The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Adopt-A-Family program needs 125 sponsors by Tuesday

Sponsors will be matched with a family in need to provide holiday packages, said Liz Carter, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul.

"People in extreme circumstances come to us during the holiday season because they would not be able to provide gifts for their families otherwise," Ms. Carter said.

"Our sponsors are often humbled by what they see on wish lists from families-in-need, since they typically include items that most of us take for granted, like new socks or a new skillet. It is an extremely rewarding experience to be able to provide so much to those who have so little."

To participate, call LaMonica Sherman at 562-8841, ext. 27.

The John Morrell Co. will match up to $15,000 in cash and gifts to be used for families in need.

Last year, 100 families were served downtown by the program. Also, volunteers, working through their parishes, provided holiday packages to 1,500 neighborhood families.

Children in Third World countries will receive 65 boxes of miscellaneous items, such as books, small toys, combs, brushes and much more from the White Oak Middle School Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The boxes were prepared for the Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child, a nonprofit organization led by Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham.

Students in grades 1-6 at Wildwood Elementary School in Middletown raised $843 in a "Penny Power" drive conducted by the student council. The money will be used to buy groceries for the needy during the holidays.

The public is invited to bring any new, unwrapped toys to the Michael & Co. Salon, 431 Ohio Pike, Cherry Grove, noon to 8 p.m. today.

The toys will benefit the Children's Home of Cincinnati, 5050 Madison Road, Madisonville.

Sixth-graders at Cincinnati Country Day School collected $4,188 recently from the public during a five-mile walk-a-thon to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Two Cincinnati Bengals joined students in the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati's Youth Empowerment and Career Advancement Program (YECAP) to fight hunger.

Wide receiver Ron Dugans and middle linebacker Dwayne Levels helped collect canned goods from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Urban League's office.

Incoming freshmen at Roger Bacon High School will be tested Friday to determine winners of 10 $20,000 scholarships and four $10,000 scholarships. Winners will be placed in the Class of 2007 in academic programs best suited for them.

Information, call 641-1300.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News" column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about 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.