A 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Walk to benefit children with autism will be held in Balboa Park on Saturday. Registration opens at 7 a.m. The 5K run begins at 8:30 and the 5K walk at 8:35. The fun walk begins at 9 a.m. The event takes place at the grassy area corner of the park at Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street.

For more information, call the National Foundation for Autism Research at (858) 679-8800, or e-mail the society at info@nfar.org. The race also has a Web site at www.raceforautism.org.

The event includes a resource fair, children's activities and live music.

Food Allergies Author Speaks

Have a child with serious food allergies? Are peanuts, milk or eggs verboten in your household? Then you'll get helpful advice on how to live with these allergies at a meeting of the San Diego Food Allergy Support Group. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 28 in Oceanside at Tri-City Medical Center, 4002 Vista Way, in Assembly Room 2.

Author Linda Coss, whose son has multiple, potentially fatal allergies, will speak at the meeting. She is author of "How to Manage Your Child's Life-Threatening Food Allergies" and "What's to Eat? The Milk-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free Food Allergy Cookbook."

Coss will be selling and signing copies of her books following the presentation. To attend, reply by e-mailing your name to info@sandiegofoodallergy.org. More information is available on the support group's Web site at www.sandiegofoodallergy.org.

INS exams offered

The Vista Community Clinic offers INS medical exams, a requirement for anyone applying for legal residency or citizenship in the United States.

Exams are available weekdays at the clinic, by appointment only. The clinic is at 1000 Vale Terrace Drive in Vista. Exams are also available weekdays by appointment at Vista Community Clinic's Tri-City Center, at 161 Thunder Drive, Suite 212, in Vista.

Fees for the exam are $85, plus laboratory and immunizations. Additional costs may vary depending on specific government requirements for type of application and country of origin. Patients will also need to bring a government-issued photo ID and BCIS physical forms, which may be obtained online at http://www.bcis.gov/graphics/surgeonportal.htm, from INS or from your attorney.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (760) 631-5000.

Health insurance help

VISTA -- Vista Community Clinic helps low-income families get health insurance and assists in preparing applications for Healthy Families and Medi-Cal.

The service is free, but an appointment is required. The following documents are required for the application: copy of the applicant's birth certificate, Social Security card, proof of income (such as pay stubs for the most recent month, an employer's letter or, if self-employed, a copy of IRS Form 1040).

For more information and to make an appointment, call Rosie at (760) 407-1220, Ext. 126.

Vista Community Clinic offers prenatal care

VISTA -- Vista Community Clinic offers prenatal care, including medical and educational classes. The clinic assists with medical visits, health education, nutrition counseling, ultrasound and non-stress tests, lab work, childbirth classes and counseling services.

Vista Community Clinic is a Comprehensive Perinatal Services Provider for Medi-Cal patients. Clinic staff will help prepare applications for Medi-Cal and AIM (Access to Infants and Mothers) insurance. Vista Community Clinic also accepts private insurance and offers cash programs for prenatal care and delivery at Tri-City Medical Center. Clinics are located throughout Vista and Oceanside. For locations and appointments, call (760) 631-5220.

Up to $5,000 in child health services available

As much as $5,000 worth of health care services for children whose expenses are not fully covered by health insurance is available from the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation.

Parents and caretakers are eligible to apply for health care services to help improve health and quality of life. Applications are available at www.uhccf.org/apply.html.

Types of medical services covered include speech therapy; physical therapy and psychotherapy sessions; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, braces, hearing aids and eyeglasses; and orthodontia and dental treatment.

Children must be 16 and under. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and be covered by a commercial health insurance plan.

Get your blood circulating

The San Diego Blood Bank bloodmobile accepts blood donations at numerous North San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County locations. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, in good health and weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood. A good meal is recommended before donating.

For donor requirements or to make an appointment at any of the blood drives listed below, call the San Diego Blood Bank at (800) 4MY-SDBB or visit www.sandiegobloodbank.org. Walk-ins are also taken, if an opening is available.

Unless otherwise noted, the locations listed below are in the parking lot:

- Today:

7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Vista, St. Francis Catholic Church, 525 W. Vista Way.

8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Carlsbad, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Church Hall, 3821 Adams St.

- Tuesday:

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Encinitas, North Coast Health Center, 477 N. El Camino Real.

