“Tikkum Olam,” a Jewish concept that means repairing the world, was on the minds of members of the University of Cincinnati's Hillel Jewish Student Center on Tuesday as they collected 3,000 blankets and 3,000 pillows and pillowcases to be distributed to the hungry and homeless in Over-the-Rhine.

        Mindy Kuhlman said the collection was part of the group's Operation Warm-up, a social justice program started in 1996.

        Ms. Kuhlman is an ADELE Alfred Katz Outreach Fellow in the organization and works on the staff at the center.

        The bedding was donated by American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas.

        Ms. Kuhlman said Celeste Manufacturing of Maryland donated 9,000 towels.

        “We solicit the donations and use them to create care packages,” she said. Student volunteers prepare the packages to be distributed in Over-the-Rhine.

        Co-chairmen of Operation Warm-up are students Landon Schechler and Lisa Delson.

        Other donors are: Meijer, Standard Textile, Fifth Third Corp., Kroger, Duro Bags Manufacturing, Life Touch Photography, Planned Parenthood, Shur-Good, Mallender-Barnett, Cintas Corp. and Victory Wholesales Grocers.

        Other items needed for the care packages are: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, snack packs, shopping bags, scarves, hats, tissues, toilet paper, bananas, juice boxes, oranges, Tylenol, cold medicine, multivitamins, bread, school supplies, razors, shaving cream, books, Band-Aids, Neos porin, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products and nonperishable food items.

        For more information, call 221-6728.

Art Heideman of Bellevue, Ky., thinks the world stage for helping the needy has become quite local. While Mr. Heideman appreciates and applauds the worldwide efforts to help out in disaster relief after the September attack in Washington, D.C., and New York City, he thinks that outpouring of charity has to come home now.

        “I recently spoke with representatives of Student Services/Family Resource Centers at Newport, Bellevue and Dayton junior high schools. Many families have contacted them for help for the holiday season,” he said.

        He said low income is apparent in those river cities, and unemployment has compounded the problem.

        “This may be an era of New Normalcy, but we have some old problems to take care of,” he said.

        Mr. Heideman has organized a benefit from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at Captain's Cove Restaurant, Fifth and Monmouth streets, Newport.

        All items used at the benefit will be donated and money raised will buy gifts for children of needy families.

        “The Student Services/Family Resource Centers will furnish names of those in need and we will furnish as many gifts as our funds allow,” he said.

        Mr. Heideman said if you cannot attend the benefit, you should contact a local school and gets names of children who need help.

        For more information, call (859) 291-2789.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Monday-Friday and Sundays. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements. let him know at 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at 768-8340.

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