Local volunteers will take part in a "birthday bag blitz" Wednesday.

AAA volunteers will fill 500 birthday bags with gifts for local low-income families who visit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and may not have had the means to celebrate a child's birthday, said a press release.

Cheerful Givers, a nonprofit organization that began in Minnesota, has distributed more than 500,000 birthday bags in 18 years.  The Sept. 12 event marks the organization's expansion into Wisconsin.

The event will take place at the food pantry, located at 2033 Fish Hatchery Road, at 10:30 a.m.

Remarks will be made by Ralph Middlecamp, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Madison; Karen Kitchel, president of Cheerful Givers; and Tom Frymark, president of AAA Wisconsin.

A benefit will raise funds after a June 28 fire at Greg Ginter’s Guitar Shop on Atwood Avenue.

The benefit will be held at the Badger Bowl on Sept. 7 beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The Badger Bowl will take place at 506 E. Badger Road in Madison.

Bands playing at the benefit will include Wizenhiemers, The Rousers, Falcon, Green Eggs and Sam, Russell, and My Neighbor Joe.

Damage from the fire was estimated at $35,000, Channel3000 reported.

Jeff Brikowski, a guitar player for the Wizenhiemers from 1990-2010, said Ginter helped many local area bands get started and distribute local music in southern Wisconsin.

“This is a way to say thanks,” said Brikowski.

National Preparedness Month begins Saturday, the first day of September.

As Labor Day weekend brings the end of summer, ReadyWisconsin is urging Wisconsinites to discuss emergency preparation.

“Preparing for emergency events like tornadoes, flooding and winter storms requires individuals and families to be self-reliant and ready to face days without utilities such as electricity, water and phone service, access to local businesses such as gas stations and supermarkets, and other needed services,” said a Wisconsin Emergency Management press release.

People across the country are encouraged to prepare for emergencies by getting an emergency supply kit, making a plan for an emergency, and being informed about what types of emergencies could happen in your community.