For more than 11 years, Rape Response Services of Bangor and Dover-Foxcroft has been providing support for people in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties who have been affected either directly or indirectly by rape, incest, childhood sexual abuse or sexual harassment.

RRS is currently seeking volunteers to become Hotline Advocates.

A 45-hour training course for such volunteers is planned for 6-9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, beginning Thursday, March 22, and continuing through Thursday, May 10, at a site to be named.

Once the course has been completed, the newly trained advocates will work the 24-hour crisis hot line, make referrals and accompany victims-survivors to the hospital or court.

Topics covered during the course include rape trauma syndrome, crisis intervention, the legal system and medical issues.

Potential volunteer advocates should possess good listening skills and have an open mind.

Jennifer Pease is the client services coordinator for RRS.

She has taken the course, she said, and what she “gained from it is the fact that it is all-encompassing.”

Rather than being a program only for sexual assault victims or survivors, it is the type of course from which everyone benefits, she said.

“I learned so much about the community and what services are available,” she said.

“I got so much out of that. It’s a wonderful course for anyone to take for the knowledge” it provides.

For instance, Pease said, the course “includes things that are always handy to know such as CPR.”

Of course, RRS wants people to take the course who will use it in the hot-line program.

But, as Pease pointed out, once volunteer advocates have completed this course, they will have a much greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the variety of services their community provides those in need.

People interested in becoming RRS Hotline Advocates can call RRS at 941-2980 or e-mail rrs@mint.net for more information or to obtain an application. Applications are also available at the RRS office in Bangor.

The Eastern Agency on Aging Meals for Me program has accepted the Feinstein Foundation challenge.

Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Feinstein is offering $1 million to nonprofit anti-hunger agencies throughout the United States. He will divide that amount among agencies such as Meals for Me that are accepting the challenge to raise funds now through Monday, April 30.

Meals for Me provides more than 200,000 meals to individuals age 60 and older, who may be housebound, frail, ill or unable to cook for themselves.

Many of the meals are delivered to their homes, while others receive nourishing meals at Meals for Me dining rooms throughout Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington counties.

According to Carol Higgins of the EAA, the home delivery program and dining rooms not only provide hearty nourishment for older people, but also much-needed companionship.

Anyone who wants to help Meals for Me participate in this challenge may send donations to Meals for Me, 450 Essex St., Bangor 04401.

Checks should be made payable to Meals for Me Challenge, and they must be dated between March 1 and April 30 to be eligible for the matching program.

All donations must be received no later than May 1 to qualify for the Feinstein challenge.

For more information about this program, EAA or Meals for Me, call Higgins or Gail Ward at 941-2865 or (800) 432-7812.

Tickets are still available so you last-minute planners can still attend “March Madness at St. Agnes,” which begins at 5 p.m. March 17 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, on Dobson Street in Pittsfield.

Billed as a night of fun, food and fantastic prizes, only 250 tickets will be sold at $50 each, first-come, first-served.

However, as we said, tickets are sill available, and may be obtained by calling Laure Moody, 487-5256; Lisa Hayden, 938-3404 or St. Agnes School, 487-3899.

The event also offers cash prizes of $1,500 $1,000, $500 and $50 for five winners as well as an auction.

Among the auction items are driver education courses for April through August, donated by McLeod’s Driving; a big “Fluffy” recliner donated by Joe Garcia of BuyRite Furniture; a cedar swing donated by Joe McNichol of Pittsfield Cedar Products; 14 yards of loam from Jim Ouellette, and a satellite dish donated by friends of St. Agnes.

We have learned from Reg Bowden, president of the Orono High School Class of 1951, that his class is making plans for its 50th reunion in July but that it is still “trying to contact missing members,” he wrote.

“Our class was a small one, and the years have further thinned our ranks.”

Bowden hopes the “missing” classmates may have relatives and friends in the area who can help the reunion committee locate those they cannot.

OHS Class of ’51 would appreciate any information on Barbara Cunningham Ingraham, Francis Gilmore, Philip Goodie, Patricia King Kinkade, Robert Overlock, Richard Tibbetts, William Weiler, June Bartlett and Marian Gerrish.

If you have information on any of these OHS alumni, contact Dana Devoe at 866-4536 or e-mail him at danacdevoe@aol.com.

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

990-8288.