Staff members of the American Red Cross Blood Services New England Region remind you that “every day, every hour, someone needs blood.”

It could be you.

It could be me.

It could be someone we love.

That is why ARC staff members such as Angela Bilodeau are doing all they can to get the word out about the ARC annual Holiday Blood Drive from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Bangor Donor Center, 900 Hammond St. in Bangor.

There, you not only will be able to give the gift of life, you also will enjoy Christmas Soup served by Wright Brothers Grill and, for those of you who despise wrapping gifts, you don’t have to worry.

Just bring holiday gifts with you and have them wrapped while you sit back, relax, and donate!

Radio station WBZN will broadcast live from the site, and T-shirts will be offered to all donors.

Remember, blood is needed for platelets to help leukemia patients; plasma can help others recover from serious burns; and red blood cells can help a transplant patient survive surgery.

If you have never given blood, perhaps now is the time to start.

If you have questions, call (1-800) GIVE-LIFE or visit www.newenglandblood.org.

Hands of Hope & Comfort for Kids is a nonprofit Christian organization helping needy families and children.

Kathy Harvey, owner of Kathy’s Catering, recently joined its staff and, on behalf of Hands of Hope, is asking that readers consider helping this organization make the holiday season a brighter one for children and families served by Hands of Hope Ministries.

Harvey suggests donating a pair of hand-knit mittens or socks, a toy, or making a financial contribution that will enable Hands of Hope staff to purchase gifts for children; purchase food to fill empty cupboards or oil to fill empty home heating tanks.

Checks can be made payable to Hands of Hope and mailed to 169 Wing Road, Levant 04456.

If you have donations you prefer to have picked up, call Harvey at 884-7839 and she will be happy to make those arrangements.

From Harvey and the staff at Hands of Hope, “God Bless you this holiday season.”

Larry Johnson and members of the Bucksport Church of God are expecting nearly 200 people to attend its third annual Senior Citizen Christmas Party and Dinner at noon Saturday at the church.

Johnston reports that “the word just seems to get out and we get more and more each year.” Now, reservations are required “so we know how many are coming … and we don’t have to turn anyone away,” he explained.

Each senior receives a free turkey dinner and a door prize.

Entertainment is provided, and each attendee receives a large bag of gifts that include such items as toiletries and stamps.

This year, Johnston reports, each senior also will receive a scarf made by “a husband-and-wife team.”

Linda Jaffe, executive director of the Bangor Museum and Center for History, reminds readers that its Thomas A. Hill House, on Union Street in Bangor, is closed for the winter and no tours will be offered until spring.

However, The Bangor Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays at 6 State St. in downtown Bangor.

The current exhibit, “From Away: Exploring Bangor’s Cultural Heritage,” will remain on display until the end of March.

And, if it hasn’t occurred to you, the museum shop, The Golden Fleece, is a place you might want to visit to find some special holiday gifts.

The Golden Fleece is open during regular museum hours.

The museum will be closed on Christmas and on New Year’s Day.

Jo and Allan Andrews of Brooksville wrote the Bangor Daily News “to thank the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, its conductor Xiao-Lu Li and especially the talented members of the Robinson Ballet for their wonderful production of ‘The Nutcracker.'”

The Andrewses attended the show earlier this month with their 7-year-old daughter, Jessie.

“From the opening curtain, to the final bows amid a standing ovation,” they wrote, “the magic of Christmas was alive and well at the Maine Center for the Arts” in Orono.

“Thank you to all who were responsible for a terrific beginning to our holiday celebrations.”

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