It’s approaching that time of the year when I’m going to need the list of little ones who have been burdened by medical problems of a chronic, critical or maybe even end-of-life nature, or those with parents serving in the military in harm’s way. Kids who can benefit from a rip-roaring good time, a pleasure-filled escape.They’re needed to fill two cars on the Polar Express, the much-coveted holiday train to the North Pole, leaving Dec. 9 to see Santa and the elves. This is such a fun and laid-back experience that they’re even encouraged to wear their pajamas.The tickets come courtesy of Tom Dye, retired sergeant with the Akron Police Department, who continues to engineer this very special community outreach. Dye secures the donors who cheerfully fork over the money to make this happen at no cost to the parents or guardians.Join me, please, in thanking the donors: Akron Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 7, Akron FOP Auxiliary 1, Police and Firemen’s Insurance Association, D&G Uniforms, SACS Consulting & Investigative Services Inc. and Akron FOP Associates No. 6. To qualify for this special ride, I need a letter (not a long one) telling me why your little one should be considered: health history, doctor’s name, child’s age, city of residence, parents’ names and ages of other siblings under 9 you would like to ride along; similar information for the child of a military parent. Please include your telephone number.Mail no later than Nov. 10 to: Jewell Cardwell, Polar Express, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, 44309. No emails, please.Lots of other neat gifts will go with this, thanks to a small army of volunteers like Janet Shively and her crew who donate colorful fleece blankets, hats and mittens. New this year will be soft-sculpture “Giving Dolls” from Jan Householder and her group.So, get those letters to me without delay. Volunteers clean upBig, beautiful bouquets to employees of Neurology & Neuroscience Associates (NNA) at White Pond Drive, Akron, who will descend on the west Akron home of 54-year-old Betty Jackson, who has multiple sclerosis, to help with home repairs. Dr. Eugenio Peluso is NNA staff neurologist.“They will be volunteering in ‘What a Difference a Day Makes’ to help clean carpet, paint the kitchen, stain the deck and perform general cleaning, especially with plant debris outside the home,” Guyla Wehman, spokeswoman for the National MS Society, Ohio Buckeye Chapter, wrote.“This will be a huge help for Betty who was diagnosed with MS in 1990 and is currently recovering from a broken leg due to a fall.”Anyone interested in helping purchase paint and supplies should call Greg Kovach, director of outreach services, at greg.kovach@nmss.org.Help after fireA benevolent fund has been set up to assist a Kenmore High School student. “Her name is Shanae Bingham and she is a senior. On Oct. 18, fire destroyed the home where Shanae, 17, and her grandmother Lenora Woodard, 69, lived,” teacher Vicky Poulsen wrote.“Her grandmother is still recovering in the hospital from high blood pressure which escalated because of the event … They lost all of their belongings. Currently Shanae is living with her mother and aunt in Akron but still needs clothes, shoes and other personal items that were destroyed.”According to Poulsen, Shanae is one of the school’s Senior Leaders, hand-picked to provide mentoring services assistance in the school district and in the Kenmore community. She also plays volleyball, runs track and is on the bowling team, Student Council, Key Club and Respect.The school choir, journalism staff and volleyball team have pitched in to help collect donations.Poulsen will manage the Shanae Bingham Benevolent Fund at FirstMerit Bank (any branch).Kenmore physical education teacher and girls basketball coach Yontami Jones said when she asked Shanae if there was anything she needed, she responded this way: “Pray for my Grandma.”“I think that really says a lot about the kind of person she is,” Jones said.Code BluesDrum roll, please!The winner of United Way of Summit County’s eighth annual “Docs Who Rock” physician talent show was Code Blues, a 13-member band showcasing the talents of four doctors and two medical students. The event — which starred retired Akron cardiologist Dr. Terry Gordon as master of ceremonies, playing all five members of the Village People and Lady Gaga — drew an audience of more than 1,000 at E.J. Thomas Hall.Members of Code Blues were Drs. Debbie Plate, Paul LeCat, Colleen Calvey and Eric Panzner, medical students Jay Grandhi and Zaid Khatib, along with David Arnott, Nate Arnott, Wade Branard, Bob Collins, Ryan Collins, Justin McCutcheon and Billy Smith. They won out over 10 other bands performing an eclectic mix of music, including R&B, big band, rock and classical. At least one physician had to be part of each group.Second- and third-place finishers respectively were CCC Cafe Band with Dr. Richard Brower and Sound Advice with Dr. Tim Newman. To purchase a DVD of this year’s production for $17, please call United Way at 330-643-5502. Art auctionA benefit art auction, hosted by Hazel Tree Interiors, is planned for 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at 143 W. Market St., Akron, to help with the mounting costs of the legal battle to help Sara bring Abdullah Eli Kiraz back home to Akron.Sara has been battling in Ohio and Turkish courts for the return of her only child who was taken to Turkey on March 4, 2010, by her ex-husband and the boy’s father and never returned. The fundraiser will feature an auction of works by local artists in various media — painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography and fiber; live music by Mike Lenz and Fast Molasses and guest performers; raffles and split-the-pot ticket sales. Drinks and appetizers are included in the $20 admission price.Benefit at tattoo shopKudos to Niki Merchant, a body piercer at Akron’s Empire Ink Tattoos & Gallery, who is hosting a benefit from noon to 11 p.m. Nov, 12, to help fellow tattoo artist Curt Webb of Canton, whose 30-year-old wife Tiffany died Oct. 24 of a brain aneurysm. The couple has three children.“We are holding raffles, taking donations and the artists are donating percentages of their wages to the family,” Merchant said.“Also on this day, we are accepting nonperishable food items for Haven of Rest Ministries in time for Thanksgiving.Live music, henna body painting, tattoos, piercings and more are on the menu. The shop is at 335 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave.Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com