Manna Ministries of Bangor, and all who take advantage of its services, hope you will respond to its recently mailed spring fund-raising letter.

Executive director Bill Rae told me this important facility needs to raise “$25,000 for our spring and summer budget.

“The funds not only go for the running of the buildings, but also go to help people with medical assistance, fuel, rent and electricity.”

Manna exists not only “to help the working poor, those who’ve lost their jobs, the elderly and people living on fixed incomes,” but “anyone that is in danger of becoming homeless,” he added.

Comparing services with last year, Rae reports Manna provided meals for 13,000 people during January, February and March 2002.

That number was 13,700 for the same period this year.

“This does not reflect the food that we sent to Millinocket, Medway or East Millinocket workers,” Rae added.

It costs Manna $61 to feed one person per day for one month.

For 13 years, Manna Ministries has been providing outreach services to the poor and needy in our area and, with your help, will continue to do so.

Donations can be sent to Manna Ministries, 180 Center St., Bangor 04401, or dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information about Manna, call 990-2870.

I was pleased to hear from Messalonskee High School principal Linda Laughlin that today and Wednesday, students and parents from the Oakland school will participate in the “Every 15 Minutes” program.

“Messalonskee has scheduled this event just prior to prom and graduation activities in hopes that Messalonskee students make good choices as they participate in these events,” Laughlin wrote.

“Every 15 Minutes” is a national program in which every 15 minutes a teen is removed from a classroom and becomes one of the “living dead.”

A uniformed officer and a counselor enter the classroom and read the student’s obituary to his or her classmates, and another uniformed officer notifies the student’s parents of his or her “death.”

An overnight retreat, a simulated drunken-driving collision and a mock funeral are all part of the program that is supported by “a broad coalition of interested local agencies,” Laughlin explained.

Husson College occupational therapy students, Alpha One, and VSA Arts of Maine invite you to attend the seminar “Low Cost Adaptations for Accessibility” from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Center for Family Business on the Husson campus in Bangor.

Admission for the hands-on, interactive workshop is free.

Information will help participants gain knowledge of disability awareness and low-cost adaptations to improve cultural venue accessibility.

A certificate of attendance and continuing education units are available upon request.

VSA Arts of Maine is a nonprofit organization providing educational arts opportunities by, for and with at-risk individuals and people with disabilities.

Alpha One is a community-based organization directed by people with impairments that provides the public with information, services and products to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Seminar discussion topics include disability etiquette; assistance, evacuation and emergency procedures; low-cost adaptations; and visual communication and physical barriers.

For more information, call 973-1078.

Residents of the Castine area can enjoy the musical “OZ!” beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Emerson Hall on Court Street in Castine.

The musical stars Adams School pupils, with youngsters in kindergarten through third grade playing munchkins and poppies, and fourth- and eighth-graders starring in the feature roles.

School secretary Barb Thomas invites the public to the free performance, which includes “a local canine” playing the part of Dorothy’s dog, Toto.

“Fund-raising in Challenging Times: Preparing for a Successful Campaign,” is a one-day workshop sponsored by Gary Friedmann & Associates on Wednesday, April 30, at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast.

Gary Friedmann and staff will discuss annual and capital campaign planning, grant writing, marketing and public relations, and conclude with a problem-solving forum.

For information, call (866) 288-8080 or visit garyfriedmann.

com.

Julie Beal reports that Narraguagus High School Class of 1983 is planning its 20th reunion for Saturday, July 26, at the Holiday Inn in Ellsworth.

Any ’83 NHS graduate who has not received a letter regarding the reunion, or anyone who knows the address of a fellow graduate who might not have received that letter, can call Beal at 546-7492.

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