BETHEL – “A Visit to Safe Passage,” Hanely Denning’s program to save Guatemala City’s dump children, will be the topic of the Down Home Maine program from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Rooster’s Roadhouse private dining room, 159 Mayville Road, Route 2.

Pat and Henry Stewart, program volunteers, will share experiences and show the Academy Award nominated film, “A Recycled Life.” Down Home Maine, sponsored by Western Mountains Senior College, brings unique, creative and adventurous Maine people to the community through the monthly programs.

“Safe Passage” (Camino Seguro) was founded in 1999 by Denning of Falmouth to provide hope and assistance to the children of the Guatemala City garbage dump workers and their families.

The program fosters hope, good health, educational achievement, self-esteem and confidence.

Each child can gain the skills needed to obtain stable jobs, to be self-sufficient and lead their families out of poverty in a dignified and permanent way.

Since it was founded, Safe Passage has grown from educating 40 children to more than 500.

It represents a community comprised of children and their families living at the Guatemala City dump, a dedicated local Guatemalan staff and caring sponsors and volunteers from Guatemala and around the world.

Christ Church Norway was one of the first sponsors of a Safe Passage Child through its outreach budget and contributions of individual parishioners. In 2007, two days after Hanley’s tragic death, Pat and Henry Stewart visited Safe Passage as volunteers and met Christ Church’s sponsor child, Julian Reyes. They returned in 2008 and will return again in February 2009.

The free program is open to the public. For more information, call 665-2181 or 836-2576.