m. April 11 at Southfield Civic Center, 26000 Evergreen Road in Southfield. The program is designed for individuals ages 18+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and features music, dancing, dessert and pizza will be served until 6:30 p.m. Participants can also have their photo taken with professional baseball league mascots and play baseball-themed activities, $10/participant and $5/caregiver. Register by April 5, at OaklandCountyParks.com or call 248-858-0916.

• Mother Son Dance is 6-8 p.m. April 13, Waterford Recreation Center, 5640 Williams Lake Road, Waterford Township, 248-674-5441, register at www.waterfordmi.gov/877/16530/Mother-Son-Dance, $15/resident, $17/non-resident.

Educational/Career opportunities

• Metro Detroit Nonprofit Career Expo is 10 a.m.-noon April 3 at The J Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield Twp., register at www.geshermi.org/careerexpo">www.geshermi.org/careerexpo.

• Members of the public are invited to watch a variety of Troy-based robotics teams, 10 a.m.-noon, April 27, at the first ever Troy Public Library Robotics Demonstration Day, at the Troy Community Center in rooms 304/305. Registration is encouraged, but not required. Robotics teams of all ages interested in having a table at this event must apply by April 8 at https://troymi.rja.revize.com/forms/7737.

• “Re-entry and Money,” a free webinar is 1 p.m. April 4, for Michiganders who may have been incarcerated and need advice on how to build and restore their finances, presented by Gesher Human Services. Register at 248-233-4299, email financialhelp@geshermi.org, www.geshermi.org.

• The Michigan Department of Treasury’s Section 529 college savings plans to host a free community drop-in session, 3:30-7 p.m. April 4, at the Troy Public Library, 510 W. Big Beaver Road, https://troypl.org. Attendees can arrive anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., to purchase a MET contract and open an MESP account on-site. MET will contribute $150 toward each new prepaid tuition contract purchased at the session, www.michigan.gov/setwithmet.

Health/Fitness activities

• Henry Ford-GoHealth is hosting open houses at local urgent care centers, including 10-11 a.m. April 3, at 6901 Orchard Lake Road, Bloomfield Twp. and 2-3 p.m. April 3 at 3580 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, www.gohealthuc.com/henry-ford.

• Yoga Moves MS, a nonprofit, is hosting “Yoga Moves Parkinson’s”, a weekly program, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Wednesdays, at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road in Southfield. The program is free, through a grant from the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s, 248-417-5985, www.YogaMovesMS.org.

• Gazelle Sports at 99 W. Maple, Birmingham to host its Birmingham Run Club, all paces are welcome, 2 mile walk and 3.25 mile run option, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Saturdays, https://gazellesports.com/pages/gazellesportsbirmingham.

Libraries

• Reading and Rhythm with Miss Fran, an eight-week series, to be held Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, April 1-May 22, (10 or 11 a.m. Mondays, April 1-May 20; 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays April 2-May 21; 11 a.m. Wednesdays April 3-May 22), at Brandon Township Public Library, 304 South St., Ortonville, for ages birth to 5 years, accompanied by adult, register at brandonlibrary.org, 248-627-1460.

• “Prescription Drug Disposal and Opioids” an informational program presented with Oakland County Health, at 7 p.m. April 4, at Rochester Hills Public Library, 500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester, open to the public. Registration is required at calendar.rhpl.org or call 248-656-2900.

• Highland Garden Club to host Master Gardener Ellen Zimmerman with “Pruning Basics, 6 p.m. April 8, Highland Public Library, 444 Beach Farm Circle, Highland Twp., 248-887-2218, https://highlandlibrary.info. Highland Seed Library is open, register at the adult reference desk.

• Clarkston is hosting Eclipse Viewing, 1-4 p.m. April 8, streamed from NASA. In addition, telescope equipped with a sun filter to view the eclipse during that time, www.cidlibrary.org/event-calendar#/events/sj9RtDJCq0/instances/y93Xb3ZWqA.

• Brandon Township Public Library, 304 South St., Ortonville to host “Total Eclipse of the Art” for all ages, 2:30-3:15 p.m. April 8. Special glasses provided. Registration required at brandonlibrary.org, 248-627-1460.

• Neuroart class, art made with drawing paper, Crayola pencils and markers is 6:15-7:45 p.m. April 9, Salem-South Lyon District Library, 9800 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon. Registration required https://ssldl.evanced.info/signup, 248-437-6431, presented by the South Lyon Fine Arts Society.

Museums

• Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing Party is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 8, Cranbrook Institute of Science, https://science.cranbrook.edu/visit/events/2024-04/partial-solar-eclipse, $14, children ages 2 — 12 is $10.50.

Outdoor activities/Parks

• The City of Birmingham’s Lincoln Hills Golf Course to open April 1, and Springdale Golf Course to open April 6, weather permitting. Springdale Golf Course is at 316 Strathmore Road, 248-530-1660. Lincoln Hills will host Welcome Back Members golf event at 5 p.m. April 21, at Lincoln Hills Golf Course, 2666 West 14 Mile Road. To register, call 248-530-1670, bhamgov.org.

• Oakland County Parks five golf courses are open as of March 29, weather permitting. Glen Oaks in Farmington Hills, 248-851-8356; Lyon Oaks in Lyon Township (has a driving range), 248-437-1488; Springfield Oaks in Davisburg, 248-634-2261; and White Lake Oaks in White Lake Twp., 248-698-2700, have 18-hole courses and clubhouses. Red Oaks Golf Course in Madison Heights, 248-541-5030, has a 9-hole executive course and FootGolf, OaklandCountyParks.com.

• Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, metroparks.com. Park entrance fees apply.

• Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, michigan.gov/dnr. Park entrance fees apply.

Shows/Expos

• Novi Home & Garden Show is April 5-7, Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave, Novi, www.novihomeshow.com. Tickets are $12, or online for $10 at www.showpass.com/homeshow-apr2024.

• Oxford High School Spring Craft Show with more than 100 booths is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 13, at 745 N. Oxford Road. Admission is $3, 810-658-0440, https://smetankacraftshows.com.

Support resources

• For access to local community services, dial 211 (844-875-9211) or text zip code to 898211, for information and referrals to physical and mental health resources; housing, utility, food, and employment assistance; and suicide and crisis interventions, United Way, https://unitedwaysem.org/get-help.

• Common Ground’s Resource & Crisis Helpline is available 24/7 — call or text 800-231-1127.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 confidential support for people who are suicidal or in emotional distress, or who know someone who is. Calls and text messages to 988 route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center. Pressing 1 after dialing 988 will connect to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline, www.fcc.gov/988Lifeline.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233, available 24/7.

• Veterans Crisis Line, 800-273-8255, press 1, or text 838255.

Submit community events online at https://bit.ly/40a2iAm.