Because the subject is shoe boxes, I guess it’s safe to say that, following on the heels of its extraordinary success last year, members of First United Methodist Church of Brewer are eagerly looking forward to collecting more shoe boxes stuffed with gifts for needy children this year.

Church members initially participated in this special holiday program of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief organization in Boone, N.C., two years ago.

At the time, parishioners filled 125 shoe boxes with school items and toys for needy children that were delivered worldwide by Samaritan’s Purse.

Last year, the program went public, so to speak, and your response was just overwhelming.

With the FUMC as the designated collection site for this area, coordinators Jan Ashton and Judy Lunt reported that 5,239 shoe boxes were brought to the Brewer site last year.

Now it’s time to start filling and collecting those shoe boxes again.

In addition to the above items, hard candies, personal hygiene items, stuffed animals and even personal greetings can be included in the shoe boxes.

“Shoe boxes came from individuals, families, schools, civic groups and churches,” Ashton reported.

“They came from as far away as the northern and western borders of the state.

“A youth group from Peru [Maine] will come again this year to help pack the cartons and load the truck,” she added.

Planners are also “excited to hear that a local Payless shoe store is saving shoe boxes for five different churches,” according to Ashton, and church members are hoping to collect even more filled boxes this year.

Operation Christmas Child collection week is from Monday, Nov. 17 to Monday, Nov. 24.

The hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17 through Friday, Nov. 21; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22; noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. The collection site is at First United Methodist Church, 40 South Main St., Brewer.

For more information about how you or your organization can participate in this effort to help needy children throughout the world this holiday season, call 1-800 589-2445.

Congratulations to all who helped with the Northern Maine Medical Center First Dinner and Silent Auction scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in Nowland Hall on the University of Maine campus in Fort Kent.

The event, for which Scott Voisine will serve as master of ceremonies, is sold out, I was told.

Attendees will not only have the opportunity to do some great holiday shopping, but also one lucky bidder will be the recipient of a “Super Bowl Sunday House Call” by members of the NMMC staff who will provide the individual with a catered Super Bowl party.

The Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge Fall Veterans Benefit Dinner and Dance is 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the lodge, 21 Silver St. in Skowhegan.

Admission is $10 per person or $15 for couples.

Disc jockey Dan Graf will provide entertainment.

Proceeds will help with the Elks’ donations to Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Previous donations have included phone cards, television sets and $1,500 for a specialized computer for disabled patients.

For more information about this event, or the Elks, call Frank Jelinski, 474-5340.

In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, Good Samaritan Agency will host its annual Adoption Reunion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at its offices, 100 Ridgewood Drive in Bangor.

The multicultural event brings together families to socialize, share their experiences and celebrate adoption.

Founded in 1902, Good Samaritan Agency offers a variety of services to single parents and, since 1907, has been helping Maine people build families through adoption.

For more information about the agency’s services, call Good Sam at 942-7211.

The Washington County Action Team of the American Cancer Society will meet to help identify needs, priorities and programs to assist with cancer prevention, detection and support for residents of that area from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at Calais Regional Hospital.

Doug Dieckmann, ACS Community Executive for Cancer Control, will lead the discussion.

Current members, former board and advisory members, and people interested in joining the team are invited to attend.

For more information, call Dieckmann at 532-5622, or Debbie Seybold at the ACS, 1-800 464-3102 and press 3.

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