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Families at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Potomac have been enjoying the company of the Bokamoso Theatre Group of Winterveld, South Africa, which conducts an annual exchange with the school.

The 14 guests arrived in early January for a month-long stay with St. Andrew's families, and will tour Washington, D.C., attend St. Andrew's classes, hold a series of fundraising performances, enjoy social life with St. Andrew's students and spend several days in New York. The Bokamoso Youth Centre, established in 1999 and funded privately by American donors, provides training in life skills to at-risk youth and offers scholarships for college-level work.

Denise Glassman of Chevy Chase traveled with her son to South Africa last year through the program, and though he has now graduated, is hosting two women, Elsa and Thusi, this year.

"It's interesting because it's the first year that we've hosted and we have only boys, but now we have these two girls and I just think they're all stunningly courageous. They don't know how courageous they are," Glassman said.

She said Elsa and Thusi come from a region with about 50 percent unemployment and severe economic problems, but have a youthful resilience and lust for learning that has adapted them easily to their temporary Chevy Chase home.

"They have this spirit and eagerness to make their life better," Glassman said.

The Bokamoso Theatre Group will give a free family concert and dance workshop for students in preschool through grade 12 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, 8804 Postoak Road in Potomac. The group will perform traditional songs and dances in native dress and teach the dances to interested students. A reception will follow.

For more information visit www.saes.org.

Help for Haiti

MoverMoms, a Bethesda-based community service group for moms and kids, raised nearly $800 for Haiti earthquake victims during a bake sale fundraiser in Bethesda.

The proceeds benefit Partners in Health, a group that provides medical care to residents of Haiti.

Adults and children pitched in, whipping up brownies, cupcakes, cookies, scones and fudge. Moms helped organize while kids sold their wares to passers-by.

Oftentimes, they were taken by surprise by the outpouring of support, according to MoverMoms president Rebecca Kahlenberg.

"I was so impressed with the generosity of total strangers — people who saw us standing on the street corner and came over, not necessarily wanting too much food but eager to donate money. Many people bought just a couple of small baked items and gave a $10 or $20 bill," Kahlenberg said in an e-mail.

Turning heads

Sisters Marin, 6, and Riley Gold, 3, and Mendel Tenenbaum, 4, of Gaithersburg and Flora Ginsburg of Potomac, 7, are featured in "Little Redheads Across America," a book all about red hair.

Nicole Giladi self-published the book, sold at www.littleredheadsacrossamerica.com.

"Ever since the day she was born, you just get attention because your kid just looks different than everyone else," said Flora's mother Dana Ginsburg.

For more information, visit www.littleredheadsacross america.com or call Giladi at 818-360-7029.

Drive benefits Manna

A countywide food drive to mark Martin Luther King Jr., Day collected nearly 20,000 pounds of food to benefit Manna Food Center.

The food is worth nearly $30,000, according to organizers. In Bethesda, the Edgemoor Citizens Association organized the food collection at the Arlington Road Giant.

They collected 1,714 pounds of food valued by Manna at $2,500.

Contact Jen Beasley at jbeasley@gazette.net or 301-280-3005, or Erin Donaghue at edonaghue@ gazette.net or 301-280-3007. Send information by fax at 301-670-7183, or 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.