TOCO Shop's three-year anniversary party is taking place all day today. A cake will be cut at 11 a.m., so stop by to help celebrate and check out the sales.

The resale shop at 825 W. Main St., Belleville, is just one way the Tapestry of Community Offerings helps the community. In case you didn't know, here is a handful of services the nonprofit group provided last year: It fulfilled the holiday wishes of seven families; helped with food and supplies for the Interfaith Food Pantry in Belleville; provided two scholarships for single parents at Southwestern Illinois College; and through a referral program with other social service agencies, provided clothing, shoes and housewares to 56 children and 41 families in need.

Want to know more or help? Call 257-8626, email tocoinfo@gmail.com or go to www.toconfp.org.

As someone who enjoys not only shopping, but cooking, I'm always on the lookout for innovative kitchen gadgets that don't just take up space on a counter. That's why I had to stop and admire the Kapoosh, which is a clever name for a universal holder of knives. Unlike the wooden block I have at home, this container is filled with thousands of long, flexible black rods. It's gentler on knives than wood. You simply push a knife (or other utensil) in and it stays put. No matter where you place it. It can hold 20 8-inch knives, but is perfect for your everyday assortment of butcher, boning and other knives. You'll find the Kapoosh for $39.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond in Fairview Heights.

A fan of our feathered friends? It's a party this weekend at Wild Birds Unlimited in Swansea. Through Sunday, members of the Daily Savings Club earn double points. Not a member? It's easy to join; just visit the store. And while you're there, enjoy some refreshments. Members are elegible win a gift. Anyone can go to wbu.com and download coupons good for 2 pounds of thistle free for every 10 pounds purchased, and $1 off any 20-pound bag of bird seed. Both are good through Jan. 31.

Time for the sixth annual Teens for Jeans campaign, which encourages teens to donate their denim. One in three homeless people in the United States is under the age of 18. What do these teens request in the way of clothing when they visit a homeless shelter? A pair of jeans.

Through Feb. 10, you can help by bringing gently worn jeans, any size and brand, to the Aeropostale store at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights.

All donations will be distributed to local youth community shelters. As a thank-you, for each pair donated, you get an additional 25 percent off a new pair of jeans, though no purchase is necessary. Aeropostale and DoSomething.org also are encouraging schools to take action by running collection drives. The school that collects the most jeans will win $10,000. For more information, go to www.teensforjeans.com or text Jeans to 38383.

Cute and colorful infant and toddler clothes are on sale for $4 at Target. The Circo tees and pants are mix and match, so you can't go wrong. Circo brand also has $6 girls (sizes 4-16) mix-and-match tunics, tees and pants. Leggings are $5. Prices good through today.

Deals at Michael's Crafts in Shiloh: Get three spools of ribbon or three 2-ounce bottles of Craft Smart acrylic paint for a buck. If you're looking for glass vases for wedding reception tables, they're $3 in a variety of sizes and shapes. Lots of yarn on sale, too. Prices are good through today.

Hurry to Fashion Bug stores. The closings are coming soon, and while there is still a lot of merchandise, I saw a lot of empty shelves and racks. Stores vary as to what they still have in stock.

Last week I spied Angry Bird slippers at Target. This week it's kids "Star Wars" slippers, on sale for $4.99 at Kmart. And while the Fairview Heights store is now closed, the west Belleville store continues to do good business.