Since Dec. 21, residents of Mariaville, Otis, Aurora, Osborn, Great Pond and Amherst who need some assistance feeding themselves and their families have been able to take advantage of the once-a-month offerings of the What’s For Suppa Food Pantry at the Mariaville Grange Hall.

Beth Lambert reports the “newly formed pantry is stocked with dry goods, canned goods, fresh meat and bread, and ready to serve those in need” residing in those area communities.

The food pantry is open from noon to 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of every month, which means it will be open Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Grange Hall.

Lambert wrote that Food Pantry board chairman Kent Ellsworth “hopes that, eventually, the pantry will be open on a weekly basis.”

She added that the pantry welcomes your community support, and if you are able to make a donation, or would like more information, you can write Ellsworth at 1268 Otis Road, Otis 04605 or e-mail whatsforsuppa@gmail.com.

Although many tickets have been sold for the Pot of Gold Raffle sponsored by the Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary, not enough have been sold for the Auxiliary to meet its goal of raising $20,000 for the hospital and presenting $10,000 to the raffle winner.

Only 300 tickets are to be sold at $100 each.

Originally, the winning ticket was to be drawn at the DECH International Food Festival Saturday, Feb. 24, in Machias.

However, the drawing will not be conducted until all 300 tickets are sold, reports Auxiliary member Lil Hanscom.

The Auxiliary wants to raise $20,000 to help purchase a comprehensive ventilator for the hospital’s Cardio-Pulmonary Department, Hanscom said.

This equipment can ventilate “the infant-to-adult patient population, and is able to provide noninvasive, positive pressure ventilation,” Hanscom wrote.

“This less-invasive approach is safer and may give the patient enough support” so patients will be able to recover and breathe on their own and not have a breathing tube inserted.

Raffle tickets need not be purchased by a single individual, and family members or groups are urged to support the fundraiser by joining forces and, if they’re lucky, splitting the winnings.

DECH Auxiliary Pot of Gold Raffle Tickets are available at the Auxiliary Gift Shop in the hospital or by calling the Gift Shop at 255-0487.

You can also obtain tickets by calling Hanscom, 255-4916; Noni MacBride, 733-4315; Carole Anne Sprague, 255-3660; Ruth Leubecker, 255-0915; or Julie Hixson at Down East Health Trust, 255-0244.

Six of the 10-week Healthy Hancock Lose and Win programs have been completed, with an accumulated weight loss of 2,408 pounds, “which is equivalent to the weight of a 20-foot male giraffe,” wrote Iris Simon of Healthy Hancock, the sponsoring organization.

The next Lose and Win meetings will be a time for participants to pretend “they are on a warm beach, playing volleyball,” Simon wrote.

Simon stresses attendees “need not know how to play volleyball to attend,” and she encourages all Lose and Win Participant to take part.

This week’s first meeting is 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Island Community Center in Stonington.

The second meeting is 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Downeast Family YMCA in Ellsworth.

For Week 6, the Chunky Monkeys from the Hannaford store in Ellsworth were the top losers, followed by the Livin’ Life Large Girls.

Tied for third were the Be Moore-Weigh Less team from the Moore School, and the Trenton Taste Testers from the Trenton IGA.

Simon also reported that “a member of the Hip Huggers, who used this program to stop smoking, was still smoke free.”

Mary Jude, president of Eastern Maine AIDS Network, wrote to thank everyone for helping make its Red Ribbon Ball a success.

The Bangor event attracted more than 100 people and raised nearly $14,000.

“In times of decreasing funding from state and federal sources,” Jude wrote, “it’s comforting” to know “90 cents of every dollar donated to EMAN goes directly to support our clients.”

She praised Carol Kim and her committee for “a fabulous” effort resulting in “a great evening out for such a worthy cause.”

Jude urges you to mark your calendar for the second annual Red Ribbon Ball on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2008.

“If it’s anything like this year, it will be the event of the winter!”

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