The 80 third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in the Kids Who Care program at Indian Hill Elementary School had an active year in the school's service project, even doing chores to raise money for kids in Afghanistan.

"We urged them to do odd jobs and chores to earn money for some of their various projects," said Ellen Nuckols, a third-grade teacher. "We thought that teaching them to earn the money rather than begging it from their parents would teach them more responsibility."

She said the children were involved in other service projects, such as sending love boxes to the kids at Bethany House, organizing a food drive for needy families at Thanksgiving, collecting and sending school supplies and toiletries to shelter houses, making Easter baskets, and raising money for catastrophes such as floods and fires.

Other teachers involved included Dianne McDaniel and Pam Taylor, both fourth-grade teachers; Steve Seeger, a third-grade teacher; Lani Honesty, a fifth-grade teacher, and Judy Lytle, a teacher's aide in the fourth grade.

The Kids Who Care group closed out this year by playing Santa Claus to children at Friars Homeless Shelter for families and for adolescent youth at Friars Children Residential Center.

The fifth-grade class did most of the work on that project.

In case you are looking for a New Year's resolution, Jeff Lueders has a suggestion.

Mr. Lueders is communication manager for LifeCenter, a Tristate nonprofit organ recovery organization.

His suggestion is that you resolve to become an organ and tissue donor.

"More people are beginning to talk about it," Mr. Lueders said. "Living donations are increasing, also. We have approximately 270 people in the Tristate waiting for organ transplants."

Mr. Lueders said about 20 people died this year while waiting for a donor. The same number died last year and 30 died in the year 2000 while waiting for a donor.

While the number is going down, it is still critical, Mr. Lueders said.

"There were about 200 transplants here last year with all types of organs," he said.

He said in Ohio there are about 2,500 people waiting for organ donors. In Kentucky, there are 550 on the waiting list, and there are 700 in Indiana.

Mr. Lueders suggests calling LifeCenter at 558-5555 or (800) 981-LIFE (5433).

Looking for a family outing after the holidays?

The last chance to catch the free Museum within a Museum Family First Saturday is from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 4 at 316 Pike St.

It is a collection of song, dance and puppetry, and you can create your own miniature collection to take home.

The Family First Saturdays are sponsored by Procter & Gamble.

It will close on Jan. 12 and reopen the summer of 2003.

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.