With just a few weeks’ notice, six students at the University of Maine in Orono and the UMaine Campus Crusade for Christ minister and his wife are making plans to fly Saturday, March 12, from Boston to Los Angeles, where they will join 100 other CCC students traveling to Thailand, one of the many nations affected by last December’s devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

CCC minister Joe and Angela Cousins of Old Town will travel with Poland residents Justin Gray and Megan Gray, Jeremy Labbe of Rockwood, Marilyn Nichols of Orono, Michael Dabrieo of Sanford and Bethany Asquith of Lewiston.

The students will go to “villages north and south of Phuket to help in relief efforts,” Cousins said, and meet up with 200 Thai students who are also part of Campus Crusade for Christ.

The UMaine students need to raise $3,000 each for the two-week trip, and they could use your help.

A recent fund-raiser at Sam’s Club in Bangor netted about $900, Cousins said, but a lot of money remains to be raised.

Cousins said fund-raising letters have been mailed to churches, individuals and area businesses, but he expects most of the money will come from private donations.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made to Campus Crusade for Christ and sent to Joe and Angela Cousins, 64 Pine St., Old Town 04468.

The students will use one week of spring break and miss one week of classes while they are away, Cousins said of the mission for which “there are a lot of unknowns.”

“We’ve been told to prepare to stay in tents,” he said. “So we’re taking tents, mosquito netting and water filters. We’re trying to be self-contained.”

Asked what the students’ mission will be in Thailand, Cousins said they were told “what they really need is bodies to lug stuff into the villages, pass things out, and play with the kids.”

And that may be just what they do, although who knows what talents might be tapped?

Cousins told me that among the students making the trip are those majoring in horticulture, engineering and business.

Everyone involved is “pretty excited and a little nervous,” he added about the overseas journey, which is a first for those who have made this marvelous commitment to help others.

If you can help send these representatives of UMaine to Thailand, please do so.

St. John’s Episcopal Church member Doris Lichtenstein of Bangor celebrates her 99th birthday this week, and her fellow parishioners invite you to join in that celebration.

A special coffee hour in her honor will follow the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, March 6, at the church, 225 French St. in Bangor.

The coffee hour begins at approximately 11:30 a.m., and community members, friends and family are welcome to attend.

Writing on behalf of members of the Charles O. Howard Memorial Foundation, its executive director, Dan Williams of Bangor, thanks everyone who helped make the Foundations’ third Benefit Auction such a success.

In fact, he reported, “it was the best auction ever.”

More than $3,000 was raised, all who attended enjoyed themselves, and the hope is that next year’s auction will be even better.

The purpose of the foundation is to embrace diversities in our neighborhoods.

People who are seriously considering adoption are invited to an informational event, “Adopting from Russia,” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the offices of Maine Adoption Placement Service, 181 State St. in Bangor.

MAPS staff member Melissa Huston said this meeting replaces the one scheduled for Jan. 12 that was postponed because of inclement weather.

MAPS Russia Program specialists, and an adoptive couple who recently traveled to Russia to complete their family, will discuss the international adoption process in that country.

The meeting also offers the opportunity to learn more about all adoption options available to you, and how MAPS can help select the adoption process that is right for you. Space in limited, so you are asked to RSVP by calling MAPS at 941-9500.

For more information, visit www.mapsadopt.org.

You are reminded that the last day to order your fresh daffodils to benefit the American Cancer Society is Friday, March 11.

To order or receive more information, call the ACS Penobscot Unit at 989-0332.

You can also send bouquets by e-mail: Just visit www.cancer.org/daffodils.

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