The Parents Empowerment Coalition, a nonprofit group in Mount Healthy, is holding its second Getting Geared Up For School picnic from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday in Burnet Woods by the Nature Center off the Jefferson Avenue entrance.

        “Our goal is to bring the youth together in a positive way,” said Ethel Whitehead, founder and president.

        The event is given to collect and give out school supplies, clothing, shoes, boots, socks and personal items to low-income families, said Barbara Purdie, a volunteer. “We will have speakers, entertainment, including gospel choirs.”

        Ms. Whitehead said everything at the event is free, but that donations are accepted to get school supplies for low-income families.

        “Leave your money at home,” she said.

        “Bring your fishing poles, lawn chairs, smiles and warm hearts. Join the fun and feel the spirit of giving.”

        She said PEC was founded 12 years ago as a nonprofit organization to assist and protect low-income parents and their children by providing support, education and training.

        For more information, call 522-9959.

        At 7 p.m. Thursday, a Back to School Jam will be held at the Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church, 9991 Wayne Ave., Woodlawn. The free event is presented by the church and the I Hear Music In the Air group.

        The Bethel AME Church, 14 South Beech St., Oxford, is giving a Welcome Back Service, 11 a.m., Sunday at the church for students returning to school.

        The Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler said the church wants to make sure the students get started on the right foot.

        “We have an exciting year planned at Bethel, and we want to remind students that, while they are enriching their lives educationally, we are here to help them reinforce the spiritual side of their young adult experiences.”

        He said the Wilberforce University Gospel Choir will perform and the church's Culinary Committee will “stir up one of its famous Soul Food Dinners, giving students a taste of home, three weeks into the semester.”

        For more information, you can call the church at 523-8560.

        SharonFest is set for 6-11 p.m. Sept. 13 and 4-11 p.m. Sept. 14 at Creek and Reading Roads, Sharonville.

        It features live stage bands, food, craft booths, split-the-pot raffles with proceeds going to nonprofit organizations, games, free rides, corn toss tournaments and the traditional “Puttin' on the Hits,” a competition that judges lip-sync talent, choreography and costumes.

        For more information, call 563-2895.

        The Live Oaks Career Development Campus Army Junior ROTC program, Milford, has been recognized by the Secretary of the Army Thomas White as one of the nation's elite Army Junior units.

        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, e-mail ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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