The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Cincinnati can expand its services to the needy in the West End through a $25,000 grant from the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust.

        “When you don't have food for your children or must choose between buying medication or paying the rent, the willingness of others to come to your aid can make an enormous difference in a thousand small ways,” said Mark Casella, chairman of St. Vincent de Paul's board.

        He said the money will help with utilities, rent, food, clothing and household items.

        The money will become part of the agency's $1.4 million emergency assistance package for 2002 which is also used to train volunteers for the agency and to create volunteer groups in neighborhoods not yet served by the agency.

        “The social service department of St. Vincent de Paul served about 4,914 persons in need of assistance in the West End last year,'' said Ann Keeling, a public relations consultant for the agency.

        The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been helping poor and needy residents of Cincinnati and Hamilton County for more than 130 years.

        The agency's programs also include the Bank Street Food Pantry, Operation Bootstrap job readiness program, thrift stores providing low-cost and free goods.

        Lawra J. Baumann, vice president Foundation Office, Fifth Third Bank, said the agency epitomizes the philanthropic philosophy of Jacob G. Schmidlapp.

        “He was influenced by the philosophy that the duty of a person of wealth is to consider oneself as trustee of funds and to use them to produce the most beneficial results for the community,” Ms. Baumann said.

        Thirteen students from Bethel-Tate Middle School's Quest Class spent three hours at the William H. Harsha Lake last week, planting more than 200 seedling sweetgum trees and spice bush plants, donated by the National Tree Trust and International Paper of Virginia.

        Mike Arnold of the Boar's Head Bait and Carryout provided a picnic lunch for students and several park volunteers.

        Former first lady Barbara Bush will be the guest speaker at 7 p.m. May 1 at the Hyatt Regency for the first-ever Bethesda Lyceum fund raiser. Proceeds will benefit the Bethesda North Center for Breast Cancer.

        Mrs. Bush is expected to arrive in Cincinnati that afternoon. She will attend a private reception at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt. She will answer questions from the audience after her speech.

        The Bethesda North Center for Breast Cancer was established in 1997 and has served 110,000 women with breast cancer in Greater Cincinnati.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.
       

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