Mercy Home’s Shamrocks for Kids celebration will be part of local St. Patrick’s Day parades again this year.

Throughout March, Mercy Home for Boys & Girls’ and Jewel-Osco’s Shamrocks for Kids program will feature fun and Irish-themed activities while raising funds to help children.

Volunteers will distribute shamrock pins for donations to Mercy Home at Chicago-area St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations, including the Saturday, March 6, Forest Park, IL, parade at 1 p.m.; Saturday, March 13, Chicago downtown parade on Columbus Drive at noon; and Sunday, March 14, Northwest Side Irish parade in the Norwood Park neighborhood at noon.

Mercy Home shamrocks also are available at O’Brien’s Restaurant during its Month O’ Mercy celebration, which runs now through St. Patrick’s Day, Weds., March 17. Tickets for O’Brien’s St. Patrick’s Day raffle benefitting Mercy Home are available at the restaurant or online at www.mercyhome.org. Grand prize is round-trip American Airlines transportation for two from Chicago to Dublin, Ireland. Cash prizes also are available. The winning tickets will be drawn on March 17 at the restaurant.

Throughout March, shoppers at Jewel-Osco stores can support Mercy Home by purchasing select products from Kellogg’s and Azteca and Diana’s Bananas. Through Weds., March 31, ten percent from each sale of any of these items at participating Jewel-Osco stores will go directly to Mercy Home.

Those using a Jewel-Osco Preferred Card when buying these products will be automatically entered into the Shamrocks for Kids Family Vacation Sweepstakes. Mercy Home on Saturday, March 13, will host its 15th annual Shamrocks for Kids celebration following the downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Guests will enjoy a hot corned beef buffet, “Leprechaun Lunches” for youngsters, and soft drinks, ales, and wines. There also will be live music and Irish dancers. General admission is $50, teenagers are $25, and children under 12 are admitted free. Proceeds from the event support Mercy Home. For more information or to buy tickets, call (312) 738-8331 or visit www.mercyhome.org.