People helping people

Two Bangor agencies which serve central and eastern Maine, Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross and Manna Inc., were among participants in the fifth annual People Remembering and Helping People tribute by Maine’s credit unions to the five Red Cross Chapters of Maine.

At the ceremony, Maine’s credit unions recognized the victims of Sept. 11, 2001, and their families. Also honored were organizations that work each day to protect the health and safety of Maine people, as checks were presented to the Emergency Food Relief Fund of each Red Cross Chapter.

In addition, as part of the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, a donation was made to a food pantry in each chapter. Since 2001, through the Campaign for Ending Hunger, Maine’s credit unions have contributed nearly $40,000 to the Emergency Food Relief Funds of Maine’s Red Cross Chapters in memory of the events of Sept. 11.

Each Red Cross chapter’s Emergency Food Relief Fund received a check for $911 from Maine’s credit unions.

Manna Ministries of Bangor was one of five food pantries in Maine receiving a $500 check.

The tribute included brief remarks from credit union and Red Cross representatives. The ceremony concluded with each chapter and food pantry representative joining in a moment of remembrance.

Lt. Col. John Thomas, chairman of the board of directors of Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross, accepted the check for his chapter and called the ceremony “an example of the true spirit of giving and honoring emergency relief agencies on this day. Maine credit unions are so much about community and this event will make a big difference in the communities my agency and my fellow agencies represented here today serve.”

Visit www.mainecul.org for information.

Helping Maine farmers

BANGOR – Maine farmers will have a unique opportunity to hear from local consumers about their experiences and thoughts on buying locally grown products on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Spectacular Event Center on Griffin Road.

Greg Franklin, a marketing professional from New Hampshire with a background in agriculture, will facilitate a consumer focus group at a one-day marketing workshop.

Sponsored by Heart of Maine Resource Conservation and Development and the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, the event will focus on gaining a better understanding of what consumers want and helping farmers use word-of-mouth marketing techniques.

Virginia Miracle, an expert in word-of-mouth marketing from the South Carolina firm Brains on Fire!, will share marketing techniques and highlight Maine farmers who are successfully using word-of-mouth marketing.

Steve Taylor, New Hampshire’s commissioner of agriculture for more than two decades, will provide his insights about the trends and future of agriculture in New England.

The cost to attend the event is $20, which includes lunch. For information, call 947-6622, Ext. 5, or visit www.heartofmaine.org.

New hospice agency

BANGOR – Beacon Hospice Inc. opened a new office in Bangor in September to extend its hospice care services to Penobscot County.

Beacon Hospice offers services to terminally ill patients and their loved ones, including the Deep Harbors program for end-stage dementia patients.

The new office is located at Hancock Place, 304 Hancock Street, Suite 3A. The office employs a full team of care professionals – nurses, home health aides, a volunteer coordinator, chaplain, social worker and bereavement coordinator.

President and CEO of Beacon Hospice, Betty Brennan, is a Bangor native.

“I am very excited to provide the outstanding quality of care that Beacon Hospice consistently delivers to my hometown and the surrounding communities,” said Brennan.

The Bangor office is seeking volunteers interested in working with hospice patients. Volunteers may be involved in a number of ways, from visiting with patients on an on-going basis to sitting vigils, organizing craft projects or working in the Beacon Hospice office.

Beacon Hospice is Medicare-and Medicaid-certified, state-licensed and Community Health Accreditation Program-accredited for hospice services. The company provides end-of-life-care to all patients, regardless of the ability to pay. Hospice is fully covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans.

For information on the services Beacon provides or for details on becoming a volunteer, call 800-840-0668.