Four representatives of H.O.M.E. Inc. in Orland will travel to San Juan, Comalapa, in Guatemala March 9-17, where they will work with community members performing a number of tasks to help those who live there.

H.O.M.E. representatives usually make two trips a year to this Central American country, said Tracey Hair, the organization’s fund-raiser.

“Last year, we helped with the construction of a school,” she said.

This year, H.O.M.E. visitors will be bringing medical supplies, school supplies and shoes for the children who attend that school.

“And that’s the main purpose of the trip,” Hair said. Travelers include Father Randy Eldridge and Franklin Collin, both of Orland, and Bucksport residents Jacqueline Lee and Bonnie Williams.

Each of the four is allowed two suitcases, Hair said, and they hope you will help fill them with the supplies they need.

“We already have the medical supplies,” Hair said, “but we still need school supplies, like paper and pencils, and shoes, especially shoes.

“Most of the kids don’t have footwear, and they are not permitted to go to school unless they have shoes,” she said.

Asked if school supplies and shoes are more important than financial donations, she said they are.

While financial donations are greatly appreciated, she said the group really wants to take school supplies and shoes with them.

“If people do send us money, it goes, physically, with us,” Hair said. “One hundred percent of donations go to the community there and, of course, any donation is multiplied, coming from American dollars.”

Hair said the Guatemala connection originated some years ago when H.O.M.E. gave sanctuary to a family of refugees who fled Guatemala during its 36-year civil war and returned in 1996 when peace was established “to help rebuild their country.

“Since then, they’ve been very close to our hearts, and we’ve tried to go there at least twice a year,” Hair said.

School supplies and shoes can be delivered or sent to H.O.M.E., 90 Schoolhouse Road, Orland 04472.

If you have questions about this mission, call Hair at 469-7961.

Eastern Maine Project Linus will conduct a Make-A-Blanket Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Penquis Higher Education Center, 50 Mayo St. in Dover-Foxcroft.

The goal is to make 100 blankets to donate to Maine children in need.

If you cannot attend or be present the entire day, you can drop off incomplete or completed blankets during the day at the center.

To assist those who might need help, Rita Mountain and Lee Priest will offer free quilting lessons.

Mountain will teach a strip charity quilt pattern, and Priest a simple, quilt-as-you-go strip quilt.

Fabrics will be provided, but you must bring your own sewing machine.

Lunch will be available, for a donation, from Main Street Business and Professional Women of Dover-Foxcroft, and you will have a chance to win prizes during a teacup raffle.

Project Linus is a national nonprofit volunteer organization that makes and distributes blankets to children who are seriously ill or experiencing trauma in their lives.

Merlene Sanborn of Dover-Foxcroft is coordinator of the chapter that assists children in our area.

She invites blanket-makers of all experience levels to attend Make-A-Blanket Day.

To reserve your space, call her at 965-8005.

According to the chapter’s most recent newsletter, EMPL “hugged 580 Maine kids with blankets in 2004.”

Also, Maine now has four chapters, of which three are in our circulation area.

Wendy Bruton is the contact person for the Greater Presque Isle chapter.

You can write her at 52 Caribou Road, Presque Isle 04769; e-mail wbruton@Maine.rr.com or call 764-4702.

Jennifer Metzger is contact person for the Houlton/Southern Aroostook chapter.

You can write her at P.O. Box 1008, Houlton 04730; e-mail djmetz@ainop.com or call 532-2740.

For information about Project Linus, e-mail maine

linus@panax.com or visit http://www.projectlinus.org.

The Ellsworth Public Library is offering some interesting free adult programs during March.

“Dead River Rough Cut,” a movie about the Maine woods, features filmmaker Stu Silverstein at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the library, 20 State St. in Ellsworth.

University of Maine at Machias professor Jon Reisman will discuss “Climate Change Policy” at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 12 at the library.

“Keeping Our Minds Sharp as We Age” will be discussed by Sally Smith of Eastern Maine Healthcare at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 24. An Alzheimer’s question-and-answer period follows.

For information, call the library at 667-6363.

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