The family of Rockland District Middle School custodian Steve Robinson is going through a difficult time, so fellow school employees, community groups, organizations and individuals are doing all they can to help.

Sam Robinson, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at the middle school, is undergoing treatment for leukemia and has had a few setbacks recently, but his mom is not working so she can be with him.

The family includes Sam, Haley, 9, Steven, 6, and Hannah, 3.

“What we’re trying to do is raise enough money to provide all that we can for them,” middle school Principal Tom Mellor explained.

The community would like to help the Robinson family move into a home of its own before Christmas.

“We’re working with local social service organizations, and groups such as the Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions, and we’re having several fund-raisers for the family,” he said.

The goal is to help raise enough money so the Robinsons can purchase a doublewide modular home to be placed on family-owned land in Owls Head.

“It’s going to take approximately $65,000 with some financing” by the family, Mellor said.

“And we don’t have a year to do this. We want to get them in before Christmas.”

Already, donations have been made by several individuals as well as organizations ranging from the Junior Kiwanis Club to the student council and several community clubs and groups. Additional fund-raisers are in the planning stages, Mellor said.

But more help is needed to “get the kids in a house so they don’t have to share with another family,” Mellor said.

Any organization, business or individual interested in making a donation, providing contracting services or items for an auction is asked to call Mellor at the middle school at 596-2020 or 691-2770.

All contributions should be tax deductible and will be acknowledged in writing by MSAD 5.

Checks can be made payable to MSAD 5 Robinson Housing Fund, and mailed to Rockland District Middle School, 30 Broadway, Rockland 04841.

Former University of Maine Athletic Director Suzanne Tyler will address “Title IX: Women’s Sports,” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono.

Her speech follows the 7:30 p.m. business meeting of the Penobscot Valley Branch of the American Association of University Women.

The public is invited to attend.

For more information, call Sarah Clark at 943-7862 or Fran Haines at 866-3486.

Yvonne Edinger of the Bangor-Brewer Christian Women’s Club invites everyone to attend its Heartfelt Thanks luncheon at noon Thursday, Nov. 13, at Spectacular Event Center on Griffin Road in Bangor.

Edinger emphasizes “men are invited” to attend this event, which will feature Michael Lufkin of Lakeview Auctions in Eddington, music by David Blanchette and guest speaker Edward Flagg of Buzzards Bay, Mass.

Call 394-3000 to make reservations.

Pat Mackintosh of Hampden reports that artists are encouraged to donate work for the Bangor Art Society Auction at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Union Street Brick Church in Bangor.

Proceeds benefit society programs, including artist lectures, workshops, art exhibits and high school and university scholarships.

Mackintosh wants prospective contributors to know society members believe in supporting the work of individual artists by giving them 50 percent of the winning bid.

For more information, artists can call 884-8670, 943-7471 or 659-0063.

Tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Community Booth at the Bangor Mall, and are available in Bangor at The Grasshopper Shop, Rebecca’s and Picture This frame shop.

Raffle tickets to support the work of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Senior Companion Program will be available during regular business hours today at the Airport Mall in Bangor, not the Bangor Mall as appeared in Wednesday’s column.

Professional women are invited to attend a wine and cheese open house at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the faculty-staff dining room of Peabody Hall at Husson College in Bangor.

The event is sponsored by Altrusa International of Greater Bangor and hosted by Catherine LaFlamme, Joyce Goodine, Jeanne Gross, Marlene Thomas and Barbara Frye of the Altrusa Membership Committee. Interested women can call LaFlamme at 990-3254 for more information.

For those who have asked where my Monday column is, I remind you and encourage you to read “Student Union,” which appears in this place each Monday during the school year.

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