Here's a great thank you for teachers.

From Nov. 12 through Nov. 15 (Thursday through Sunday), every dressbarn store in the country will host a special event for teachers. There will be special sessions giving clothing and fashion advice, and teachers will enjoy a 15 percent discount.

Each store is holding one event on one of the four days, so check with your local store to find out the details about that store's specific sale event. 

Today's the last day of the Presents 4 Pets annual pet supplies donation drive, and it's not too late to help.

The organization is collecting all kinds of pet-related items, including dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food, litter, litter boxes, metal bowls, leashes, halters, collars, toys, treats, gates, kennels, carriers, towels and blankets, flea and tick preventatives. You can find the full wish list here.

Donations can be dropped off today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the supply drive wrap-up party. It will be at Gormutts Bakery, 6675 Falls Of Neuse Road, Suite 123 in Raleigh.

McCormick & Schmick's restaurants are honoring veterans early with a special event on Sunday.

Veterans will be able to choose a free lunch or dinner entree from a special menu of choices. ID is required and acceptable forms of proof are a VA card, a VFW card, American Legion card, discharge papers, DD214 or other Veterans ID.

Parties of more than six will not be seated due to popularity of the event and reservations ARE REQUIRED. You can make them online here or call the Crabtree Valley Mall restaurant at 919-881-7848.

Check my blog Monday morning for a list of other Veteran's freebies and promotions coming up next week. 

As if there's not enough fun shopping this weekend, here's another event you may want to check out. The Shoppes of Baileywick in Raleigh is hosting its holiday open house this weekend, starting today and running through Sunday.

The Shoppes house 65 vendors under one roof and have a wide array of interesting and unique items. It might just be worth stopping by...

Just a reminder that The Handmade Market is back this weekend for a one-day event Saturday. For those of you who are not familiar, the market is a one-day craft extravaganza featuring dozens of artists and vendors, and it's a really good way to find unique holiday gifts.

The sale will run 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. (201 E. Hargett St. near Moore Square and City Market.) The first 500 people get a free cotton tote bag.

And, this year, instead of charging an entry fee, bring a donation for The Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. In exchange, you’ll receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a gift basket. You can also bring food to donate (click here for list). Three nonperishable items will get you one ticket. Five nonperishable items will get you two tickets.

The new Applebee's in Garner is hosting a fund-raiser event to benefit the Johnston Health Foundation on Saturday.

The restuarant, which opens to the public on Monday, will be serving a limited menu Saturday for lunch and dinner. All items will be half-price and 100 precent of the proceeds will go to the Jonston Health Foundation.

The event is open to the public, but reservations for lunch (noon to 2 p.m.) or dinner (5:30 to 8 p.m.) are required and can be made by calling 919-637-2118.

The Raleigh Ten Thousand Villages store is having its holiday Bag Sale on Saturday.

The deal is simple: 20 percent off everything you can fit into one of the store's big shopping bags.

I've been assured that all creative ways to make items fit into the bags will be accepted.

The Raleigh Ten Thousand Villages store is in Cameron Village. Other Ten Thousand Villages stores may be holding similar sales on different dates. Check with your store if you are interested in a different location.

The Triangle Noodles & Co. restaurants are hosting a candy swap for kids on Sunday.

Kids 12 and under are invited to swap in some of their Halloween candy for a FREE small bowl of noodles. The candy swap run all day, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Area stores that are participating include Cameron Village, Cary Crossroads, Pavilion in Durham and Chapel Hill.

But does anyone have any candy left?

On Saturday, the Fall Craft Festival will be held at the Western Wake Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located in the Carpenter Village Marketplace at 1226 Morrisville Carpenter Rd. in Cary.

In addition to the market's regular vendors, there will be additional merchants selling things like pottery, jewelry, cards, paintings, prints and gift items.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items for the market’s Thanksgiving Food Drive. All donations will go to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, which picks up donations from vendors weekly.

It is definitely the time of year when folks start asking for donations, and you know I just hate to tell people no. So remember that savvy shopping can help you to spread your dollars and help others along the way. Here are two more food drives you can look out for locally:

*The Guitar Center stores will be hosting a food drive on Nov. 1 (that's tomorrow). Food will be collected and given to food banks. Anyone who donates a nonperishable item will receive a coupon for 10 percent off their next Guitar Center purchase.

*And the Harvest Feast Food Drive is back at Harris Teeter stores through Dec. 1. Look for collection bins and those tags at the register for monetary donations. They should be appearing in stores this week.