BANGOR – United Way of Eastern Maine and WLBZ 2 hosted a celebration attended by 400 people for the presentation of 2 Those Who Care awards. They were given to five people who demonstrated extraordinary commitment to making a difference.

The recipients were Lt. Robert Welch, Jeff Austin, Alice Wilkinson, Mascha Litten and Jeanette Thulin. Ervin Huntington received the John W. Coombs award.

. Welch of the Bangor Police Department volunteers with the Special Olympics and in a Bangor classroom as part of United Way’s Read for Success program.

. Austin is a Sullivan volunteer firefighter who donated a kidney to a fellow firefighter.

. Wilkinson is a volunteer art and writing teacher at the Robbinston Grade School in Calais.

. Thulin provides a much-needed service for blind students by transcribing books into Braille. Litten was honored posthumously.

. Huntington received the Coombs award for his work with the Salvation Army’s Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen.

Penquis CAP was recognized as the Agency of Distinction for its skillful use of time, talent and resources to improve the quality of life for clients and the community.