PORTAGE

Kiwanis Club will host chili luncheon Dec. 6

The Kiwanis Club of Portage will hold its annual chili luncheon fundraiser during the Toys for Tots Celebration on Dec. 6 at Woodland Park, 2100 Willowcreek Road.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes all-you-can-eat Schoop's chili, beverage and dessert. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children, ages 12 years and younger. Hot dogs are $1 extra.

Proceeds will support club programs and community organizations including the third grade dictionary project, Jacob's Ladder developmental testing kits, Gabriel's Horn, Riley Children's Hospital and Toys for Tots.

SOUTH HAVEN

Salvation Army holding Thanksgiving Dinner

The Salvation Army of Porter County will hosts its annual Thanksgiving Dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Army's community center, 799 Capitol Road.

The dinner is free and everyone is invited to attend, Salvation Army Maj. Jon Welch said.

They are looking for people to donate food, make monetary donations and volunteer their time for the event.

"This year we are (in) need of basic Thanksgiving food items to help with making this holiday special for those who otherwise not be able to celebrate," Welch said.

Anyone interested in preparing food items or volunteering in preparing, serving or cleaning up for this dinner are asked to call The Salvation Army at (219) 762-9191.

NORTHWEST INDIANA

FEMA registration deadline approaching

Less than a week remains for Indiana residents affected by recent severe storms and flooding to register for federal disaster assistance. Monday is the deadline to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Residents can register online at www.fema.gov. They can also register by calling FEMA at (800) 621-3362, or at TTY (800) 462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairments. Lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Residents can also check the status of applications and update contact information through the same numbers.

FEMA individual assistance includes grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses such as medical care and damage to personal property. Residents in 30 counties, including Lake, Porter and LaPorte are eligible for individual assistance programs related to the severe storms and flooding of Sept. 12 through Oct. 6.

In addition to FEMA assistance, low-interest disaster loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration for homeowners, renters, businesses and certain non-profit organizations. Residents who receive an SBA disaster loan application in the mail after applying with FEMA should be sure to complete the application, even if they aren't sure they want a loan.

Completing the SBA application is an important step in being considered for FEMA's Other Needs Assistance program, which covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, along with moving and storage expenses.