The Shop With a Cop program, designed to help underprivileged children in Warren County, needs help because donations have dropped since Sept. 11.

        To help rejuvenate funds for the program, Dave Jones and Gravy Williams, hosts of Open Stage Night at the Kings Island Inn Resort Conference Center, have been raffling off full-size acoustic guitars they donated.

        Open Stage Night is held from 7 to 10 p.m. every Wednesday.

        Tickets for the raffle are $5 each or three for $10.

        Under the Shop With a Cop program, an underprivileged child is taken on a shopping trip to Wal-Mart with a law enforcement officer. Items in need and toys are purchased with funds from the program.

        “We are trying to raise at least $1,000 to give to the program,” said Karen Jones, manager of the show. “We only have about $200. We will need the money by Dec. 12.”

        Beginners and veteran musicians are welcome. Six guitars will be raffled.

Members of the Norwood High School Key Club will be collecting donations this weekend at area banks. The donations are used by the Norwood Toy Chest to help children and families with Christmas packages. Funds are also used to help purchase supplies for children unable to buy them.

        The Norwood Toy Chest is administered by the Norwood Health Department.

        Over the years, the Key Club has collected more than $33,000 and has helped more than 300 families and 650 children through the Toy Chest.

        “The Key Club has been operating 14 years. There are 25 students in the club who conduct the drive, solicit businesses and also make collections at the high school,” said Theresa Backscheider, an adviser.

        For more information, call Donna Laake, Norwood Health Commissioner, at 396-8160.

Alice Dasenbrock, a teacher and Key Club adviser at Northwest High School, has been chosen “School Volunteer of the Year” by the Norwood Freestore.

        Twice a month, Mrs. Dasenbrock takes 20 students from the club to the food bank, where they sort donations.

        Mrs. Dasenbrock said going to the Freestore was one of the favorite activities of the club.

        The Westwood Branch Library, 3345 Epworth Ave., will get a boost in its $1.8 million expansion and renovation program.

        The Charles H. Dater Foundation is giving the branch $580,000. Kimber L. Fender, executive director of the library, said said the money will be used to expand the children's area in the library.

        A recognition plaque acknowledging the foundation will be placed in the children's reading room

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Monday-Friday and Sundays. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are committing random 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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