St. Thomas School in Fort Thomas, Ky., is observing Lent by participating in several of the seven corporal works of mercy.

        Kindergartners, first-graders and second-graders will work on “Feed the hungry and give drinks to the thirsty.” They will collect food and drinks to be given to the poor.

        Grades 3, 4 and 5 will work on “Clothe those who need clothes and shelter the homeless.” They will collect new and gently used clothing for the poor.

        Grades 6, 7 and 8 will work on: “Visit prisoners and bury the dead.”

        They will collect items for a prison.

        Last week the students learned about jail-house ministry from Nancy Brewer and Char Fieger.

        One of the largest supermarket chains made one of the largest retail donations in the nation last year.

        The Kroger Co. donated 25 million pounds of food and other products to food banks affiliated with America's Second Harvest.

        That included 2.5 million pounds of food to local food banks.

        The donation was valued at $38 million, the largest in Kroger history. Kroger's retail divisions work with more than 40 regional food banks around the country that are affiliated with Second Harvest.

        Because of Kroger's support, America's Second Harvest was able to provide emergency food assistance to more than 23 million Americans last year, including 9 million children and more than 2 million seniors.

        “Our retail divisions and associates are working harder than ever to support their local food banks,” said Joseph A. Pichler, Kroger chairman and CEO.

        Brushes with Greatness, a celebrity art auction gala, will start at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at the Westin Hotel. The event is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association's Southwest Ohio Chapter.

        Honorary co-chairs of the gala are Nick and Nina Clooney.

        Carl J. Samson — an acclaimed portrait, landscape and figurative painter — is serving as the signature artist of the gala. Regina Carswell of WXIX-TV news is the mistress of ceremonies.

        The Brushes With Greatness Gala matches Cincinnati artists with local celebrities to create a watercolor, oil painting, mixed-media or sculpture. The works are auctioned at the Gala Dinner along with a donated work of art by each artist.

        Money raised at the gala and auction will benefit diabetes research, day and residential youth camp, and diabetes health education and public awareness.

       Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. Contact him at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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