Have you ever considered that purchasing a cookbook could help a member of the military, or members of his or her family?

Well, it can, and here is how.

Retired Senior Master Sgt. Mike Gleason of Bangor e-mailed me that a “cookbook extraordinaire” is “being sold by the Maine Air Guard Family Program to raise money to support members of the Maine Air Guard and their families in cases of extraordinary need.”

Funds raised from the sale of “MAINEiacs in the Kitchen” are especially important to families of deployed MAINEiacs “for things such as medical expenses, emergency heating and/or home repairs,” Gleason explained.

The 1-inch-thick cookbook contains more than 800 recipes.

“Like many similar fund-raising endeavors,” he added, “it’s the best of the often ‘secret’ family recipes of MAINEiacs from all over the state and beyond.”

For those concerned with order in their cookbooks, he notes that “unlike many similar cookbooks, this one is actually indexed, not just categorized.”

Gleason describes the indexing as “a great timesaver” when you’re looking for that one, special recipe.

But, the best part, he suggests, is the price, just $10.

“MAINEiacs in the Kitchen” can be obtained by calling Gleason at 945-3838 or e-mailing MaineiacFam@military.com.

If you want the cookbook mailed to you, just add $2 for postage.

Gleason stresses there is “no handling fee, because it’s volunteer handling.”

Folks in the Eastport area can help children who were left homeless or orphaned by the December earthquake and resulting tsunami in South Asia.

Share Your Heart With the World is 5-9 p.m. tonight at Shead High School in Eastport.

The suggested donation is $7 for adults, $3 for seniors and children under 12.

Janice Pottle of Eastport is the benefit’s organizer, and she reports all money raised will be donated to UNICEF.

She wrote that among the performing groups at this evening for the entire family will be The Little Drummers of Pleasant Point, the Eastport Youth String Trio and the old-time string band, Black Socks.

The event also features a lasagna dinner donated by Bob DelPappa of The Happy Crab Restaurant, a Chinese auction and a 50-50 draw.

Committee member Lisa Bradbury adds that this is truly a communitywide effort, with church members making pies and area business owners donating items for the auction.

We’ll have more information in a later column about the Washington Hancock Community Agency THAW – The Heat and Warmth Fund – project that is being kicked off with a formal fund-raising dinner and gala tonight in the Down East Convention Center of the Holiday Inn in Ellsworth.

In the meantime, I am happy to report that the event, which Gov. John Baldacci and first lady Karen Baldacci are expected to attend, is sold out.

Music to dance by during “The Night of Warm Hearts” will be provided by Brian Catell.

THAW is a fund dedicated to helping people with low incomes in the Washington-Hancock county region who have difficulty paying their home energy bills.

Here’s a reminder from Debe Averill that the Orono Music Department Fund-raising Committee is hosting a daylong Antique Show-Box Social Auction, with entertainment, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, in the Orono High School cafeteria.

The event is one of a series of fund-raisers to assist with expenses so that up to 50 young musicians can travel to New York City next month.

Women of the World, a support group for international women living in our area, features Chocolate Without Boundaries at this month’s luncheon at noon Monday, Feb. 14, at the Church of Universal Fellowship on Main Street in Orono.

The menu will feature dishes prepared with chocolate.

For more information about WOW, which is sponsored by the office of International Programs and National Student Exchange at the University of Maine in Orono, call Mireille Le Gal at 581-3423 or e-mail mlegal@Maine.edu.

People attending the Ellsworth Garden Club meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at Helen’s Restaurant on Route 1 in Ellsworth will be able to participate in the club’s annual seed exchange.

The dinner is Dutch treat, reports Elaine Fernald. If you want more information about this garden club and its projects, you are welcome to call her at 244-3085.

Oops! You don’t have to purchase supper during intermission at River City Cinema Society’s showing of “Dr. Zhivago” at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, at Union Street Brick Church in Bangor.

The meal was donated by Sea Dog Restaurant, RCCS cooks and Friar’s Bakeshop, and is included in your ticket, which is $12, in advance, at Sea Dog or BookMarc’s in Bangor, or $14 at the door.

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