The food is free, it’s a sure bet the dessert will be delicious, and, although there is no charge to attend this event, it is hoped your donations will help support the work of your gracious hosts.

The public is invited to attend a free spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Hope Lutheran Church, 1520 Union St. in Bangor.

All donations will help support Totes of Hope, a nonprofit community service of Hope Lutheran Church.

“Totes of Hope” are made by church members to provide children and young people in the pediatric unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with gift bags filled with toys, books and other activity items to help them pass the time during their hospital stay.

I had a delightful conversation with Carolyn Davis Cockey of Hope Lutheran, who told me that the local women started this program after reading about it being done elsewhere.

“Just last year, we gave out just over 100 age-appropriate gift totes,” Cockey said of the bags that are given to patients ranging in age from infant to adolescent.

“When people come to the free spaghetti supper, they will see the totes on the tables,” she said. “And we hope that they understand that this is not a religious activity, but a community activity.”

The mission and purpose of the Totes of Hope program are “to provide hope and comfort to these children during what is often a stressful and difficult time for them and their families,” according to Susan Gabbert, who is co-chairwoman of the program.

The totes can include coloring and activity books, crayons, markers, puzzles and small toys, “or Nancy Drew or Judy Blume books for adolescent girls,” Cockey said.

The group especially invites physicians, nurses, child-life specialists and others who provide care for children at EMMC to attend the free supper, which is the group’s way of saying thank you for your service to these children.

Sponsored in part by Aid Association for Lutherans, all donations received at the supper will go directly to purchase toys and books for Totes of Hope.

“The church will provide all the food for the meal,” Cockey emphasized.

If you cannot attend, but would like to help this program for young hospital patients, send your donation to Hope Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 12, Bangor 04401.

Please make sure your donation is specifically marked “Totes of Hope.” A receipt will be mailed to you and all donations are tax-deductible.

For more information about this event or program, call Vicar Joe Cockey at 825-4189.

What a wonderful program, with your help, the American Cancer Society is able to offer men facing prostate cancer.

The ACS Man to Man program is a prostate cancer visitation program that matches volunteers who have experienced prostate cancer with men newly diagnosed with the disease.

For the program to succeed, however, it needs the help of willing volunteers.

The ACS Man to Man program is offering a training class for prostate cancer survivors interested in becoming a Man to Man volunteer from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Senator Inn on Western Avenue in Augusta.

The training is free and dinner is included.

According to the ACS, approximately 800 men in Maine will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, after lung cancer.

For the newly diagnosed man, this program not only provides the opportunity to talk about the experience with someone who has had the disease, it also offers reassurance that there is life after a cancer diagnosis.

To register for this class or to learn more about the Man to Man program, call Doug Dieckmann at 532-5622 or (800) 464-3102 and press 3 to leave a message.

Would you like the opportunity to visit some modern Maine farms?

Page Farm and Home Museum is sponsoring a trip to two Maine farms on Wednesday, May 8.

The van departs at 8 a.m. from the Page Farm and Home Museum on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono and will return at approximately 4:30 p.m. to that location.

Those who attend will have an opportunity in the morning to tour Highmoor Farm in Monmouth and Nezinscot Farm in Turner.

Highmoor Farm manager Justin Jamison will lead that tour and discuss the farm’s apple research and composting methods.

Nezinscot owners Gregg and Gloria Varney will show their dairy herd, free-range poultry, extensive mixed vegetables and farm store. Nezinscot Farm uses both organic and conventional farming methods.

The cost of $18 per person includes transportation and a home-baked, buffet lunch.

Even if farming isn’t of particular interest to you, you might like to take advantage of this opportunity just to enjoy a spring day on a Maine farm.

Call the Page Farm and Home Museum at 581-4100 to make a reservation.

People who are interested in learning about holistic care for animals may attend a Holistic Pet Care Seminar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union St. in Bangor.

Dr. Judy Herman of the Animal Wellness Center in Augusta will discuss holistic veterinary care, nutrition and the use of homeopathy in pet care.

Dr. Mark Hanks of the Veazie Veterinary Clinic will discuss the role of Chinese medicine and acupuncture in pet care.

The cost of the seminar is $10, and all profits will be donated to the Bangor Humane Society.

Since seating is limited, advance registration is required.

To register or to receive more information, call Green Acres Kennel Shop at 945-6841 or visit the Web site owner@greenacreskennel.com.

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