Good Samaritan agency seeks help planting seeds

The Good Samaritan Agency, which has provided adoption and single parent services since 1902, is now housed in new facilities at 100 Ridgewood Drive in the Oak Ridge development off Stillwater Avenue in Bangor. The agency’s move presents an opportunity to beautify the grounds that surround it, while planting ideas that will help those it serves become more nurturing adults.

Ellen Port of Bangor is chairwoman of the Good Samaritan garden committee.

Reflecting the theme that “with a garden there is hope,” Port said “because gardens are a metaphor for life, we are looking to establish the principles of nurturing through this program. It’s not just for aesthetics.”

And since Good Sam offers girls an opportunity to obtain an accredited high school diploma, “we will use the garden for high school science activities,” Port said. She said the committee is looking at “the broader principles of why people garden, the spiritual part of gardening,” Port said. “Beautification is a minor part of the mission. The focus is nature and nurturing. There is much to be learned, therapeutically,” she added. “All the girls come with their own life story, and there is much spiritual growth to be gained,” she said.

Port said the committee would like to get some seedlings, with an emphasis on perennials, planted soon. “We’re hoping to plant in the spring and have it ready for graduation the first weeks of June.”

Near the outdoor play area for children in the day care program, the committee plans a Children’s Garden “that would include fun things like sunflowers,” she added.

And while the garden committee has laid the groundwork for this project, they could use some volunteer help completing it. The committee is seeking donations of plant stock, labor and gardening equipment. However, financial donations would be equally appreciated to help cover the costs of plants and work.

The facility will maintain a Memory Book on site, so those who wish may make a contribution in someone’s memory, or to honor a birthday or anniversary.

To assist with costs associated with the project, the garden committee is selling blank notecards designed by artist Jan Owen of Bangor, featuring yellow crocuses coming up through the snow. The cards are $5 each or five for $15.

Those interested in assisting with this project may call the Good Samaritan Agency at 942-7211.

With income tax time just around the corner, people are apt to be searching for ways to improve their tax situation.

Goodwill Industries of Northern New England has a suggestion that will benefit taxpayers and those needing a helping hand as well. Goodwill’s “Good Wheels” program seeks vehicles requiring a minimum of repairs to put them into service. Rather than trading in a used vehicle, it can be donated to Goodwill for a tax deduction.

That donated vehicle will help some person on welfare become more independent through the employment opportunity that your donated car will take them to.

Toby Hogan of the Goodwill office in Bangor said that when a person calls in with a car for the program, “we go out and take a look at it, have it towed to a local garage, and then have a loan for the amount of the repairs.” The person designated to receive the car obtains the loan, he said. The program works through the state’s Department of Human Services. He said that to be referred, people must be participants in the Aspire Program.

To learn more about the program, call Goodwill in Bangor at 945-4963, Augusta at 626-0170, Lewiston at 777-7472 and Portland at 774-6323.

On behalf of the Penobscot Area Special Olympics, Carol Ryan of Dedham offers thanks to the Drake-McKenney-Gordon AMVET Post No. 1993 of Burlington for its generous donation of $1,000. The donation will help send Caitlyn Gunn of Hampden and Molly Berry of Orono to the Special Olympics World Games in Anchorage, Alaska.

Ryan said Caitlyn and Molly would also like to thank Special Olympics of Maine, local and Team USA coaches, the Orono School District staff and students, the Hampden School District, especially the staff and students of Hampden Academy and Reed’s Brook Middle School, Hampden Redemption Center, Tomcat’s Redemption and the Orono Women’s Club.

Writing on behalf of Community Health and Counseling Services in Bangor, Ann Wiersma extends thanks “to some very wonderful Valentines who helped to make the holiday season special” for the children and adult clients it serves.

Through the generous donations of community members, CHCS staff, family and friends, “225 adults and children had a brighter holiday season,” she wrote of contributions that represented “a 158 percent increase over last year.”

Several local businesses, organizations, professional and fraternal clubs and collegiate sports teams made contributions to CHCS during the holidays, for which Wiersma offers “our heartfelt thanks.”

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