Neighborhood news: Clean out your closets, support Youth For Tomorrow

Everyone knows you have been saving your prom dress and waiting for some '80s dance to come along, but Youth For Tomorrow could use them now.

Youth For Tomorrow, which provides a safe, healthy and compassionate environment for at-risk youths, needs prom dresses, sizes 8 to 20, to wear to the organization's Sweetheart Ball fundraiser Feb.13.

Youth For Tomorrow can also use younger-style clothing, dressy wraps, shoes and handbags.

Donations may be delivered to Deanna Love D. Jones, director of special events, at 11835 Hazel Circle Drive.

For more information, call 703-396-8415 or visit youthfortomorrow.org.

Soil and water district holds poster contest

Once again, the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for students in grades K-5 in Prince William County and Manassas.

The theme for this year's poster contest is "Trees are Terrific ... and Energy Wise!"

According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, the national sponsor of the Arbor Day Poster Contest, the theme is "designed to increase understanding of how trees provide a benefit that often goes unnoticed -- trees produce and conserve energy. Students will learn how trees produce food energy for people and wildlife, how properly selected and planted trees conserve energy, and more."

First-, second- and third-place awards will be given for each grade level. Winners will be notified and invited to a celebration with county and city officials in April.

Fifth-grade poster entries are eligible for the state and national Arbor Day Foundation poster contests.

Deadline for entries is Feb. 19.

Posters may be sent directly to the district office at 13061 Fitzwater Drive, dropped off at Jackie's Teacher Store at 4373 Dale Blvd. in Dale City or put through the Prince William County school courier to the district office.

For more information, contact Meg Doppée, education specialist for the Soil and Water Conservation District, at 703-594-3621 or at megdoppee@pwswcd.org.

Nokesville COB, 4-H, collecting for Haiti

A Haiti Health Hygiene Kit collection tub is available in the narthex at Nokesville Church of the Brethren, 13002 Fitzwater Drive, through Thursday.

The Nokesville 4-H Club will be sorting and compiling the kits on Feb. 12. The group still needs:

• hand towels, approximately 16-by-28 (not fingertip or bath towels);

• washcloths;

• wide-tooth combs;

• nail clippers;

• wrapped bars of soap;

• packaged toothbrushes; and

• boxes of bandages.

The kits will be sent to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

Monetary donations are also welcomed. They may be dropped off at the church or made through PayPal by Tuesday. See nokesville4-h.com/com munityservice.htm for more information.

Katherine Gotthardt reports your neighborhood news from the Nokesville, Bristow and Brentsville. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to Katherine at kgotthardt @comcast.net.