Giving, Manteca-style shifts into high gear this week.

It starts Monday with the kick-off for the Toys for Foster Kids drive and continues Friday with Costa’s Annual Wild Game Feed & Holiday Benefit Party.

The Bank of Stockton branch at 660 North Main St. is ground zero Monday for the 9 a.m. start of the Agape Villages Foster Services Toys for Foster Kids drive. Good Day Sacramento TV reporter Alan Sanchez as well as Santa will be on hand. Those so inclined are being asked to provide a new toy for a foster kid or a gift card for older foster children.

The state has cut back payments to foster families as part of the effort to cover a growing budget deficit. Foster families typically get financial support for food and basic clothing needs of children they take into their household.

Arguably the biggest non-parade event of the Christmas holiday season takes place Friday at Manteca Trailer & RV, 2060 E. Yosemite Ave., when 800 to 1,200 people will partake in the traditional wild game feed.

Those getting a chance to lunch on salmon, halibut, trout, rock cod, calamari, pheasant, duck, quail, dove, deer, elk, wild boar, and other assorted game as well as homemade dishes are asked to make donations.

One hundred percent of the donations will go to helping struggling families in the Manteca community with clothing, food, and furniture.

The meal will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. and run until about 7 p.m.

For more information call Jim or Jesse at 823-0781 or 823-6414.

•MRPS HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE: Homemade items such as soaps, lotions, jewelry, or perhaps even candles could be that ideal gift for Christmas.

One way to find out is by stopping over at this weekend’s Holiday Boutique located inside the MRPS Hall, 133 N. Grant St. in Manteca.

The holiday event is today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Holiday Boutique is admission free.

•OMELET EGGSTRAVAGANZA: St. Vincent De Paul Society presents the Christmas Omelet Eggstravaganza is today from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Anthony’s gymnasium. Tickets are $7 for adults, children 10 & under, $3.

During the past 12 months they have helped with food and clothing for 7,664 families, 15,513 adults and 14,529 children. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

•HANDEL’S MESSIAH PERFORMANCE: The Ripon Oratorio Society will be celebrating the Christmas season with the 64th presentation of Handel’s Messiah is today at 3 p.m. at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 4th & Orange Streets in Ripon.

Child care will be available during the performance on Dec. 6. An offering will be taken.

•EU CHOIR CONCERT: The East Union High School choirs will perform their Winter Concert on Monday, Dec. 7. at the Manteca Presbyterian Church on North and Main at 7 p.m.  

It will feature music by the mixed choir as well as selections from the Bella Tredici girls’ choir.  They are under the direction of Anne Talcott.  All are invited to attend this free concert.

•BROCK ELLIOTT CONCERT: Brock Elliott Elementary School will have their fourth grade beginning violin and 5th/6th Grade Beginning Band concert on Tuesday, December 8th at 7p.m. in the Brock Elliott cafeteria.  The concert, under the direction of Melissa Manalastas, is free to the public.

•LATHROP CONCERT: Lathrop Area Music Program (7th and 8th graders from Mossdale, Lathrop and Widmer) and Lathrop High School guest musicians will present a Holiday Concert at Joseph Widmer Elementary School Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m.  They are directed by Desiree Bugarin and Elizabeth Van Eerde.  It also includes the 4th-6th grade Choir and Intermediate Band from Joseph Widmer School directed by Jessica Claud.  

•WOODWARD-COWELL CONCERT: The Walter Woodward and Joshua Cowell Winter Concert will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Woodward Elementary School. The performance begins at 7 p.m. The concert will feature bands and choirs from both schools under the direction of Mr. Shannon Beattie.

•EU BAND CONCERT: East Union Band and Jazz Band will perform their winter concert on Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the EUHS cafeteria.  The concert starts at 7p.m.  The band director is Terry Silveira.

•SIERRA BAND CONCERT: The Sierra High Band will host its annual dinner and concert on Wednesday, Dec. 9 in the SHS cafeteria.  The concert starts at 7 p.m. and features the SHS band, the SHS Jazz Combo, and a number of small ensembles under the direction of Rick Hammarstrom.  Concert admission is free.

•MANTECA HIGH CHOIR CONCERT: The Manteca High School Choir Concert will be held Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. at Mulvihill Theatre.  The concert features two choirs, a barbershop quartet, and a guest barbershop quartet “Fourmost.”  The audience is invited to participate in the singing of Hallelujah Chorus.  

•NEIL HAFLEY CONCERT: The Neil Hafley School band and choir concert takes place Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

Performing will include the fourth through eighth grade choirs, sixth grade band and junior high band.

•SONDANCE BALLET: SONdance is once again preparing for its annual presentation of “A Christmas to Remember.”

The joyful celebration of timeless traditions, Christmas Carols and music of the season beautifully portrayed through the art of dance takes place at the Place of Refuge, 486 Button Ave., on Friday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m.

This year SONdance will be partnering with Manna Ministries, to collect food for needy families throughout the Manteca area. Each guest is asked to bring dry or can food items to the performances which will then be picked up and distributed by Manna Ministries.

Tickets are $7 in advance or $8 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at SONdance, 612 Commerce Court. Manteca, or visit their Website at WWW.SONdance.org and click on performances.

For additional information call 209-823-1740.

The City of Lathrop’s Festival of Lights Holiday Parade with the theme of “Lighting the Way with Hope” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 12.

The parade will start at 5 p.m. at J and Fifth streets, traveling south on Fifth to Mingo Lane.

For more information, call (209) 941-7370.

•COMMUNITY CHOIR CONCERT: The Manteca Community Choir is staging a Christmas at the Manteca Presbyterian Church on North and Main.  
The  “Christmas Fantasia” will be performed on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and is free to the public.  Contact Anne Talcott at 823-0054 for more information.

•HOLIDAY AFFAIR: The biggest holiday party in Manteca is being planned by Manteca Soroptimists for their upcoming 30th Annual Holiday Affair.

Not only does the $75 ticket for the holder and a guest get a chance for cash gifts and a mountain of prizes, but it allows them to enjoy a complimentary cocktail and hors d’ oeuvres reception at the Bank of Stockton, 660 N. Main Street on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The Holiday Affair has been a sell-out virtually every year. All proceeds go to the Soroptimists’ Community Service Fund.

Tickets to the Holiday Affair are available at Tipton’s Stationery & Gifts, 169 W. Yosemite, 823-7644. You may also call Soroptimist members, Judy Vasquez, 823-6644, Julie Azevedo, 239-1195 or any other Soroptimist member.