Island-designed items worth well over $1,000 comprise the prize in a raffle to benefit the Island Food Pantry. This collection has been handmade by Vineyarders who are part of the Artisans Gift Gallery at 18 State Road, Vineyard Haven, the former home of the Belushi Pisano Gallery. The kick-off for the fundraiser will be the Artisans Gift Gallery’s grand opening party on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Handmade from the Heart

All Island artisans and bakers are invited to contribute to the much-anticipated holiday fundraiser for Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, the Handmade from the Heart Bazaar. The one-day event will be at the Daniel Fisher House during the Christmas in Edgartown weekend, on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Family to Family

On Friday, Dec. 12, the Serving Hands Program and the Family-to-Family Program hand out Christmas dinners. As in the past, the group will provide all the ingredients for a wonderful holiday.

Distribution to income-qualified Islander will take place at the First Baptist Church parish house, on William street in Vineyard Haven from 2 p.m. Please do not arrive early, as volunteers will be packing the bags and boxes.

Today is fall festival, a traditional celebration at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown. Every year since 1980, the sanctuary has held a day-after Thanksgiving event which brings together strangers and friends, young and old to sip hot cider and participate in an array of family-friendly activities.

While other people are busy shopping and scurrying about with holiday errands, at Felix Neck there is a different kind of tradition for those who want to get outdoors and work off some of that turkey dinner.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard will hold their annual meeting on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Vineyard Housing Office, 346 State Road in Vineyard Haven. It is open to the public. Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard is a nonprofit organization with a mission to build simple, decent housing for families in the lowest qualifying income range.

Read All About It

Take a reading safari at the Tisbury School library’s annual Scholastic Book Fair, Dec. 1 to 4. Everyone is invited to the sale, which this year has the theme Book Fair Safari. This annual event gives students, teachers, parents and grandparents an opportunity to add to their own libraries. After-school book fair hours are: Monday, Tuesday and Friday (Dec. 1, 2 and 4) from 2:45 to 4 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 2:45 to 7 p.m.