One of the processes many of us go through as our families grow, change and move is that we find ourselves changing our holiday traditions.

If you count yourself among those who are considering a change in how you spend Thanksgiving, Bangor Area Homeless Shelter executive director Dennis Marble has something for you to think about.

“We need some volunteers to help prepare, serve or clean up for our Thanksgiving meal we always have here at the shelter,” he e-mailed me recently. “It’s been an opportunity in the past for our neighbors to experience a sense of giving back to the community, and it’s provided some special time for families to volunteer together.”

Marble reports the shelter will “need between 12 and 20 volunteers in total.

“We’ll set up the day, in shifts, so as to not overdo things,” adding that the shifts “will probably run” from 8 to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, which is Thanksgiving Day.

The meals will be served at the shelter, which is located on the corner of Main and Cedar streets in Bangor.

Thanks to the generosity of those who have volunteered in the past at the shelter on Thanksgiving, Marble wrote, “we have been able to provide a wonderful meal to those staying at the shelter and some more folks from the community.”

Historically, he added, the Brewer Eagles Club “has purchased almost all the food and fixings needed for this feast!”

If you can help, please do so, and let Marble know that you will be there. You can reach him at 947-0092.

The Skowhegan-Madison Elks Lodge will host a Luck of the Draw Auction, with the doors opening to display the items at 9 a.m. and the sale to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Lodge, 21 Silver St., Skowhegan.

A light lunch will be available 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Proceeds benefit the town of Skowhegan Veterans Memorial.

For information, call 474-3111 or e-mail elks2531@gwi.net.

Carrie Anderson-Paquette reminds you the eighth annual Bangor Y Benefit Auction is 5-11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.

Dick Cattelle will serve as auctioneer for what is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the Bangor Y.

Proceeds help the Y develop programs to benefit Bangor area families and provide program subsidies to make them affordable.

Your $30 ticket includes dinner, a silent auction, the live auction, raffles and post-auction entertainment.

Auction items include the two newest Stephen King autographed books; tickets to see Whoopi Goldberg, donated by Maine Center for the Arts; an exercise bike, donated by Richard Stone; and other artwork and gift certificates for a variety of items, dining and entertainment.

Tickets are available at the Bangor Y, 127 Hammond St. or 17 Second St.

The Rev. David Hutchinson and members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Houlton invite you to enjoy a Bluegrass Benefit featuring the music of the Katahdin Valley Boys at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in the sanctuary concert venue at 61 Military St., Houlton.

Advance tickets are $10. Tickets at the door are $12. There is no admission fee for children under 12.

Advance tickets are available at York’s Bookstore, Visions in Houlton and Pieces of Eight in Presque Isle.

Proceeds benefit the ongoing rehabilitation of the church that is more than a century old.

Bluegrass and other music lovers will enjoy the all-Maine group that includes Wayne Burtt of Hermon on mandolin, Jeff Folger of Sidney on banjo, Dale Hodgdon of Westport Island on guitar, Terry Spearrin of Skowhegan on bass and Kip Yattaw of Port Clyde on fiddle.

More information about the concert or the church restoration can be obtained by calling the Rev. Hutchinson at 532-9269.

Amy Ludwig reports the Penquis Community Action Program Resource Development Center is offering classes on Early Childhood Learning Guidelines.

The classes are open to family child care, center-based, nursery school, Head Start and public Pre-K programs for a $15 registration fee.

The classes will be conducted Nov. 13, 18, 20 and 27, and Dec. 4, 11 and 18 at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St. in Bangor. With the exception of Nov. 18, all classes will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Nov. 18, the class will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For information or to register, call 973-3353.

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