How can you help?

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Food banks and shelters in Maine are struggling to meet the increasing demands on their dwindling resources. Here are a few ways to help those less fortunate:

? Donate cash or groceries to your local food bank. Don’t forget soap, detergent and diapers. (Food stamps don’t pay for these things.)

? Along with cash donations, homeless shelters accept toilet paper, tissue, garbage bags and household cleaners.

? Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer.

? Pick a name from the local giving tree and “adopt” a child or family for Christmas.

? Bring pet food, bleach, towels and worn-but-still-good blankets to your local animal shelter.

? Check with town clerks, churches and food banks to find out what the local efforts are and where you best can serve.

? Go online and check out DonationsLINK where dozens of ways to help Maine nonprofits are listed, including the United Way organizations throughout Maine.

? Donate to The Salvation Army Northern New England Divisional Headquarters, 297 Cumberland Ave., P.O. Box 3647, Portland, ME 04104, or the Red Cross at one of its Maine locations: United Valley Chapter, Lewiston; Mid Coast Chapter, Topsham:

Pine Tree Chapter, Bangor: and American Red Cross of Southern Maine, Portland.

The addresses for the agencies mentioned in these stories are:

Bangor Area Homeless Shelter

263 Main St., Bangor 04401

Bangor Humane Society

693 Mount Hope Avenue

Bangor, 04401

The Emmaus Center

51 Main St.

Ellsworth 04605

Irene Chadbourne Food Pantry

272 North St.

Calais, 04619

Manna Inc.

P.O. Box 2763

Bangor 04401

Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter

28 Ticonic St.

Waterville 04901

PAWS Animal Shelter

P.O. Box 182

Calais 04619

Pittsfield Food Bank

Connors Ave.

Pittsfield 04967

Sister Mary O’Donnell Shelter

745 Central Ave.,

Presque Isle 04769