Cancer patients need volunteers to make bags

The "Step Out, Step Up" event at The Oaks mall is seeking people to create wellness bags for local cancer patients. The bags will be distributed to female cancer patients through The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura in time for Mother's Day.

The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thurs., May 8 at the mall's center court, 350 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The volunteers will be provided with treats and entertainment by The Oaks and its retailers, including cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, mini-makeovers and pampering treatments, and fashions from the mall's retailers.

The Oaks is hosting "Step Out, Step Up" to introduce its new partnership with the Step Up Women's Network, a national nonprofit membership organization dedicated to strengthening community resources for women and girls.

The Oaks is joining its 72 sister shopping centers across the country to create more than 30,000 wellness bags for female cancer patients nationwide in a single-day event.

For more information or to volunteer, call Lauren Saxinger at (805) 495-4628 or e-mail Lauren.Saxinger@macerich.com by May 2.