1 to 6 p.m., Del Mar, UltraStar Flowerhill Cinemas, 2630 Via de la Valle.

- Wednesday:

10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Cardiff, MiraCosta College, 3333 Manchester Ave.

1:30 to 7 p.m, Solana Beach, Calvary Lutheran Church, 424 Via de la Valle.

- Thursday:

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oceanside, MiraCosta College, 1 Barnard Drive.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fallbrook, Albertson's, 1133 S. Mission Road.

- Saturday:

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Poway, Wal-Mart, 13425 Community Road.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Temecula, Pat & Oscars, 29375 Rancho California Road.

Doctor to address arthritis group

LAKE ELSINORE -- Dr. Anthony Salmon will speak when the Arthritis Support Group meets at 12:15 p.m. Monday at Lake Elsinore Senior Center.

Salmon will speak about helpful exercises for arthritis patients.

The center is at 420 E. Lakeshore Drive. For information, call 674-2526.

Braille Institute van to visit

LAKE ELSINORE -- Mobile Solution, a specialized van that brings Braille Institute's programs and services to local communities, will visit Lake Elsinore on Monday.

The van, with high-powered magnifiers, closed-circuit televisions and other adaptive equipment for help maximizing remaining vision, will be at Lake Elsinore Senior Center, 420 E. Lakeshore Drive, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

For information, call the center at 674-2526, the Braille Institute at (760) 321-1111 or visit www.brailleinstitute.org.

Hospice teleconference open to public

The Hospice Foundation of America's 14th annual National Bereavement Teleconference will be screened at Pechanga Resort & Casino and Wildomar Senior Leisure Community on Thursday.

The free seminar will explore current theoretical perspectives on loss and grief as experienced by people throughout a life-limiting illness and by survivors after the death.

Hospice of the Valleys and Evans-Brown Mortuaries are inviting the public to Pechanga Resort & Casino from 10:30 to 2 p.m. A local panel of experts will follow the teleconference and discuss community resources and answer questions and lunch will be provided. For information, call 672-1666.

The event in Wildomar will be from 10:30 to 1 p.m. and be hosted by the Visiting Nurse Association of the Inland Counties. Wildomar Senior Leisure Community is at 32325 S. Pasadena Ave. For information, call 288-2795.

Sizzler to raise funds for Red Cross

TEMECULA -- Sizzler restaurant in Temecula will raise funds for the American Red Cross in March. Each Monday, 15 percent of proceeds from food and beverage sales will benefit the Riverside County Chapter of the Red Cross.

Those who participate in the Bash for Cash promotion will be helping the chapter provide food for people displaced by disaster.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays at 27717 Jefferson Ave. For information, call (888) 831-0031, Ext. 2014, or visit www.riversidecounty.redcross.org.

MS Walk seeks participants, workers

TEMECULA -- The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's annual MS Walk will take place in Temecula on April 21.

The society's Inland Empire Field Office is looking for individual walkers and teams to collect pledges and volunteers to help with the event.

For registration or information, call (800) 344-4867 or visit www.msevents.com.

Volunteers needed for Relay for Life

Walkers, cancer survivors and patients and volunteers are needed for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life, which will be held in 13 communities in Riverside County, including Murrieta on May 5, Temecula on May 19, Menifee on June 2 and Lake Elsinore in the fall.

Relay For Life is a team event where participants walk around a track relay-style for 24 hours.

Volunteers are needed to organize and recruit teams, seek community support, plan entertainment and lend their support in any way.

To volunteer, call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345, or the Society's Inland Empire Area Office at 300-1224.

Blood drives

Valley Blood Services

- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Barons the Marketplace, 31939 Rancho California Road, Temecula.

- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 24, Pat & Oscar's, 29375 Rancho California Road, Temecula.

Donations may also be made at Valley Blood Services, 25115 Madison Ave., Suite 105, Murrieta, from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.Those who donate in March can receive two Lake Elsinore Storm baseball tickets for opening night, April 12. For information, call 696-4067 or visit valleybloodservices.org.

Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties:

- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24, Pizza Factory, 16746 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Elsinore.

- 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Morgan Hill, 44994 Frogs Leap, Temecula.

Information, (800) 879-4484.