In brief

PBH gift drive under way

Through Dec. 15, the Phillips Brooks House (PBH) will be accepting donations for its annual holiday gift drive. Members of the Harvard community are invited to donate new, unwrapped gifts for children in preschool through middle school. Collection boxes will be located at the Memorial Church and at different locations throughout campus. And for students, collection boxes will be conveniently set up in the Phillips Brooks House lobby in the Yard.

Last year, the drive collected hundreds of books, games, toys, art supplies, and pieces of sports equipment, which were delivered to 10 agencies throughout the Greater Boston area. Organizers hope to collect more than 1,000 gifts this year for children of impoverished, homeless, or incarcerated parents. To arrange for a collection box in your office, or for more information, e-mail Robert Bridgeman at bridgem@fas.harvard.edu.

HMNH seeks ‘gallery guides’

The Harvard Museum of Natural History (HMNH) seeks volunteers who wish to share their enthusiasm for natural history with museum visitors of all ages. The museum seeks “gallery guides” who are able to commit one morning or afternoon per weekend.

For information, call Dominique Rampton at (617) 384-7180 or e-mail drampton@oeb.harvard.edu.

Brattle Theatre showcases work of Harvard alumni

The Brattle Theatre will host an advanced, benefit screening of the much-anticipated “Memoirs of a Geisha” on Friday (Dec. 9) at 7:30 p.m. Harvard alumna and producer of the film Lucy Fisher will be on hand at the theater along with Arthur Golden, the author of the award-winning novel from which the film is adapted.

A historical romance, “Memoirs of a Geisha” follows the rise of a geisha in Japan from 1929 through World War II. Additionally, this past Monday (Dec. 5), the theater held a benefit screening of the comedy “Tennis, Anyone?” – the latest offering from another Harvard alum, filmmaker Donal Logue.

– Compiled by Andrew Brooks