Stitch by stitch, inch by inch, foot by foot and yard by yard, members of the Bangor Area Chapter of the American Sewing Guild are doing what they can to help people in their community live more comfortable and happier lives.

Whether it is the actual sewing of needed items, or purchasing materials to make them, through a variety of ways, guild members do their part for the collective good.

Their community efforts were brought to my attention recently in a letter written by Barbara Lawson, director of nursing at the Elizabeth Levinson Center in Bangor, a state-operated intermediate care facility for children with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Levinson wrote “to publicly thank” members of the local sewing guild “for their hard work and generous donations to the children” at the center.

Last fall, Lawson received a call from Kathy Childs, co-chairman of the guild’s education committee, with an offer “to sew a few articles for the children,” Lawson explained.

What they delivered “were wonderful,” Lawson wrote of things such as bibs, positioning pillows, pillowcases and other items for the children.

“The colors of the fabrics were brilliant,” she added, remarking that the quality of the sewing was “top-notch.”

Lawson appreciates the generosity of the group, which she described as “heartwarming. And, best of all, they will continue to make donations to us and other groups in the community, as needs arise.”

Guild member Norma Binan explained that “everybody does something” in helping to make these contributions to the community.

“I have been so impressed with the generous, caring attitude of the Sewing Guild that I wanted to share the news with our local community,” Lawson wrote.

“The group continues to sew on a regular basis, welcoming new challenges from the community.

“On behalf of the children and staff at the Elizabeth Levinson Center, our deepest appreciation goes out to the Sewing Guild.”

Is there any child who would not love the opportunity to attend summer camp?

I think not, which is why it is so great that the American Cancer Society, Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, the Bangor Ronald McDonald House and the Bangor YMCA’s Camp Jordan cooperate to offer a weeklong camping experience to children with cancer.

Now in its 15th year, this program is offered free to children from age 4 through high school (including 2002 graduates), thanks to the contribution of the many friends and donors of ACS.

Camp Rainbow is for children and young people who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their siblings. At the Camp Jordan facility on Branch Lake in Ellsworth, they can participate in traditional camp activities, meet others affected by cancer, have the opportunity to boost their self-esteem and confidence, develop supportive relationships and have lots of fun.

Young people now in treatment and those up to 10 years post-treatment are eligible to attend.

Children ages 4-6 may attend with a parent or guardian, and those 7 or older may attend alone, as long as each child has the approval of the medical director.

And while Maine children are given preference, out-of-state youngsters are also encouraged to apply.

Care, including treatment and tests, is available on-site.

For more information, or an application, call Cheryl Tucker at the ACS (800) 464-3102, Ext. 3709.

Nominations for two recipients of the 2002 William Stringfellow Award of Peace and Justice are available from the office of the Bates College chaplain.

The award honors the legacy of Stringfellow, the late lawyer and lay theologian who was prominent in the American peace movement.

Nominations can be submitted for a current student of the college or a resident of the state of Maine.

Award winners are distinguished by their courageous and sustained commitment to redressing the systemic, root causes of violence and social injustice, and by their dedication to engaging and opposing “the powers and principalities” of this world, according to information supplied by the chaplain’s office.

Letters of nomination are due by Monday, March 4, and can be sent to the Office of the College Chaplain, 161 Wood St., Lewiston 04240.

The award will be presented in May, and the event will feature the Rev. Daniel Berrigan, who was a close friend of Stringfellow’s.

One of the newest stamps available through the U.S. Postal Service is its “Mentoring a Child” stamp.

This week, Bangor postmaster Steve Hathaway presented a poster of the new stamp to representatives of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Downeast.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters oversees mentoring relationships between older and younger students as well as between adults and children.

The stamp is designed to raise public awareness about the importance of mentoring and the positive influence it has upon the lives of those the program serves.

For more information about Big Brothers and Big Sisters, call 941-2862. To purchase the stamp, visit your local post office.

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