The Verbena High School Red Devil Regiment Band is presenting another fundraiser, but this one is designed to raise money for others in the community.

The band held a “haunted trail” fundraiser around Halloween for band projects. Verbena’s Christmas Village, meanwhile, is an effort to collect food and other items for residents of local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The village will include craft vendors, refreshments (such as apple cider, hot chocolate and cookies) for sale and booths where children can make Christmas presents for their family members.

It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Chestnut Creek Baptist Church.

Admission will be one new non-food item, such as a hairbrush, comb, small picture frame or shampoo.

Items collected for admission will be donated to seniors, as will money raised from vendors.

The fundraiser was the idea of Karen Smith Williams, a parent of children involved with the band. Williams said she has long worked to help seniors and saw an opportunity to work through the band to benefit local community members.

“I just really think that we need to do something for them,” Williams said. “It’s also a chance for us to instill a sense of compassion in these kids. I hope everybody comes out and supports this because it’s a good cause.”

Williams said she plans to donate items to about 150 people, which would account for all residents in three assisted living facilities: Hatley Health Care, The Gardens of Clanton and Cedar Ridge Veterans Facility.

Anyone interested in the event should call Williams at (205) 258-9743.

“We would love to make it an annual event,” Verbena band director Randi Penton said. “I think that we’re going to try to deliver everything as close to Christmas as possible, and as we deliver them, we’ll sing some Christmas carols also.”