Are you someone who considers yourself caring, comforting, compassionate, loving, sincere, committed, a good listener and capable of offering heartfelt support to others?

Do you feel you could work with a patient nearing the end of his or her life, or members of that individual’s family or circle of friends?

If so, perhaps you will consider becoming part of the Palliative Care Program at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Lynda Rohman, director of volunteer services for EMMC, explained that palliative care, in contrast to in-home hospice care, assists individuals in the hospital who are nearing the end of their lives.

A brief hospital visit, perhaps just 30 minutes a week, can help erase the loneliness and fear experienced by a dying patient, she said.

You might be asked to simply sit with that person, or come into the hospital to offer relief to a family member doing so.

You might offer to read to him or her, to tell stories, hold a hand or just listen to what he or she wants to say.

If you are interested in becoming such a volunteer, you are urged to call 973-7850 to learn more about volunteering by participating in the next two-day training program, which is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 14.

WLBZ 2 and WCSH 6 are about to celebrate their annual Coats & Toys for Kids Day.

The event is hosted by Hannaford and Shaw’s supermarkets and will be broadcast live from 6:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, from seven locations statewide.

Coats & Toys for Kids Day is sponsored by the Maine Oil Dealers Association, which provides support for The Salvation Army to hire a driver and rent a truck to transport the thousands of donated coats.

Pepsi collects boxes and bags, and Pratt Abbott Cleaners cleans the coats to be distributed to families in need.

Last year, Maine residents donated more than 42,000 coats.

Donation sites in our area are at Hannaford stores in Skowhegan and Ellsworth.

For more information about this project, e-mail communityrelations@wcsh6.com.

Inie Segien of Eastport wrote that “we have many nice things going on in our beautiful, little community,” and this is one of them.

The public is invited to a book signing featuring local author Elsie O’Dell Dinsmore, who has written “Come To Tea, William,” which Segien explains is a “mystery wrapped around a love story.”

The signing is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Senior Citizen Center in Eastport.

Everyone is welcome.

I thank Charlie and Nancy Herr for re-emailing information that the Ruggles House Society is hosting a Christmas tea and silent auction from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the festively decorated circa 1818 historic house museum at 146 Main St. in Columbia Falls.

Admission for the tea is $3, and the public is invited to attend.

If you wish more information, or to donate auction items, call 546-7903 or visit www.ruggleshouse.org.

You are invited to the Waldo County Home Health and Hospice and the Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County remembrance service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in the Waldo County General Hospital Education Center, 118 Northport Ave., Belfast.

The service is for family and friends of individuals who died in the last two years, and is an effort to offer comfort to those who may be experiencing grief as we enter this holiday season.

Individuals are invited to bring a photograph or other remembrance of the deceased.

If weather permits, the service will end outside by the Remembrance Tree that was planted near the Home Health and Hospice office.

Refreshments will be served.

For information, call Margie Spencer-Smith at 338-2268 or Flic Shooter at 930-2677.

The day before Thanksgiving, a wonderful gentleman, J. Charles “Charlie” Hickson, died, leaving behind his wife, Donna, four lovely daughters, their spouses, families and dear friends.

His passing grieved many who looked up to him as the epitome of a devoted, dedicated, honorable man.

A very old-fashioned Maine term, remembered and used today by only a few of us, best describes Charlie Hickson.

He was a man who “tended out to others.”

Charlie was a very caring individual who could be counted on whenever he was needed.

He was always there, assisting those around him, in ways large and small, making sure all was well in their lives.

Generations will remember and miss him.

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