People in the Tristate continue to reach out in many ways to help the post-attack relief and recovery effort:

        Lisa Pohlkamp Siegel, who coordinates “Make A Difference Day” regionally, this Oct. 27 will give it a different spin.

        Mrs. Siegel is president of Project Connect Homeless Children Fund. Usually, her agency focuses on Cincinnati homeless shelters, but this year she will direct her efforts to the HeartBridge Center for Loss and Transition in New York City.

        HeartBridge counsels grieving children and adults.

        “We expect to get more people this year because of the disaster,” said Sharami Kerr, executive director and founder of HeartBridge. She said it will start its survival and support groups Oct.1.

        Mrs. Siegel will be working with parents and children to take collections and sell buttons through Finneytown Schools, Wyoming, Oak Hills and several schools in New Jersey.

        “I think this can be something where parents and children feel like they are doing something to make a difference,” Mrs. Siegel said.

        Eighth-grade teacher Jean Buelterman at St. Antoninus School, 5425 Julmar Drive, Covedale, organized her class along with Girl Scouts to make and distribute 800 Red, White and Blue Ribbons after church service Sept. 16. The students, along with parents in the Western Hills, Covedale and Green Township areas, collected truckloads of water, Gatorade, surgical masks and gloves, and shipped them to the Salvation Army.

        ANDERSON TWP. — Two sixth-graders at Summit Elementary School were discouraged when they learned they were not old enough to donate blood for the disaster relief effort. But that didn't stop them from helping.

        Candice Patterson and Christine Ruzsa started going door-to-door in their neighborhood, and in two days collected $391 for the Red Cross.

        Five Butler County fire departments raised a combined total of more than $210,000 in their “fill the boot” campaigns this past weekend:

        • Monroe, $30,000; Fairfield, $62,000; Hamilton, $50,000; Middletown, $40,000; and West Chester Township, $30,000.

        CHEVIOT — In just two days, a Cheviot-based “fill the boot” campaign collected more than $22,500 for the New York police and fire departments. The effort was organized by the spouses of Cheviot police officers and the Cheviot Police and Fire Explorers clubs. .

        “People were really appreciative; they were shaking the firefighters' hands,” said firefighter Ed Weber.

       Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Monday-Friday and Sundays. If you have suggestions about achievements and acts of kindness that are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at (513) 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at (513) 768-8340.
       

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