For more than 30 years, H.O.M.E. Inc. of Orland has been fulfilling its mission as “a cooperative community dedicated to economic and social reconstruction.”

What began in 1970 as an outlet for home workers’ crafts, H.O.M.E. now supports seven shelters serving Hancock County and beyond; a free health clinic, soup kitchen, food bank, learning center, alternative high school and college-level programs, and job and craft training as well as a working greenhouse, sawmill, shingle mill and farmers market.

All of these efforts, however, take money, and to provide what is needed, H.O.M.E. relies on fund-raisers such as its Summer Festival.

The festival begins with a blueberry pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at H.O.M.E. on Route 1 in Orland.

The day features crafts, carriage and wagon rides, entertainment, children’s games and a barbecue.

The Summer Festival continues with chapel services at 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at H.O.M.E. and that day includes gospel singers, poetry readings, musical entertainment and children’s games.

However, the major event for the day is a giant auction set for 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19.

If you’re interested in viewing a partial list of auction items, you can do so at the H.O.M.E. Co-op on Schoolhouse Road in Orland.

Among those items are works of art, savings bonds, car maintenance items, beauty items, books and magazines, children’s toys and clothing, entertainment, food and dining, fuel oil, furniture and carpeting, a variety of gifts, certificates for hotels and motels, household items, plants and flowers, software, tools and much more.

When H.O.M.E. advertises a “Giant Auction,” that is definitely what you will get!

Sister Marie Ahern is director of shelters for H.O.M.E., which operates three shelters in Orland, two in Ellsworth, one in Bucksport and one in Dedham.

“We do not have an enormous amount of government help,” she said of maintaining those facilities. “We don’t charge for upkeep, oil or electric. But if some are able to pay a little, we certainly ask them to do that. We do everything possible to help a person become whole and get direction, and help them to move on.”

But in order to help the homeless accomplish that, “we need all the help we can get,” Ahern said.

“I’ve not been homeless. But the people I meet who are homeless have enormous courage. They’ve survived things I could never have survived. They are our brothers and sisters and, until everybody has a home, our job is not done.”

The people of H.O.M.E. much prefer to say yes when asked for help by those “who’ve gotten no everywhere they’ve gone,” Ahern said.

“But it’s a challenge” to respond to all the requests, which is why H.O.M.E. needs your support at its Summer Festival.

When you help H.O.M.E., you are helping men, women and children through difficult situations at a critical time in their lives.

You are providing them a safe haven in an emergency or at a point in time when they have nowhere else to go.

For more information about this event, or the work of H.O.M.E., call 469-7961, write P.O. Box 10, Orland 04472, e-mail homecoop@earthling.net or visit its Web site at homecoop.net .

H.O.M.E. is part of the World EMMAUS Movement.

Members of the Skowhegan High School Drama Club continue their efforts to raise funds to attend the International Fringe Theater Festival next August in Scotland.

This week, you will find drama club members at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, where they hope you will park in their lot on the corner of Jewett and Madison avenues, or stop by their booth and buy raffle or 50-50 tickets.

By the way, according to its Web site, the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, on Route 201 north and locally known as Madison Avenue, is the site of the nation’s oldest, consecutively presented fair. This year is the 183rd edition.

When you talk with the SAHS drama students, you might also ask about other, future fund-raisers such as their bottle drive on Saturday, Sept. 8; their golf tournament on Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Lakewood Golf Course; and their dinner theater-dance on Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Lakewood Inn.

If you would like to help support SAHS students represent the state of Maine in this prestigious festival, you can make a check out to SAHS with Edinburg Experience in the memo line and mail it to RR 3, Box 6488, Skowhegan 04976.

Admission is free to attend The Sixth Ever Castine Historical Society Art Sale on Friday, Aug. 17, through Monday, Aug. 20, at the Castine Historical Society in Abbott School on the common in Castine.

You are also specifically invited to attend that event’s opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17.

The sale continues 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18; 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20.

The event features original fine arts media, crafts and photography by local artists, including professionals and amateurs.

For information about this event, call Lynne Dearborn at 326-4589.

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