LOWELL -- On Friday, from 8 p.m. to midnight, a fundraiser will be held at the U.S. Bunting Club to benefit Xavier Estrada, 3, and Jaliceanna Santiago, 2, children of the late Michelle Prowker of Lowell. Prowker was the victim of an automobile accident in Andover on Dec. 21.
The party will include a DJ, raffles, food and more. Admittance is $10 at the door. The U.S. Bunting Club is located at 449 Boylston St., Lowell.
Donations may be made to a fund for her children payable to either child's name to Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union, c/o Kelly Toomey, 1595 Bridge St., Dracut, MA 01826.
'Gift from John' at YMCA
LOWELL -- "A Gift From John," a fundraiser to raise money for underprivileged kids, will be held in conjunction with YMCA Family Fun Day on Sunday at the Greater Lowell YMCA at YMCA Drive, from 1 to 5 p.m. This will be the second such fundraiser run by Carolyn Delehanty in the memory of her son, John Michael. John Delehanty was a student at Middlesex Community College and a Lowell High School Class of 2007 graduate who died Nov. 1, 2008, after falling off a roof in Brighton. He was just 20.
Half of the money raised will go to the YMCA for youth programs; the other half of the proceeds will be distributed by Mrs. Delehanty to various organizations and scholarships. "He was a Y-kid himself, and I think he'd be into it," said Fred Braun, YMCA youth and teen director, who eventually hired Delehanty to work for him as a camp counselor. Last year the event donated $10,000 to the Lowell YMCA, the Lowell Boys and Girls Club and Big Brother Big Sister. This year the fund will also donate to the Kids Organization and Nevins Animal Farm.
Don't sit on it. Sock Hop aids needy
CHELMSFORD -- Let's go to the Hop! Who misses rocking around the clock at their local diner or drive-in, or perhaps watching Happy Days on TV as a kid? From 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, relive it all at the Aldersgate Church Sock Hop at 242 Boston Road, and for a good cause. There will be old-time soda-shop fare on hand, from burgers and fries to brown cows. Activities, such as hula hoops, limbo and the best 50's outfit will liven up the evening. But it wouldn't be a sock hop without that great 50's music from Tommy James and the Shondells to Elvis and Del Shanon.
And while everyone's having so much fun they will also be helping those in need. The price to get in the door is a package of new, adult men's or woman's socks. These will be distributed to needy men and women in the Greater Lowell area via St. Paul's Feeding Program. Aldersgate United Methodist Church has been among those who have been helping Walter and Rose Bronk serve dinners to the city's most needy for 14 years through St. Paul's Kitchen inside the Eliot Presbyterian Church at 273 Summer St. in Lowell.
E-mail your items to kpisarik@lowellsun.com with "Helping Hands" in the subject field. Or mail them to: The Sun, 491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01854, ATTN: Helping Hands. Please include a contact number in case we have questions.

