Community news events in east Hillsborough

Brandon

See 'Idol' finalist at benefit concert

Former American Idol contestant Phil Stacey and Kings Highway will perform at a hunger awareness benefit concert at 7 tonight in Brandon. The concert, a fundraiser for the Emergency Care Help Organization, is at First United Methodist Church of Brandon, 121 N Knights Ave. Tickets are $20 for general admission. For $50, if you show up early enough you can get a VIP experience with Stacey, a top-five finisher on the show's sixth season. For information, call ECHO at (813) 685-0935.

brandon

Free Medicare seminar at Savannah Court

Savannah Court of Brandon will hold a free Medicare seminar at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the assisted living facility, 824 N Parsons Ave., Brandon. The program will address how to revert to Medicare as a primary provider, who qualifies and whether long-term insurance is needed. To RSVP, call (813) 643-6767.

hillsborough county

Group seeks school supplies donations

Laevans Inc., a nonprofit that aims to assist kids, women and the elderly, seeks school supply donations for its Back "2" School Initiative through Tuesday. Pencils, notebook paper, book bags, dictionaries, thesauruses, folders, calculators and other supplies can be dropped off at multiple locations throughout Hills­borough County including: Winn-Dixie, 179 E Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon; Publix, 1930 State Road 60 E, Valrico; Ace Hardware, 11776 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Seffner; Winn-Dixie, 7851 Palm River Road, Tampa; and Winn-Dixie, 2540 E Bearss Ave., Tampa.

lithia

5K will raise money for scholarships

The Hit the Trails Cross-Country 5K is tonight behind FishHawk Fellowship Church, 15326 FishHawk Blvd., Lithia. Registration is $15 and begins on-site at 6, followed by the race at 7. The race is chip timed. Proceeds will go toward the FishHawk Roadrunners High School Scholarship Fund. For more information, call (813) 681-6141.

ruskin

Run for the Fallen takes place Sunday

On Sunday, the Tampa Area Marine Parents Association will hold the third annual Run for the Fallen, a 5K and 1-mile walk/run, at E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. NW. The race is free. Participants will run or walk in honor of specific military members killed in action. To register, go to usmcfamilysupport.org or call (813) 965-2682.

lithia

Bring canned goods to '80s music concert

The summer series "Concerts for a Cause" at Park Square in FishHawk wraps up tonight with a concert by Revenge of the Spazmatics. The group will perform 1980s music beginning at 7 p.m. Concertgoers are asked to donate a nonperishable food item (canned foods are preferred) to help those in need. Food vendors will be there with a portion of their profits also going to the Feeding America Tampa Bay food bank. For information, go to fishhawkconnect.com.

riverview

Winthrop Liquors celebrates opening

Winthrop Liquors will have a grand opening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 27. The store is at 11127 Winthrop Market St., Riverview, in Winthrop Town Centre (at Bloomingdale Avenue and Providence Road). There will be live music, food and drinks. Suggested donations of $5 will go to local charities.

seffner

African violet group to focus on repotting

The Tampa African Violet Society will discuss repotting and grooming for show at its meeting today. The group meets at 10 a.m. at the Seffner-Mango Library, 410 N Kingsway Road, Seffner. There will be growing tips and a plant raffle. Non-members are welcome. For more information, call (813) 689-8700.

valrico

Some garden critters are actually beneficial

Want to learn how to attract mosquitoes, dragonflies, earthworms and other creatures? Folk herbalist Willow LaMonte invites you to her organic herb nursery and botanical gardens for "Welcoming Beneficial Critters in the Garden" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Valrico. LaMonte will serve herbal tea and offer organic plants, seeds and garden books for sale. There is a suggested donation of $10 to $15. Canned and dried foods can be dropped off for food banks. For directions, call (813) 643-7285.