When Ohioans roll up their sleeves for the 10th Annual Make A Difference Day today,they'll lead the nation with their good deeds.

        Ohio has more projects registered — 385 — than any other state. California is No. 2 with 252. Kentucky has 55 and Indiana has 87 projects planned.

        Make A Difference Day is a national day of community service sponsored by USA Weekend magazine in partnership with The Points of Light Foundation. Last year, 2 million volunteers helped an estimated 22 million people nationwide.

Christina Poteet (left), Helena Martin and Linda Sebastian of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network sign Christmas cards for Mercy Franciscan at St. John. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        This year in the Tristate, students are collecting money to buy shoes for needy children. A Kings Mill girl asked neighbors to donate food for a food pantry. A Mount Healthy woman and family members are collecting toys.

        Last year, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network: The Beshear Financial Group's Around the Clock Coverage effort was judged the top project in Greater Cincinnati by the Enquirer. “Helping 2,000 in the Year 2000” is the theme of the agency's project this year.

        “This year, it's a lot more challenging to see if we can actually help more people,“ said Pat Frew, the agency's marketing/communication manager.

ACTIVITIES

Here's a sample of Make A Difference Day activities:     • Mariemont City School District: Educators, parents and students will walk today to help “Strike Out ALS” (Lou Gehrig's disease).     • Northwest High School: The school's service learning group will join others from St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Sunday to pick up debris and garbage along Kemper Road.     • Purcell Marian High School: Today, students will work on the future site of the Our Daily Bread kitchen and serve lunch at the Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen. Sunday, a team will participate in the Making Strides Walk Against Breast Cancer.     • Sycamore High School: Last week students prepared Stepping Stones Center, Indian Hill, for the Fall Festival, a Halloween party for the public from 7-9 p.m. today. Students will return to help with the party.     • Ursuline Academy: About 170 students, parents and educators will spend the day painting Windsor School, Walnut Hills.     • Western Hills High School: More than 300 students helped collect 3,700 personal-care items for the homeless.

        Thirty-five employees and family members are signing 1,000 Christmas cards for Mercy Franciscan at St. John to send to donors and volunteers, stuffing gift bags for Beech Acres' For The Love Of Kids conference, helping with a resident party at Cedar Village in Mason and assembling personal hygiene kits for Churches Active in Northside.

        While many of the projects are initiated by businesses, churches and organizations, others at the results of people who take it upon themselves to make a difference.

        Maggie Murray, 7, a second-grader at Kings Mill Elementary, heard about the third-graders' plans to raise money for the food pantry. So, she decided to ask her neighbors to put a canned item by their mailbox on Saturday morning. She distributed fliers to 70 homes this week. Her younger sister, Anna, 4, is collecting blankets from relatives to give to the Salvation Army.

        “I think it's awesome,” said her mother, Dorothy Murray of Kings Mill.

        Meanwhile, Debbie Schrader of Mount Healthy, her two grandchildren and niece have worked since last Thanksgiving to make a difference. They call their project, “Old Toys Bring New Joys.“

        Her granddaughters, Tamara Johnson, 6, of Mount Healthy, and Paige Senner, 9, of West Chester, and niece, Jessica Johnston, 15, of Fort Thomas, use their allowances to buy used toys at yard sales. Or, Mrs. Schrader will shop sales.

        They wash the toys, paint them and make doll dresses. They give them to anyone who needs a lift, whether it's a child in the hospital or a senior shut-in.

        “I wanted to do something for people who feel like this to let them know we love each other, we all have to take care of each other, we care about each other,” Mrs. Schrader said.

        Today, they'll donate hundreds of toys to Corpus Christi Church, New Burlington, to distribute to needy families, and the special education class at Johnson Elementary in Fort Thomas.

        “This is wonderful because it's real hard to get people to volunteer to give you anything, especially time,” said Linda Turner, a special-education technical assistant at Johnson Elementary. “The main thing is to make the children feel better about themselves. That's what our goal is.”

        Anyone who would like to donate toys, help fix them or knows someone in need, call Mrs. Schrader at 851-8128.

        For Make A Difference Day, five high schools (Finneytown, McAuley, Mount Healthy, Northwest and Winton Woods) and three elementary schools (Whitaker, Cottonwood and Brent) helped raise about $1,200 for new shoes for children living in homeless shelters.

        Candice Gettelfinger, president of the Finneytown High School Key Club, helped with the project because she thinks it's important for young people to be involved.

        “I just think so many teens today get a bad rap,” the 17-year-old senior said. "I know how important community service is and giving back to the community. I love to prove to people there are kids out there who care and try to make a difference.“
       
       

Poll sees firm lead for Bush in Ohio
Volume raises fear of delays
N.Ky store faces obscenity charges
Clark Montessori's trademark: Music
Differences mark suspect, rapist
RAMSEY: CPS levy
Deerfield finances worrying Warren
Hidden office camera proves dud
Tristaters set to Make A Difference
HOWARD: Survivor
Museum's ex-director honored
Nephew gets 15 years to life
Payment pursuit brings award
Candidates please business
Grand jury indicts suspect on charge of murder in fatal shooting
Homes get heating help
Information about sludge flows slowly
Ky. body sleuths turn to Web
Lynne Cheney visits Owensboro elementary school
McNUTT: Save Main St.
Naberhaus makes 3 in race for commission seat
Political yard signs allowed, for now
Politics makes the grade
Program helps low-income reduce home heating bills
School board race focuses on finances
Social event of year in Ky.
Teachers trained to fill in
Urban center gets funding
Vote on liquor disputed
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report