One of my young Bangor Daily News colleagues, photographer Denise Farwell, popped her head in the door of my office the other day to tell me about a marvelous personal undertaking she has planned for this summer.

Farwell is seeking contributions to participate in a Global Village Trip with Habitat for Humanity planned for July 5-21 in Lusaka, Zambia.

There, she will join 14 other individuals, coming from across the United States and Canada, in creating affordable housing for local residents in need.

Zambia is located in southeastern Africa.

According to information Farwell provided about this Global Village Trip, it is estimated that 86 percent of the population of Zambia lives below the poverty line, and its unemployment rate is about 50 percent.

Typical housing is a mud-and-thatch dwelling, but Habitat For Humanity Zambia, which was formed in 1985, is building homes of cement blocks, stone foundations and cement tile roofs.

Farwell chose to help with Habitat for Humanity “because I had a previous experience in Philadelphia” with the organization, she explained, and “found the work extremely rewarding. I am also very interested in traveling and seeing a part of the world that is completely unfamiliar to me.”

As a photographer, Farwell will be using her camera as much as she can, “while still doing my share of the work,” she added.

The cost of the trip, including airfare, lodging, food, ground transportation, tours, insurance, orientation materials and a donation to Habitat Zambia, is approximately $1,700.

Farwell would appreciate any contributions to help her participate in this worthwhile humanitarian experience, and said she would gladly offer a program of her photographs documenting this experience upon her return.

If you would like to help with this Habitat for Humanity Global Village Trip, you can send contributions to Farwell at 739 Union St., Apt. 1, Bangor 04401.

For more information, e-mail neesero5@yahoo.com.

Sister Marie Ahern of H.O.M.E. Inc. has a save-the-date reminder and a request for your assistance.

Sister Marie reminds you H.O.M.E.’s annual auction begins at noon Saturday, Aug. 19, at H.O.M.E. on the corner of Route 1 and Schoolhouse Road in Orland.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the organization’s homeless shelters, and auctioneer Linda Sullivan will be doing all she can to make sure the bidding is lively.

However, for this benefit to succeed, your donations of “interesting, auctionable items” are greatly needed, Sister Marie wrote.

Representatives of H.O.M.E. will pick them up “any time, any place,” she emphasized.

If you cannot deliver your donations, call 469-7961 and ask for Sister Marie or Tracey Hair. They will be pleased to talk with you.

H.O.M.E. is an acronym for Homemakers Organized for More Employment.

The Smith Brothers of Industry and vocalist Sally Swallow of Farmington join featured guests the Kruger Brothers for the fourth annual Kingfield POPS with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, July 1, at the Kennedy Farm in Kingfield.

The concert grounds open at 5 p.m. for your picnic on the lawn, during which the Western Mountain Steel Drum Band will perform, followed by the Smith Brothers and the Kruger Brothers.

The 50-member BSO, under the baton of music director and conductor Xiao-Lu Li, closes out the evening beginning at 8 p.m. with a patriotic program of American POPS favorites.

Swallow will join the BSO for “God Bless America,” and the young Kingfield Spirit Marchers will make an appearance.

Tickets for the Kingfield POPS are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate.

Youths 17 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

For more information, or tickets, call (800) 639-3221, visit bangorsymphony.com or stop by any branch of UnitedKingfield Bank.

The public is cordially invited to join members of the Ellsworth Garden Club at 7 p.m. Monday, June 26, at the Hancock County Cooperative Extension office on Boggy Brook Road in Ellsworth.

Elaine Fernald reports representatives of Burdick & Booher, Landscape Architects, will offer a presentation titled “Stone in the Landscape.”

For more information, call Fernald at 244-3085.

Marlene Doucette wrote recently to thank the public for its support, the merchants for donating door prizes, and her “co-workers behind the scenes” who helped make last month’s Orono Tasting Bee a success.

Doucette also expressed gratitude to the many restaurant owners who provided the delicious food for the fundraiser.

Proceeds from this annual Orono Historical Society event benefit the Civil War Monument in Webster Park.

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