Helping Out highlights some of the many charitable events and activities going on in the Charleston area. Submissions should be sent to dailyjournal@scbiznews.com.

Since 2009, the Charleston RiverDogs and the Charleston County School District have offered the “Reading and Running with the RiverDogs” program in select Charleston County schools to emphasize the fun and benefits in daily reading and exercise activities.

This year, third-graders from Pinehurst, Blaney, Lambs, Burns and North Charleston elementary schools will be involved. Twice a month, a RiverDogs staff member will come to the assigned school to read aloud in each third-grade class. The staff member will spend 15 to 20 minutes with each class and then rotate between classes for about an hour. There will be about eight visits per school from February to May.

Students may earn points by reading and exercising beyond the school day, or if they conduct “works of kindness,” such as reading to a younger person or helping parents with housework. Students will record their activities and a teacher will review the log on a weekly basis. Students are awarded monthly with prizes, such as a ribbon, RiverDogs souvenir drink cup, a book donated to the school library in the student’s name, RiverDogs T-shirt, and game tickets and a free meal ticket at the game.

For more information, contact Lauren Allio with the RiverDogs at 843-577-3647.

On Feb. 4, The Kickin’ Chicken owners David Miller, Bobby Perry and Chip Roberts will present the $20,300 in proceeds raised from the fourth annual Month of Giving campaign in November to the staffs of Camp Happy Days and the Charleston/Summerville Miracle Leagues.

Over the years, The Kickin’ Chicken has donated more than $123,000 to charitable organizations across the Lowcountry.

The Clusters for Kids’ Sake Oyster Roast is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 1 at Gold Bug Island in Mount Pleasant. There will be all-you-can-eat oysters and barbecue, plus music and prizes. The event raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Carolina Youth Development Center, which matches caring adults and children from single-parent households in the Lowcountry. Tickets are $25 per person and include oysters and two beverage tickets. Purchase tickets at http://becomeabig.org/clusters-for-kids-sake/.

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach will host its 16th annual auction fundraiser from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Charleston Marriott, 170 N. Lockwood Blvd. Tickets are $75 and include a silent auction during a cocktail hour followed by a live auction and formal dinner. Proceeds benefit educational outreach services, including early childhood education, English as a Second Language, GED preparation, budgeting classes, women’s health education and craft classes.

Several hundred items ranging from $8 to $750 will be up for bidding during the silent auction, including artwork, home decor items, jewelry, food and wine baskets, golf clubs, tickets for musical and sporting events, and gift certificates for local restaurants and retail shops. A dinner will be served at 2:30 p.m. followed by the live auction hosted by Doug Warner of Carolina One Real Estate. A few of the live auction items include a Scotland getaway to the Glen House, a Napa Valley Wine Country tour, a Bloomingdale’s shopping spree trip and a game table and chairs from Southeastern Galleries. To purchase tickets, call 843-559-4109.

The ninth annual Respite Care Charleston Betty Cannon Golf Tournament and Guided Nature Walk is set for March 18 at the Crooked Oaks Golf Course on Seabrook Island. The nature walk will be at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center. Following both events, there will be an awards reception and dinner in the Atlantic Ballroom at the Seabrook Island Club. For more information on the event and sponsorship opportunities, visit respitecarecharleston.org.

Respite Care Charleston offers programs and guidance to Charleston families grappling with Alzheimer's disease as well as vascular dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment.

The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association is hosting the 30th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival Sunday at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. The event is 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature 80,000 pounds of oysters, food and beverages from local restaurants, activities for children, and oyster shucking and oyster eating contests. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House, Hollings Cancer Center, Hospitality Heroes, Shriners Hospitals for Children and the Charleston Science Materials Resource Center.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event, with no fee for children 10 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets can be purchased online or at any area Southcoast Community Bank, Mount Pleasant and downtown Charleston visitors centers or Boone Hall Farms. For more information, visit CharlestonRestaurantAssociation.com.

The Homeownership Resource Center, a division of Family Services Inc., works with first-time homebuyers in the tri-county area. Along with the Home Purchase Program, the center offers a variety of financial education workshops, budget coaching and credit improvement. A debt management program is also available in the Family Service’s credit counseling division.

For more information, call 843-735-7862 or visit www.fsisc.org. The next class is “Making Ends Meet” on Feb. 14 at 4925 Lacross Road, Suite 105, in North Charleston. The class is free.