Aid Foster Grandparents by eating spaghetti

If you’re looking for some place different to dine Saturday evening that will warm your heart as much as your stomach, you should attend the spaghetti dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at the First Baptist Church, 56 Center St. in Bangor. The dinner benefits the Penquis Community Action Program’s Foster Grandparent Program, and it has a special added attraction.

The spaghetti will be provided and delivered by U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, complete with Momma Baldacci’s famous spaghetti sauce from his family restaurant.

Fran Reed is the statewide program manager for the CAP Foster Grandparent program. She reports that the dinner — just $4 for adults and $3 for children — will include rolls provided by Bangor Rye Bread Co., salad from Shop ‘n Save, coffee from Coffee Express and Dunkin’ Donuts, orange drink from McDonald’s and last, but certainly not least, homemade desserts from the foster grandparents.

Although 57 people are enrolled in the Foster Grandparent program statewide, more are needed and certainly welcome, Reed said.

“We’re always looking for volunteers,” she said of individuals “who must be at least 60 years of age, low income, and willing to commit 20 hours per week to volunteer their services to work with children with special needs.”

For their efforts, Reed said, foster grandparents “receive a stipend of $2.45 an hour that does not affect any other benefit and is not taxed.”

People who serve in the program “just love it” she said of those who, once they join the program, stay with it for some time.

“They go to established sites in the community such as schools, Head Start programs, day care centers or hospitals and work under direct supervision. Generally, they spend their time reading or playing games with them or just talking with them, building special relationships.”

Although tickets will be available at the door, organizers would appreciate your purchasing them in advance so they will have an idea how many to plan for.

Tickets are available at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St., Bangor, or by calling 973-3684.

Reed hopes many people will take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy this special meal. “All the money goes to the program, and we really need it.”

Donna Cleary, manager of Mr. Paperback in Dover-Foxcroft, called with the good news that all 150 angels hanging on the store’s “Angel Tree” were “adopted” by thoughtful community members.

We reported on Dec. 18 that approximately 40 angels were still on the tree. Each angel represented a needy child in the area. By “adopting” one of the angels, a deserving child would receive a gift of a book on Christmas.

“The very next day, we had people coming in saying they saw it in the paper,” Cleary said. “Before that, we were really afraid we wouldn’t be able to fill all the requests, but all the angels were gone and all the children got quality gifts.”

On behalf of the Mr. Paperback staff, Cleary thanks “everyone who took part in the tree program providing books for 150 children, Finest Kind Tree Farm in Dover-Foxcroft for providing the tree, and staff member Vicki Gervais for organizing and overseeing the project.”

Here’s a novel way to help people in a medical crisis who need to be flown to a facility for emergency treatment.

United Way of America and Delta Airlines have formed the United Way-Delta Airlines SkyWish Partnership.

Delta passengers may donate their frequent-flier miles to UWA to give free round-trip tickets to individuals who need an immediate flight to a medical facility.

The partnership promises “100 percent of the miles donated to UWA are transferred directly to those in need,” according to a UWA press release under the signature of UWA President Elaine Chao. “In addition, Delta will donate one additional mile for every five miles UWA receives from Delta passengers,” Chao stated.

Passengers may donate all or a portion of their frequent-flier miles to make a difference in someone’s life through a gift which may offer that person a new start, a second chance or a reason to hope.

For information on donating your frequent-flier miles to UWA through SkyWish, call Delta Airlines at 1-800-323-2323, UWA at 1-800-UWA-2757 Ext. 285, or your local United Way.

Ann Wiersma of the United Way of Eastern Maine confirmed the program does include frequent-flier miles logged on connecting airlines such as Business Express Delta Connection which flies out of Bangor.

The Standpipe, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.