By Cheryl Schweizer
Chronicle correspondent

     BREWSTER - Several charitable opportunities exist in the Brewster-Bridgeport-Pateros area this Christmas season.
     The freshman class at Pateros High School is working on two projects. Students are soliciting donations of winter coats, hats, mittens, warm shirts and other winter clothing, along with winter sports equipment and snow toys.
     A drop-off bin is in the Pateros School library, and people can make donations at Pateros home games. The freshmen will collect donations for charity through Friday, Dec. 18.
     The freshmen also are making shoebox gift boxes for needy students at Pateros Elementary School. They're trying to collect enough toys and gifts to make 14 boxes - two for each class from kindergarten through sixth grade.
     Students seek small toys and games, coloring books and crayons, puzzles, mittens and anything else of appropriate size. The freshmen also are looking for shoeboxes to hold the goodies, Adviser Nicole Province said.
     Donations can be dropped off at the school library and through Monday, Dec. 14.
     Bridgeport Future Business Leaders of America is wrapping up its annual food drive.
     Donations of commercially prepared and non-perishable food can be left at the high school office through the end of the week.
     The current world problems class at Brewster High School is conducting its annual food and money drive for the St. James Episcopal Food Bank.
     That's a tradition, and it's also a tradition for classes at the high school and Brewster Elementary School to hold a food drive in support. The food must be commercially prepared and non-perishable.
     Donations can be left at the high school and elementary school offices through Friday, Dec. 11.
     The Brewster Lions Club is continuing its food drive; donation boxes are out at Brewster Drug and True Value Hardware, Webster Furniture, Brewster Ag Supply and other businesses downtown. The Lions will take donations through Dec. 23.
     There's a mitten tree up in the lobby at the Bridgeport branch of North Cascades National Bank. New children's gloves, mittens, hats and scarves are sought.
     Donations will be accepted through Christmas, and will be distributed to children in the Bridgeport and Mansfield school districts in January.
     Members of American Legion Post No. 97 in Brewster are accepting donations of items for gift packages that will be sent to soldiers, sailors and air personnel serving in the armed forces.
     The emphasis is on small, non-perishable and non-crushable goodies - everything from phone cards to candy bars and powdered drink mixes (hot chocolate mix apparently is very popular), and from small video games to magazines and paperback books to lip balm and lotion.
     Legion members say they would prefer donations of actual goodies, but will take money as well. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 14.
     The Quad City Eagles Lodge in Bridgeport will have dinner for anyone who wants to come on Christmas Day, beginning at 1 p.m. at the lodge, 1030 Columbia Ave.
     The Eagles will provide the meal of turkey and ham and all the trimmings, along with dessert, but participants are invited to bring any special holiday favorites to add to the table. The bar will be closed for Christmas Day.
     The Brewster American Legion post also will sponsor dinner for anybody who wants to come on Christmas. Dinner will be served at 1 p.m.
     Legion members and volunteers will cook the meal, which will include turkey, ham and all the trimmings, plus dessert. Participants are encouraged to bring their favorite holiday dishes.