Volunteer Days: Lend a Helping Hand. H-F Park District is sponsoring an opportunity for middle school students to make a difference in their community before heading back to school. Teens will complete projects in-house and will visit the South Suburban Humane Society in Matteson and the Cancer Support Center in Homewood. For students age 12 to 15. Meet at Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee is $40 for park district residents, $50 for non-residents. Click here to register.

Community Kinara Lighting. Celebrate Kwanzaa at 5 p.m. in front of Park Place in Flossmoor Park, Flossmoor Road and Braeburn Avenue. Local individuals or families lead the Kwanzaa ceremony each night of the observance.

Deadra Stokes: Book Pre-Launch Reception. Beyond the Book, 18063 Dixie Highway in Homewood, will host a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for Deadra Stokes, who will read from her new book, “Timeless.”

Myths and Magic Book Club. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host a discussion of “The Village Library Demon Hunting Society” by C.M. Waggoner in the multi-purpose room from 6 to 8 p.m.

Bedtime Storytime. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host story time from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the Rauch Reading Room. Feel free to wear your pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal. Register here.

Holiday Tree and Light Recycling. Bring undecorated and unwrapped holiday trees to the Irons Oaks Vollmer Road parking lot just west of Western Avenue any time between Dec. 26 and Jan. 23. Stack trees with the trunks pointed toward the parking lot. Containers for holiday lights are located at H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, 2920 183rd St. in Homewood; Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood; Park Place, 2523 Flossmoor Road in Flossmoor; and Irons Oaks, 20000 Western Ave. in Olympia Fields.