Nearly 400 moms and daughters from four chapters of National Charity League, Inc. gathered Feb. 8 at Mountain Park Church to work on volunteer projects and hold a donation drive for several local non-profits as part of their first annual NCL District-Wide Philanthropy Day.

The Evergreen Chapter of National Charity League is kicking off its first big book drive to benefit Childhaven. The group will be placing collection boxes at Island Books, the Mercer Island Library, neighborhood schools and businesses, and other community locations beginning Feb. 1.

Irvine resident Katherine Edmond, 14, carefully decorated the folded red construction paper, then started to print inside, "Dear Marine … ." In an adjacent room, Sarah Sullivan, 14, of Tustin grabbed two Priority Mail boxes and proceeded through a line adding magazines, Raman Noodles, lip balm and a toy. Through an open window, Staff Sgt. David Dobson of San Jose gave 50 teenage girls a booming sample of a boot camp drill.