Although we are barely stepping into the holiday season, it is time for all of us to begin making our plans for the special holidays we celebrate in November and December.
One prominent local organization that would truly appreciate being included not only in your planning, but also your gift-giving is the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.
And what a special time this would be to make that extra effort to assist the shelter, as Dec. 24 marks the beginning of its 25th year of operation, “a distinction that brings us powerful and mixed emotions,” BAHS Executive Director Dennis Marble said.
Dennis contacted me recently to ask that I remind readers the shelter needs your help this holiday season, and it is especially in need of volunteers to assist with the shelter’s Thanksgiving and-or Christmas dinners.
This year, Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 25, and Christmas falls on a Saturday.
The schedule for volunteers for each of those special meals is organized into three shifts: one for preparing the meal, another for serving the meal and the third for cleaning up after the meal.
Anyone who is interested in helping with either or both the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners is asked to call the shelter at 947-0092 and speak with any employee who will, gratefully, help you schedule a time that is most convenient for you.
And as we plan, shop and think about what we expect to give for gifts this holiday season, Dennis requests that you consider not only offering gifts for the guests the shelter hosts, but also helping support the shelter financially.
“With chilly mornings and as many as 43 people waking up in the shelter, we’re running low on supplies of coffee, sugar and coffee creamer,” Dennis said.
The shelter is also in need of deodorant and men’s razors, and there are others items that can make a world of difference to someone in need.
For example, shelter guests can certainly use a gift of telephone calling cards; gift certificates for food and hot meals; and any type of clothing appropriate for Maine’s tough winters: gloves, mittens, hats, underwear, shoes, boots and outerwear.
During November, Dennis said, the shelter issues its Annual Appeal in the form of “a simple and straightforward letter asking for financial help.”
That letter is mailed to individuals, churches, business owners and social organizations that have assisted the shelter in the past.
Unfortunately, in this difficult economy, demand for the services the shelter provides is up; its operating costs have increased; and “support from the government has either decreased or remained flat,” Dennis pointed out.
Which is why new financial donations, in any amount, would be most welcome and sincerely appreciated since all funds “go directly to support people in need, right here” at the Bangor facility.
The shelter’s longtime executive director reminds readers, with sincere gratitude, that the shelter “has always benefited from a wide array of community support.”
One example of that support is his announcement that the shelter expects “to finally have our own website, in the near future, thanks to a sizeable, in-kind donation made by Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications, with technical coordination donated by Oxford Networks.”
Dennis also reported the National Coalition for the Homeless has declared the week of Nov. 14-20 as National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and he suggests perhaps a school or church “could conduct a food drive to benefit BAHS or another program of its choice” during that special week.
He also reminds you Dec. 21, the longest night of the year, is set aside for the Homeless Persons Memorial, “out of respect for all those who have died while being homeless.”
Anyone who wants to make a donation of any items the shelter needs, or make a financial contribution, can call the shelter at the number above, mail a donation to BAHS, 263 Main St., Bangor 04401, or visit the shelter during regular business hours.
You are also welcome to send questions or comments to the shelter at taabahs@oxfordnetworks.net.
Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; javerill@bangordailynews.com; 990-8288.