The 185-member group is collecting gifts for children at Millvale Elementary School on Dec. 19 and in the Winton Place community on Dec. 20.

"We are getting a lot of help," said Smith, a sergeant-at-arms for the association. Sponsors include the Anthony Munoz Foundation, Rags Clotheswear, Sonny's Lounge, A&A Safety, Sigma Gamma Ro, T-Mobile, African American Chamber of Commerce, State Farm Insurance, The Sentinels Police Association, K& D Realtors, Don Pablo's, Gold Star Chili and several Bengals players.

Smith said they hope to have all their members present to go door to door in Winton Place to pass out the toys

To help, call 731-1365 or 807-0323.

Toy drive

Matt McCann may be the size of an elf, but he has a Santa-Claus-sized heart.

The 9-year-old fourth-grader at Mason Intermediate school started his own drive to collect toys for needy families. He started soliciting and sending out letters a month ago to his peers at the school to collect toys for the East End Outreach, Price Hill Mission Center and the Drop Inn Center in Over-the-Rhine.

To date, Matt and his mom, Kathy McCann, have collected about 1,000 toys.

"We drove three vanloads of toys down to the East End last Friday," she said.

Donations to soldiers

If she can get the money, Jenny Jeffery would like to ship a load of donated items to soldiers in Iraq.

She and her daughter, Erin of Harrison, are conducting fund drives to raise $9,000 to ship the merchandise.

"We have been able to get them as far as the National Guard Armory in Cleveland," Jeffery said. "We were also able to ship about $3,000 worth of items, but we have a lots left."

She said items to be shipped to Iraqi people can be shipped free, but anything going to U.S. soldiers cannot be delivered free.

"We have piles of stuff; 2,000 Bibles, a thousand or so letters, DVDs, CDs, six acoustic guitars, stands, 32 board games, popcorn, all kinds of balls for just about every game," Jeffery said.

To help, call her cell phone at 375-9146, or home phone at 367-2399.

New Eagle scouts: Kreiner built compost bins

Joel Kreiner of Troop 24, sponsored by St. James Church of White Oak, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout - the highest in the Boy Scouts of America. For his Eagle service project, he was involved in the construction of compost bins and the removal of non-native plants from Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve. He coordinated with the Hamilton County Park District and secured project volunteers and supplies.

The La Salle High School graduate is a freshman education major at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. He is the son of Seretha and Kevin Kreiner of Groesbeck.

Simowitz labeled plants

Kevin Simowitz of Troop 803, sponsored by Brecon United Methodist Church, received the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in September. For his service project, he and his crew labeled trees and plants. They also built and installed bird and butterfly houses in the ABC Garden at the Lakota Early Childhood Center.

The Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy senior is the son of Pat and Steve Simowitz of West Chester Township.

Carpenter fixed backstop

Mike Carpenter of Troop 682, sponsored by St. Vivian Church in Finneytown, has earned the Boy Scouts of America's Eagle Scout rank. For his community service project, he and his crew replaced bent poles and fencing for the baseball backstop and installed new benches at St. Vivian's school playground.

The Roger Bacon High School graduate is attending the University of Cincinnati. He is the son of Mary and Robert Carpenter of Colerain Township.

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To submit an item, please call 755-4165.