Two years ago, when Brewer city employees, under the leadership of Economic Development Director Drew Sachs, launched their first holiday food drive to help those in need in their community, 250 items were collected.

Last year, pupils at Brewer Middle School joined the city employees in their project, and the result was one that far surpassed the goal set by Sachs.

Hoping to collect at least 400 items to donate to the Brewer Food Cupboard at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, the BMS pupils helped to push the total to 1,200 items.

With the food drive now in its third year, Sachs is encouraging all Brewer residents to participate in the annual event, and is hoping the total number of items collected will surpass what was accomplished last year.

“Things are going pretty well,” Sachs said last week, “and we are actually going to be able to provide food not only to the Brewer Food Cupboard but also to the Brewer Community Service Council, which will use the food to make up Christmas baskets for those in need.”

At this point, contributions have nearly reached last year’s mark, Sachs said, and $120 in financial contributions also have been collected.

“We are really encouraging people to participate in this project,” Sachs said. “We want everyone to know this is not just a city staff thing.”

Rather, it is a project in which all community members can freely take part and graciously help their neighbors in need this holiday season.

Food bins have been set up outside the economic development office in City Hall, where donations can be left from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 21, which is the final collection date, Sachs said.

Brewer City Hall is located at 80 North Main St.

Any nonperishable food items are acceptable, but if you would rather donate funds you can do so by sending a check made out to City of Brewer, with a “Holiday Food Drive” notation at the bottom of the check, and mail it to Brewer Food Drive, c/o Brewer City Hall, 80 No. Main St., Brewer 04412.

Although the “Light A Life” Christmas tree outside Down East Community Hospital in Machias already has been lit in honor of the season, it still is not too late for you to purchase a light for that tree to honor someone you know or to remember a loved one.

The lights may be purchased for $5 each. The person’s name and your name will then be included on the indoor tree at the hospital.

Donations may be mailed to Down East Community Hospital, RR1 Box 11, Machias 04654, or dropped off at the reception desk at the hospital on Upper Court Street, where forms are available to indicate those you wish to honor or remember.

The “Light A Life” campaign continues through the end of December.

For information or to discuss other methods of giving to Down East Community Hospital, write to Mary Jo Gripp at the above address or call her at 255-3356.

Manna Inc. of Bangor hopes to help entire families as well as individuals with Christmas gifts this year, which is why you are asked to visit Manna at 180 Center St. in Bangor and offer to adopt either one person or a whole family that may include the elderly, adults, teens and children.

If you are unable to do that much, you might want to drop off individual gifts that can be distributed to those in need.

Among the items that are appropriate are large and extra-large sweat pants and shirts, Walkman cassette players, gloves, inexpensive watches, pots and pans, large and extra-large nightgowns and socks.

Manna plans to distribute all the gifts on Christmas Day during its annual holiday party.

If you would prefer, Manna would gladly accept a financial contribution to help the needy have a happier holiday.

Manna is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

On behalf of Bill Rae and his staff, thanks are extended to everyone who helped Manna feed more than 10,000 people in eastern and northern Maine on Thanksgiving with the 3,300 turkeys donated for Manna for distribution.

Under the direction of committee chairwoman Ann Belanger, the Northern Maine Medical Center 50th anniversary cookbook has become a reality and is now available for purchase.

People throughout Aroostook County’s St. John Valley contributed recipes, many volunteers worked as proofreaders for the project, and area businesses lent their advertising support to the effort.

Belanger and her committee members are very proud of the cookbook, especially since its largest section is filled with “heart-healthy” recipes as well as diabetic recipes, many supplied by patients of the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program.

The price of the cookbook is $10, and it may be purchased at the NMMC switchboard, 194 East Main St., Fort Kent.

The book also is available at any NMMC location, including Forest Hill Manor and NMMC Therapy Services in Fort Kent, the Madawaska Outpatient Center, Acadia Family Health Center in Madawaska, the Long Lake Regional Health Center in St. Agatha and the St. Francis Health Center.

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