Dexter credit union collecting food for hungry

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This morning, we salute the hard-working staff of Dexter Regional Federal Credit Union for its continually outstanding effort in helping feed the hungry who live in our state.

DRFCU is a major participant in the annual statewide Ending Hunger in Maine campaign, and, for two straight years, the credit union has placed first in the amount of money raised for that campaign.

Now, for the first time, DRFCU will participate in Make-A-Difference Day, a national voluntary campaign to help the less fortunate, which is sponsored by USA Weekend magazine, the supplement appearing in Maine Weekend editions of the Bangor Daily News.

Rhonda Taylor of the credit union is understandably proud of the volunteer commitment made by people in her area who have helped make that organization a statewide leader in the Ending Hunger campaign. People of that region, she rightly pointed out, are no strangers to making it through difficult times themselves.

In keeping with that commitment to help eliminate the hunger of the needy who live among us, DRFCU is working to collect 2,000 pounds of nonperishable food items to be distributed to food pantries in the Dexter area on Make-A-Difference Day.

This project, Taylor believes, is a natural extension of the work already being done by people who support the credit union’s other efforts to help those in need.

To participate in this latest project, you can leave nonperishable food items at any DRFCU office, or any area business where you find its Make-A-Difference Day collection boxes. Items can also be brought to any of the DRFCU offices between 8 and 10 a.m. on Make-A-Difference Day, Saturday, Oct. 23.

At that time, credit union personnel will total the food collected and distribute your donations to local households.

While the food collecting is a going a bit slowly right now, Taylor is hoping it will pick up considerably in the next few days.

“I’m sure a lot of people are waiting to bring it in on that day,” she said. “And we also have people who will be collecting food from family and friends and bringing it in at that time.”

We hope this particular campaign meets or exceeds its 2,000-pound goal. It certainly is a commendable effort, and well worth your participation.

If you have questions or want to offer help with this project, call the DRFCU at 924-5544 or 800-806-6920 and ask for Rhonda Taylor.

We spoke this week with Sue Perkins of the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter in Bangor, who told us the “last call” for nominations for the organization’s Real Heroes Awards is Saturday, Oct. 16.

The third annual Pine Tree Chapter/ABC 7 Real Heroes Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 17, at the Bangor Civic Center.

The purpose of the Real Heroes Awards is to celebrate and honor eastern Maine residents who have demonstrated courage, kindness and unselfish character by an act of heroism.

Awards are offered in eight categories: fire, law enforcement, medicine, adult good Samaritan, youth good Samaritan, military, education and animal rescue.

The winners will be selected by community leaders serving as members of the Heroes Advisory Committee.

Nominations for these awards can be made by writing the Pine Tree Chapter, 33 Mildred Ave., Bangor 04401; or by calling the chapter at 941-2903.

The public is invited to attend a Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, in the multipurpose room of the Maine Veterans Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor.

Activities supervisor Forrest Wheelock informs us that “numerous vendors will be participating,” and that “10 percent of the proceeds wil be donated to the Residents Council.”

Those donations are used to purchase specialty items for the residents, and help support MVH programs of community involvement such as its Bangor High School Junior ROTC Scholarship.

Vital Pathways Trails Committee, a nonprofit organization working to improve the health and well-being of people in southern Aroostook County, is also getting into the spirit of national Make-A-Difference Day later this month.

Vital Pathways Trails Committee will conduct its first Make-A-Difference Day activity from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23., in downtown Houlton.

At that time, committee members and community volunteers will be out, in force, working to clean up the banks of the Meduxnekeag River.

Vital Pathways Trails Committee was founded in 1997 to promote the development of trails for walking, biking, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, as well as canoeing opportunities.

If you can help clean up the banks of the Meduxnekeag River on Make-A-Difference Day, or if you are interested in learning more about the work of the Vital Pathways Trails Committee, you are welcome to call Jessica Schaub at 532-3071.

Rape Response Services of Bangor has presented this year’s Janet Badger Volunteer Award to Kristan Rancourt of Hermon.

During her five years as a RRS Hotline volunteer, Rancourt has provided a total of 3,876 hours of telephone coverage for the organization.

If that volunteer work were valued at a conservative $6.75 per hour, RRS executive director Kathy Walker pointed out, “it would represent a donation of more than $26,000 to the agency.”

RRS relies heavily on its volunteers. Staff and supporters are especially thankful, Walker pointed out, that Rancourt plans to continue her volunteer commitment to the agency despite her schedule of full-time employment and family activities.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.