Habitat chapter begins fund drive for next home

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Shortly before the holidays, I spoke with Steve Earl of Veazie, who is chairman of the fund-raising committee for the Bangor Area Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

For those who do not know, Habitat for Humanity “is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people reside in affordable, decent homes,” Earl said.

He also told me the organization is “currently fund raising for our next home,” and that its most recent project, built in Brewer, “is nearly ready for occupancy.”

And, he added, the next Habitat for Humanity home “will be in Brewer as well.”

Since the organization’s first six homes were in Bangor, Habitat for Humanity volunteers are pleased to be able to expand their efforts to include what will soon be two sites in Brewer.

To help fund the second Brewer Habitat home, and the eighth overall for this chapter, Habitat for Humanity is hosting a Longerburger Basket Bingo with doors opening at 11 a.m. and games beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Gilman Falls Avenue in Old Town.

“We will have bingo and door prizes,” Earl said. “The K of C will provide food for purchase, and we’ll have a basket raffle as well.”

Tickets for the event are $12 each and may be obtained at the K of C Hall “until we run out,” Earl said, “because we have a seating capacity for only 280 people.” Tickets also will be available “at the regular K of C Monday night bingo,” he added.

For this fund-raiser, Earl said Habitat for Humanity volunteers also will be seeking donations from businesses for the cost of the baskets.

“We hope that this event will help people get over the winter blahs, and that they will win some nice baskets as well,” he said.

For more information about this specific fund-raiser or about the work of Habitat for Humanity, call the Habitat for Humanity Bangor chapter at 942-8977. That number connects to an answering machine that is checked regularly by Habitat volunteers.

You also can receive information by writing to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor, Box 2276, Bangor 04402-2276.

The Volunteer Cemetery Angels of Mount Pleasant Cemetery help clean and repair headstones, plant flowers in walkways, replace the American flags, and repair and refurbish the gates to the cemetery on Ohio Street in Bangor.

On behalf of the cemetery angels, Marguerita Sullivan of Bangor invites you to support them in this work by attending a baked bean supper at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, in the Father Keegan Hall at St. John’s Catholic Church on York Street in Bangor.

The cost of the meal, prepared by members of the Knights of Columbus, is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under age 12.

The meal includes home baked beans, franks, coleslaw, beverage and dessert.

Tickets can be purchased from any member of the cemetery angels or at the door the evening of the supper.

OHI staff and volunteers are working to raise nearly $65,000 to make a dream come true: a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Based in Hermon, OHI is a nonprofit organization that helps those with disabilities live productively in their communities.

To date, OHI staff member Duane Hall reports, approximately $14,000 of the needed funds have been raised.

To help in this effort, OHI will be conducting a major door-to-door bottle drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, in Bangor and Brewer.

If you will not be home at that time but would like to help, just leave your returnable cans and bottles in a bag outside your door.

If you want to be sure you are not missed and want someone to come to your home, call OHI at 848-5804, Ext. 150.

I recently received a letter from Cathy Tilton of Corinth, writing on behalf of her brother-in-law, Mike Tilton, also of Corinth, who recently was diagnosed with spinal cancer.

In early December, Cathy Tilton wrote that “friends and family held a benefit auction” to raise money for Mike, his wife, Tammy, and daughters Whitney, 13, and 3-year-old Michaela.

With local businesses and area families donating money and auction items, and “crowds of people” packing the auction “to show their support” for the family during this difficult time, more than $20,000 was raised.

This past year has been exceptionally difficult for 36-year-old Mike Tilton, “who lost both his father and stepfather in recent months,” Cathy Tilton wrote. She said he also “spent a year in excruciating pain” before his disease finally was diagnosed.

Currently undergoing chemotherapy, Mike Tilton and his family greatly appreciate the tremendous support they have received from members of their community. They extend to each and every one of you a heartfelt “thank you.”

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