Children ages 6-14, here is your chance to win a trip to Los Angeles, meet and work on a community project with the staff of the Disney Channel's most popular show, Lizzie McGuire, win $1,000 for an organization and help someone through volunteering.

        This week, Disney Adventures Magazine is announcing its All-Stars Program, a nationwide contest that focuses on recognizing children who do volunteer work.

        Children may participate by volunteering for an existing organization or start their own project.

        Projects may include working at an animal shelter, a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter, taking part in a park or beach cleanup or starting a school litter patrol. Other ideas: collecting books for a shelter where homeless children live, taking part in a read-a-thon, and reading to younger kids, visiting senior citizens in a nursing home, or planting a tree in your neighborhood.

        The deadline to enter the contest, conduct the volunteer project and submit a 200- 300-word essay describing the effort is Oct. 1.

        “There are any number of projects they can do,” said Debra Saal, public-relations officer for Shepley, Winings and Hober in Studio City, Calif.

        “The good thing about this contest is that it is a summer project, when kids have plenty of time to work on it,' she said.

        Contest officials have set up a step-by-step calendar that might be helpful. This month, kids should talk with friends, family and teachers about projects. They should decide on a project in May and spend the month of June working on it. In August, the project should be finished so a story can be written about it.

        September should be spent sharing the story with parents, friends and teachers, and asking for suggestions.

        In October, the story should be sent to Disney Adventures All-Stars Program, 114 5th Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10011.

        How about a food drive on wheels at an auto-body shop to help gather food for the FreeStore/FoodBank?

        Colerain Auto Body, 3035 Banning Road, Groesbeck, is conducting such a drive during a car show from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the shop.

        Barrels will be placed in front of the business, where food can be dropped off.

        “We come in contact with lots of younger age groups with custom cars and many car clubs,” said Jim Bronnert, a painter at the shop. “After listening to lots of talk, we want to give them something positive to do. This is a neat way to show people how they can work together with all different races and different ethnic groups.”

        There will be several hundred cars on display for viewing and lots of conversation, Mr. Bronnert said.

        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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