Although the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund Central Maine Chapter has just a handful of members, its goals are lofty: Helping get medical supplies and equipment to assist hundreds of children suffering from leukemia and other illnesses after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

CCRS was established, nationally, in 1989, but the local chapter was just established in August last year.

The local chapter committee members are Bohdan Slabyj of Brewer, Dr. Katherine Lane of Eddington, and Cindy Shulkosky of Bangor.

Knowing that each $1 raised here, and sent to the Ukraine is worth $10 there, the CCRF Central Maine Chapter is making plans to hold a garage sale on Friday, June 22.

But, to make that fund-raiser as successful as possible, the local CCRF chapter needs as many garage-sale items as it can get.

“We’re looking for anything,” Slabyj said.

“We are just a handful of people, so we are asking friends and acquaintances to help us out, by bringing items for us to sell.”

Since CCRF was established, it has provided humanitarian aid to the Ukraine valued at more than $45 million.

Last summer, the CCRF Central Maine Chapter sponsored the visit to Bangor by Dr. Mykola Khoma of Chernivtsi, Ukraine, who arrived in October and spent several weeks observing operations by pediatric surgeon Dr. Thomas McGill and other physicians at Eastern Maine Medical Center, and at local clinics.

However, it costs approximately $3,000 to bring a doctor here, Slabyj said, and the chapter is unable to do that this year.

“So we are trying to buy things instead to help the hospital in Chernivtsi,” Slabyj said.

The CCRF Central Maine Chapter Garage Sale is just one way for the group to raise money that is still so desperately needed to help children affected by the aftermath of Chernobyl.

“The fallout is all over the place,” Slabyj said.

Chernivtsi in located “the most western part of Ukraine,” he said and, in that area, “two more villages were evacuated recently.”

Because people migrate, or are forced to relocate, the problems faced in the aftermath of this nuclear disaster are everywhere in the country and, Slabyj said, “it is not always leukemia, but all sorts of things that affect them.”

But for this small, dedicated group of volunteers, it’s the children of Chernivtsi they are most concerned with.

“We are trying to help the children’s hospitals where the mortality rate is very high,” Slabyj said.

The local chapter also wants people just to know that it exists, and its members invite “anyone who is interested,” in helping the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund to join them and learn more about the organization and its work.

In the meantime, if you’re doing some spring cleaning, and find things you believe would make good garage-sale items, please call Slabyj at 989-6118 and donate those items to the garage sale to help the Children of Chernobyl.

And although, nationally, CCRF has great, long-range goals of what it would like to accomplish in the next decade, Slabyj recognizes that, locally, “whatever our group accomplishes, will have to do.”

If you don’t have anything to contribute to the CCRF Garage Sale, but would like to make a donation to this organization, send a check to the CCRF Central Maine Chapter, 43 Robinhood Drive, Brewer 04412.

All donations are tax-deductible.

A hearty “well done” is extended to the sixth-graders in Joan Vandemark’s class at Benton Elementary School, who recently completed a successful campaign in honor and memory of one of their classmates.

For three weeks, the pupils participated in “Pennies for Patients” in which fund-raising boxes were distributed to all the classrooms at Benton Elementary School.

The sixth-graders explained to their schoolmates that the money would be used for research in hopes of finding a cure for leukemia.

At the end of the campaign, the pennies were collected, counted, wrapped and deposited, and a donation of $1,025 was made to the Leukemia Society of America in honor and memory of classmate Isaiah Desrosiers, who died last November.

The Second Annual Silent Auction to benefit the Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center in Bangor is 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, at Spectacular Events, 365 Griffin Road in Bangor.

The admission is just $5, and items ranging in value from $10 to $500 will be available for you to bid on.

Silent auction items donated by area retailers and local artists range from fine jewelry to homemade goods.

In addition, you will hear some great music, and enjoy some tasty hors d’oeuvres.

If you wish more information about this event, or about the programs and services of the MWWHC, which offers quality comprehensive health care for all women, call 947-5337.

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