Although it cost nearly $1,600 each for them to make the trip, “it was the best money I’ve ever spent,” said Peter Violette after his return from Haiti with his daughter, Kasey Violette.

The Violettes made a recent pilgrimage to Haiti to bring funds they had raised for the international relief organization, Food For The Poor.

“We brought down a little over $6,200 that is designated to build three homes,” Peter Violette said of money raised for this charity, which he has supported for more than 10 years.

Violette explained that Food For The Poor is an international, nondenominational relief service that goes into Third World countries and, while it does not get involved with politics or religion, it does help those who have no one to help them.

The organization helps provide such services as “shelter, medicine or orphanages,” Violette said. “Any social services you can think of that we take for granted … are just nonexistent in these Third World countries.”

The organization serves as “caregivers to the young and to the old; helps lepers and those with AIDS,” he said of “just about anything you can imagine” that relates to human services.

Peter and his 20-year-old daughter, who is a student at St. Joseph College in Standish, were to be accompanied by her 19-year-old friend Kyla Laplante of Van Buren, who is a Unity College student.

Unfortunately, Laplante’s grandfather Raymond W. Lajoie of Van Buren died unexpectedly the Saturday before they were to depart.

“She was unable to go,” Peter Violette said, “so one of the homes will be dedicated in her grandfather’s memory.”

In planning for this trip, the trio had set “a lofty goal of raising $25,000” Violette said, but they were happy with what they were able to raise, and, he pointed out, “this is an ongoing process” and contributions are still welcome.

Anyone wishing to help create what the Violettes’ guide described as “an oasis” in the middle of Haiti for those who are in desperate need of housing, is welcome to send a contribution to Food For The Poor, 550 SW 12th Ave., Deerfield Beach, Fla., 33442.

The organization’s Web site is www.foodforthepoor.org.

Part of the purpose of the trip for the Violettes was to increase awareness of the work of this organization. Another way of doing that, Violette said, is by speaking to groups and organizations, as well as showing a video about their experience.

His first presentation will be at a time to be announced on Sunday, Aug. 4, at St. Bruno-St. Remi in Van Buren. Violette said anyone who wants further information about Food For The Poor, or who would like to have him make a presentation, may call him at 868-3330, write him at P.O. Box 8, Van Buren 04785, or e-mail violetteal@yahoo.com.

It is time to get ready to participate in the Beach-to-Beach Swim for Breast Cancer on Sunday, Aug. 11.

To help fight breast cancer and honor those who survived it, Eastern Maine Medical Center, the YWCA Bangor-Brewer and Sandollar Spa and Pool sponsor the 2-mile event which begins and ends at Jenkins Beach on Green Lake.

Swimmers of all ages are encouraged to swim, individually, or as members of a team of six.

Pledges obtained by swimmers benefit Caring Connections, a cooperative breast and cervical health program of EMMC and the YWCA, and ENCOREplus, a support, education and exercise program for women with breast cancer.

Even if you don’t swim, you can still make a donation in honor of those who have survived breast cancer.

All participants will be entered in a drawing to win a $4,800 HotSprings Jetsetter Spa donated by Sandollar Spa and Pool and Watkins Manufacturing, and you need not be present to win.

For more information about the Beach-to-Beach Swim for Breast Cancer, call the YWCA at 941-2808.

Joyce Schoppe of Ellsworth, president of the Franklin High School Association, suddenly realized the summer is getting away from her, and that August is just around the corner.

She wrote that the FHS Association meeting begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at the Franklin Veterans Club, but that registrations must be made by Tuesday, Aug. 2, a date she didn’t realize “was so near,” she wrote.

Those who plan to attend should make their reservations with either Schoppe or association secretary Peggy Hunt.

You can call Schoppe at 667-8425 or write her at 74 Beals Ave., Ellsworth 04605.

You can contact Hunt by calling 565-2004 or writing her at 8 Winter Road, Franklin 04634.

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