The Symphony Volunteers' Encore Shop (7814 Maple St, 861-9028) is having a special holiday fundraising sale Saturday, Dec. 8. In addition to the regular inventory of resale items, there will be new items from two local upscale boutiques, with lots of designer labels in the mix. All proceeds benefit musicians of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, Saks Fifth Avenue (The Shops at Canal Place, 301 Canal St., 524.2200) invites you to its Brushes With Beauty event. Spend $150 or more on cosmetics and fragrances, and receive a complimentary tote filled with deluxe samples. Meet experts from the world of beauty, including Rhona Samuels of Giorgio Armani Cosmetics, J.P. McCary of Shu Uemura and Jawn Marques of La Mer.

Send a friend a little taste of Louisiana during Community Coffee's free sample giveaway. From Dec. 3-16, visit www.ourstatecoffee.com to send two free samples of Community coffee, along with a personal message, to a friend or family member who lives outside of Louisiana. The sender will also receive a 15 percent discount on online purchases through Jan. 15.

Help fight hunger in your community when you shop at Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com) Tuesday, Dec. 4 through Thursday, Dec. 6, during the store's "5 Percent Community Days" event. Five percent of net sales at the Metairie store (3420 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 888-8225) will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank, and the same percentage from the Arabella Station store (5600 Magazine St., 899-9119) will go to the New Orleans Mission.