When renovations must be made, and finances are not available to make them, people must use innovative methods of getting the work done.

Such is the case with Maine Mental Health Connections, formerly known as The Together Place, located on Union Street in Bangor.

Executive director Bob Mathien called recently to tell us that, last August, when the organization addressed the need and formulated a plan for renovations, the question arose as to how that work could be funded.

“[With] very little money to accomplish the goal, the organization called Jon Symonds, building maintenance instructor at the Penobscot Job Corps Center [in Bangor] to see if this was a project that his class might benefit from and assist in completing,” Mathien explained.

Symonds visited the club and met with Gene Dawes of Bangor, a full-time volunteer who oversees maintenance and renovation projects at the facility.

It was a most successful meeting, according to Mathien.

“Jon agreed that the projects would provide a beneficial learning experience for his students, and was excited about beginning this collaborative effort,” Mathien reported.

“Several projects were tackled and, in addition to manpower, Job Corps solicited materials to help.”

Mathien said that MMHC board member Pat O’Brien informed Symonds about the Maine Community Foundation’s Partnership in Philanthropy program — which awards 10 grants of $1,000 to youth groups to share with area orgnizations they are assisting. Symonds was successful in guiding his class through the grant-application process and obtaining one of those grants.

The excellent relationship between MHHC and PJC is continuing, much to everyone’s satisfaction. In fact, when we spoke with Gene Dawes Thursday afternoon, he told us two PJC students were there “to finish off painting the ceiling in the main room.”

Dawes said the volunteer help was really needed.

“We had to have somebody in here who could do things such as painting, cleaning up, helping us with remodeling and putting in new floors. But we didn’t have the funds to hire anyone to do that.”

So it was Penobscot Jobs Corps to the rescue.

“It really is a help to have them work with us,” said Dawes, who puts in a full, 48-plus-hour week in his volunteer maintenance position at MHHC.

Mathien reports plans are under way to renovate bathrooms in the facility, and PJC will be working on that project as well.

Thanks to those who had the courage to ask for help, and those who responded to that request, a new bond of mutual assistance, mutual respect and mutual friendship has been formed between these local organizations.

We applaud the efforts of everyone involved in this most worthwhile endeavor.

Pine Tree Camp for crippled children and adults will benefit from the proceeds of what should be a fun-filled basketball game beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday at Orono High School. Admission is by donation.

OHS staff members Steve and Cathy Van Dolman organized the event. The couple works for the Belgrade Lakes region camp during the summer months.

The game pits OHS and middle school basketball coaches against the school’s varsity teams.

Suiting up for the faculty will be OHS girls varsity head coach Steve Gardner, junior varsity girls coach John Merchant, freshman girls coach April Field, boys varsity head coach Matt Clark, junior varsity boys coach Aaron Watson, boys freshman coach Tiger Stewart and middle school coach Sonja Wedge, a former member of the University of Maine women’s basketball team.

Completing the faculty team will be Steve Van Dolman, Kellen Hutchins, Tim Baude, Tom Jamo and Rob St. Louis.

Playing for OHS will be students Ian Torrey, Jared Wade, Ted Markowsky, Lori Mehuren, Jessica Libby, David Means, Ben Enos, Pam Ventura and Amanda Mitchell.

Business owners of Rose Bicycle, Orono Subway, Thai Orchid Restaurant and New Moon Cafe have donated door prizes to be awarded during the event.

Benefits such as this are always enjoyable for those on the court and those in the stands, and participating in such a worthy cause makes for a great evening.

We remind you that United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern Maine kicked off its annual Phone-A-Thon this week.

The only direct appeal UCP makes yearly, the Phone-A-Thon continues on Monday, March 8, and Tuesday, March 9. It closes out with a final push on Thursday, March 11.

The Phone-A-Thon is the largest fund-raising event for this local disabilty service provider. For information on how you can help, or to participate in the effort, call UCP at 941-2952.

Hospice of St. Joseph in Bangor and Pine Tree Hospice of Dover-Foxcroft have teamed up to conduct a joint training program for anyone interested in becoming a hospice volunteer.

The sessions will be conducted 3-5 p.m. beginning Tuesday, March 23, and continue the following Tuesdays and Thursdays for five weeks at the Methodist Church in East Corinth. The final session is Thursday, April 22.

Hospice care is designed to improve the quality of life and provide support for people in the final stages of life. It is usally provided in a private home or home-like setting, and volunteers are an integral part of the overall medical program for the terminally-ill patient.

For information or an application to participate in this training, call Hospice of St. Joseph, 262-1810 or 800-646-5000; or PTH at 564-4346.

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