Dear Sun Spots: I am a 17-year-old home-schooled high school student looking for a way to help people. As part of the required community service for graduation, I already plan to volunteer at the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, but I came up with another good use of my time and talents. I love to sew fabric and make pillows, so I thought I could make and donate them to local homeless shelters and hospitals, the hospitals as a way to offer a form of comfort and a feeling of home. My question is where are there local homeless shelters, children’s and elderly clinics and who would I need to contact to achieve my goal? I would very much appreciate seeing a response to my question in your daily column. It would mean a lot to me and those I am trying to help. I can be reached at (207) 782-2488 or via e-mail at Camracrazy36@yahoo.com. – April Laverty, No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you might consider contacting the following list to get you started. Sun Spots would encourage you to please contact these agencies prior to sending your items to determine if they do in fact need them.

• St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Campus Avenue, P.O. Box 291, Lewiston, ME 04243, (207) 777-8100.

• Central Maine Medical Center, 300 Main St., Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 795-0111.

• Franklin Memorial Hospital, 111 Franklin Health Commons, Farmington, ME 04938, 800-398-6031, (207) 778-6031, 645-4911 (toll-free from Livermore Falls area).

• Wisdom’s Center, 97 Blake St, Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 784-0155.

• Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, 15 Strawberry Ave., Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 777-7740.

• Hope Haven Gospel Mission, 209 Lincoln St., Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 783-6086.

• St. Martin De Porres Residence Inc., 23 Bartlett St., Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 786-4690.

• Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, 35 Canal St. No. 2, Lewiston, ME 04240, (207) 795-6744.

Dear Sun Spots: On a recent television program, I am sorry but I can’t remember which one, or when, they referred to the city of Lewiston as Maine’s poorest of the poor. It brought up how immigrants were creating many problems for the state of Maine. Most of these immigrants, as I saw it, were only striving for a better way of life for themselves and their families. It referred to the joblessness, the homelessness, and other like problems. Would you be aware of this television program and where I might be able to write for a transcript? Perhaps you might have other articles on it? Any assistance would be appreciated. – Ordella Eastman, Whitefield, N.H.

Answer: Sun Spots is not aware of this program, but perhaps readers who have seen it will be willing to contact the column with any information on it.

Dear Sun Spots: I graduated from Edward Little High School class of ‘79. I have lived in Virginia Beach ever since. In the school year 1972-73 I was in Central Middle School’s production of Tom Sawyer. I played Tom. It was filmed. I have been looking for a copy of that film. Can you help me? Thanks for any help. – Alvin Westleigh, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: Thank you for your informative and helpful column. I am hoping that some of your readers may be able to help me. I am making an afghan, and I need eight skeins of Mainstay’s Yarn No. 1707, True Red, in order to complete the project. I purchased the yarn at Wal-Mart, and they no longer carry this brand. If anyone can help, please contact me at 50 Farrington Road, Jay, ME 04239. Thank you. – June Williams, Jay.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to sunspots@sunjournal.com

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