Five Things: 400 Volunteers Give Back at City Year

Today is Tuesday, November 22. Here are five things you need to know today:

1. Sunny skies today with highs in the mid 40s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.

2. Hundreds of volunteers showed up at City Year's South End headquarters on Friday for a full day of service projects to provide assistance to families across Boston. City Year teamed up with the , and the Red Cross to provide volunteers with the space and resources needed to create toys, food, arts and crafts and fleece blankets to donate to those in need. Donations were also accepted throughout the day.

3. South End business owners, if you're having a sale or any special offerings this weekend let us know! We're putting together a local shopping guide for Small Business Saturday and would love to include you. Just email alix@patch.com by tomorrow.

4. Union Park residents have been warned to secure their back alley entrances against break-ins, which are on the rise. The Union Park Neighborhood Association recommends keeping rear entrances locked at all times, securing gates and turning backyard lights on at night or installing a motion sensor device. Report any suspicious activity to police by calling 911.

5. For those of you traveling this week, take note: traffic is expected to be at its peak on Wednesday and Sunday, and MassDOT is urging travelers to consider traveling in the early morning or after 8pm. Heavy backups are expected along the Mass Pike near the Exit 9 connector to Interstate 84 and at the Interstate 95 and 495 Turnpike interchanges. Interstate 93 northbound into New Hampshire should also be slow. Click here for MassDOT's online traffic camera webpage with more than 90 live traffic cameras throughout the highway system.