The Dexter Community Food Closet is among the many food providers in our area participating in a fund-raiser with Good Shepherd Food-Bank of Auburn.

Good Shepherd Executive Director JoAnn Pike said that organization was successful recently in obtaining a $100,000 Challenge Grant from the Sandy River Charitable Foundation.

Pike said Good Shepherd is calling upon the food providers it serves to raise an equal amount so that $200,000 more in funds will be available to help feed the needy throughout Maine.

She cites the lagging economy in our state as the reason more people than ever are seeking assistance at food pantries and soup kitchens. In fact, the number of people asking for assistance are setting records.

The Rev. Lois Merrifield is minister of the Dexter United Methodist Church, which oversees the activities of the Dexter Community Food Closet.

“We have food distribution from 9 to 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month at the Food Closet, on the church property at 59 Main St. in Dexter,” Merrifield said.

About 85 families, regularly, receive food from the Food Closet, which is under the direction of church member Connie Fortier.

To help maintain an adequate supply of food, and as part of its relationship with Good Shepherd, the Food Closet has been asked to raise $500 by Tuesday, April 30, for the Sandy River Charitable Foundation Challenge Grant.

To help the Food Closet meet its goal, you may send a tax-deductible contribution to Dexter Community Food Closet, P.O. Box 655, Dexter 04930.

Through its national affiliation with America’s Second Harvest Network, Good Shepherd brings truckloads of food from out of state to feed needy Maine people.

Millions of pounds of food are also supplied, each year, by companies such as Hannaford Bros., Shaw’s Supermarkets, Barber Foods, Labree Bakeries, Jordan Foods, SYSCO, Supervalu, SureWinner Food, Lepage Bakeries and others that have an established relationship with Good Shepherd.

To help Good Shepherd with the $100,000 challenge grant, donations may be made directly to Good Shepherd Food-Bank, P.O. Box 1807, Auburn 04210-1807.

May Pardy of the Winterport Woman’s Club invites you to attend its public auction with preview at 6 p.m. and the auction at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Columbian Hall of St. Gabriel Church on Main Street in Winterport.

Proceeds from the auction will help with Woman’s Club community service projects such as its support of Girl Scouts, scholarships and town beautification projects that include Christmas wreaths and flower boxes in the summer.

Among the items you will find at the auction will be everything from housewares and crafts to a Paul Revere bowl and a champagne cooler.

Some antiques, small kitchen appliances and gift certificates contributed by Winterport merchants and businesses are also included.

Pardy wrote that “there will be something for everyone,” and that “homemade baked goods and other refreshments will be available for sale.”

A new support group for individuals in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, facilitated by social worker Wayne Moore and nurse Mary Lingley of Neurology Associates of Eastern Maine, holds its first meeting 7-9 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the living room of the assisted living unit at Westgate Manor, 750 Union St. in Bangor.

The entrance to the assisted living unit is at the end of the driveway to the right of the facility.

Held concurrently with the Alzheimer’s Support Group for Family and Friends that meets 7-9 p.m. at Westgate Manor, the goal of the new group is to provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can share and learn from each other’s experiences with Alzheimer’s.

Informational presentations addressing issues such as coping, community and financial resources and care options will also be included.

For information, call Moore or Lingley at 947-0558.

A recent phone call from Worthy Matron Susan Fields of Star in the East No. 17, Order of the Eastern Star of Hampden, prompted a letter from her detailing some of the chapter’s charitable giving and community involvement which I am pleased to pass along to our readers.

Fields wrote that each year “our chapter succeeds in making contributions to the communities in which we participate.”

For example, during 2001-2002, Star In The East Chapter No. 17 provided financial contributions to the public libraries in Hampden, Winterport, Carmel and Hermon.

“We are pleased that our contributions can be helpful to so many of the people in our neighborhoods,” Fields wrote.

The chapter also delivers non-perishable items, collected at its monthly meetings, to local food cupboards.

Fields added that “each year, we enjoy offering the Gail Libby Buckingham Memorial Scholarship to a graduating senior from Hampden Academy.”

“Although the Order of the Eastern Star contributes its talents to larger organizations, such as The Salvation Army and heart and cancer funds, we are especially rewarded each time we can offer to assist our home towns.”

Serving the chapter in leadership positions with Fields this year are Wallace Fenlason of Bangor, worthy patron pro tem; Nancy Cunningham of Carmel, secretary; and Betty Campbell of Hampden, chairwoman of the community involvement project.

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