The Holiday Food Drive that began in 1999 with the collection of 250 items by employees of the city of Brewer has grown so that, last year, with the help of the city schools, more than 7,000 items and $350 were collected to help the needy of the community.

“We’re already stepping out a little further into the communities than we did in previous years,” said the drive’s founder, Brewer Economic Development Director Drew Sachs, when he called just before Thanksgiving. “We’ve got all the schools involved again, all of City Hall, and we’re going into the private companies as well. We just got a commitment of $1,000 from Wal-Mart, so we’re already ahead of the game in cash donations.

“The Holiday Food Drive,” he added, has become a “rather sizable” undertaking.

The purpose of the citywide drive, he explained in a letter to participants, is “to help meet the most basic needs of Brewer and area residents.”

“Many of the food cupboards in the region have experienced an increase of between 50 and 100 percent in demand for emergency food supplies this year.”

It is his hope, Sachs added, “that we can help keep the shelves from becoming bare so those in need can get the food they need during hard times.”

Beneficiaries of this year’s collection will be the Brewer Food Cupboard and the Brewer Community Service Council.

The Food Cupboard will use the items to restock its shelves during the holidays, “when donations all but dry up,” Sachs explained.

Another portion of the food will go to the Brewer Community Service Council to provide holiday baskets for families with immediate needs.

Collection containers are available during normal business hours at the Brewer Auditorium, Brewer City Hall, Brewer Public Library and the city’s Public Works, Public Safety and Wastewater Treatment facilities.

Containers also will be located at each school.

If you prefer to contribute financially, you can make a cash donation or write a check to the City of Brewer, with Holiday Food Drive in the memo line, and deliver it to Sachs or mail it to him at Brewer City Hall, 80 No. Main St., Brewer 04412.

Donations will be accepted through Thursday, Dec. 18.

People caring for loved ones with memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease, whose circumstances are such that they do not, as yet, need to move into a residential care facility, might want to take advantage of a holiday opportunity offered by My Friend’s Place.

My Friend’s Place invites caregivers to leave their loved ones for one hour, or up to four hours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, and the same times on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the facility in First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St. in Bangor.

The offer is extended, according to My Friend’s Place director Barbara Fister, so caregivers have an opportunity to do their holiday shopping, content in the knowledge that those who need supervision are safe and well cared for. The $7 per hour fee includes refreshments.

My Friend’s Place was founded in April 2002 with the mission of “providing adults a safe, supportive and friendly environment that offers life-enriching social and recreational activities and respite for caregivers.”

To reserve a space, call Fister at 945-0122.

Early risers in the Penobscot-Piscataquis county area might like to attend the “Christmas Coffee and Mini-Fair” sponsored by the Guilford United Methodist Women from 9 to 11 a.m. today in the Fellowship Hall of the church, located on School Street, across from the Guilford Town Office and Fire Station.

Sharon O’Connell reports that coffee, refreshments and craft items will be on sale.

Everywhere you look, lights are going up in preparation for the holidays and, in fact, the lights will actually be turned on for the St. Joseph Hospital Lights of Remembrance program at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the hospital’s Broadway entrance in Bangor.

The event includes lighting the tree and holiday display, caroling, refreshments and a visit by Santa Claus.

Brenda Hall of Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor invites the public to attend the MDIH and Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” Behavioral Health Center Open House.

The open house is 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Behavioral Health Center, 1 Hancock St., beside the Family Health Center.

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