Sunday, October 13, 2002
Some Good News
Parents help daughter say no to smoking
When children start asking questions about cigarettes and drugs, that is the time to tell them to say no.
That is what Rijon and Debbie Erickson of Wyoming did with their 6-year-old daughter, Sarah.
“When she saw people smoking in restaurants, she didn't like it and started asking questions,” Mrs. Erickson said.
“We started acting out scenes where she was asked to smoke and what she should say. We would get her involved by asking her to play a role of the scene.”
Mrs. Erickson wrote a 50-word essay about their conversations that was submitted to the Take 10 Challenge, an initiative developed by Lorillard Tobacco Co.'s Youth Smoking Prevention Program in Greensboro, N.C.
She has been selected by the company as one of five Take 10 parenting All-Stars. She received $5,000 for the selection and donated it to the Neediest Kids of All. Mrs Erickson, a room parent at Vermont Private School in Wyoming which Sarah attends, said the Take 10 Challenge is a great way to let other parents know how they handled the problem.
The Books for Kids drive run by volunteers at Wood & Lamping lawyers downtown ends today.
The two-week campaign was conducted to collect 15,000 books for programs and organizations that promote literacy and parents reading to children.
Volunteers placed collection boxes at 71 locations, including Kroger stores, offices, churches, schools, fitness centers and so on. Volunteers will distribute the books.
Those muscle-bound, T-shirt clad men helping customers with their groceries at Kroger stores Monday through Nov. 1 are members of Team Hungry Man who are raising money for America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest hunger-relief charity.
The drive also includes purchases of Hungry Man frozen dinners and Swanson Great Start frozen breakfast entrees. Five cents of each of these products sold goes to America's Second Harvest.
“As a food company, we feel a responsibility to contribute to the fight against hunger in the U.S.,” said Mike Crane, vice president of sales for Pinnacle Foods, Hungry Man, Swanson and Great Start frozen products.
The goal is to donate $25,000 to America's Second Harvest.
At least one Cincinnati Bengal played on a winning team this season. Offensive lineman Willie Anderson delivered the message of Arby's Restaurant Valuable Values to youths at the Avondale Boys & Girls Club during the Arby's Charity Tour in September.
“Dream big, work hard, get it done, play fair, have fun and make a difference,” Mr. Anderson told the youths.
Along with Mr. Anderson's efforts, 124 golfers participated in a tournament last month at TPC at River's Bend, followed by a live auction.
It all amounted to $110,000 raised for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.
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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