Her friend, Lorna Wall, said Comarata does so many deeds that she must have wings.

Comarata doesn't have wings, but she spreads joy by giving of herself and bringing together a seventh-grade class at St. James School to gather items, make Christmas ornaments, plant flowers and rake a garden for the Lady of the Wood, a retirement home.

"I started this three years ago because I thought St. James should have a volunteer program,'' said Comarata, a teacher at the White Oak Garden Center.

"I want to create in them the importance of giving back. They need to know how lucky they are and that it is not only important to learn about religion, but how to apply it.''

Comarata and her seventh-graders have collected items, such as chili, Kool-Aid, snacks and an artificial Christmas tree and sent them to soldiers in Iraq.

"I just received a call from one of the soldiers, Todd Roberts, who said they had received the Christmas tree and had put it up,'' Comarata.

Comarata's volunteer effort has become a family project, involving her son Curt, 12, and daughter Lissa, 15. Her husband, Jim, also helps out sometimes.

"We just took car loads of stuff to St. Joseph Orphanage," Comarata said.

Comedy and charity

Lisa Gopman, a comedienne, hugged her boyfriend so hard she broke his ribs.

That is a sample of the kind of jokes the 26-year-old former Montgomery resident tells.

Gopman appeared briefly on Comedy Central a week ago.

"The sad part about that joke is that it is true,"' Gopman said from her Los Angeles home. "I wish it had not been, but it happened."

Her boyfriend, Matthew Collins, 31, has healed, and Gopman promises not to hug him that hard anymore.

Gopman spends her time between making appearances as a comedienne, writing, acting and raising money for charities.

Gopman is a 1995 graduate of Sycamore High School. She studied theater and graduated from University of Southern California in 1999.

"I use to write for the 28th Street, a national college magazine, until it folded. Most of my writing was comical, and I guess that is how I got started,'' she said.

Gopman is the daughter of Arnie Gopman of Montgomery.

Tip of the hat

Fourth- and fifth-graders at Seven Hills Doherty School made and distributed 150 multicolored hats for people served by Open Door Ministry, the YWCA's Battered Women Shelter, Madisonville Educational Assistance Center, the Caring Place, The Baby's Milk Fund and Hamilton County Family Services.

Volunteers: Shopping spree for families

About 150 volunteers - including a 4-year-old Villa Hills, Ky., girl - brightened the holiday spirits of 900 families with a shopping spree Dec. 12-16.

It took place at Be Concerned Inc., a thrift store at 714 Washington St., Covington.

"They left with turkeys, toys, gifts, clothing and household items," said Kim Francis, assistant director of Be Concerned. "It has been a tough year, but through the help of so many people - churches, schools and organizations, businesses - we have been able to serve our customers as usual. Families who qualify can get the items they need here for a small contribution. We have been doing this for 35 years."

A touch was added by Madeline Deye, who started a tradition last year at age three of collecting toys and gifts at her birthday to donate to Be Concerned Inc.

"Be Concerned has grown to a full store since 1968. We not only help out at Christmas time, but we serve about 300 families daily."

For more information about Be Concerned Inc., call 859-291-1340