DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to increased needs, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice is offering a class this winter for compassionate people to be trained as hospice volunteers. Hospice volunteers help support terminally ill patients and their families at home, in long-term care facilities and at the AHCH Hospice House in Auburn. A 27-hour hospice course will be held in Lewiston beginning Jan. 28.

Volunteers are valued members of the hospice team and are matched with patients in or near their communities. We ask for a time commitment of two to four hours each week. Classes will be held in Lewiston at our Strawberry Avenue location. For more information, please contact volunteer services at 777-7740 or 1-800-482-7412. — Nancy Greene, volunteer coordinator

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Androscoggin Habitat for Humanity volunteers have done a great job in the 20 years since the organization was founded, building a total of 14 houses for families in need of decent, affordable housing and selling them with zero-interest mortgages. Volunteers are completing the 15th house, at 133 Hampshire St. in Auburn.

Many people don’t realize that Androscoggin Habitat also must have volunteers to work in jobs that don’t involve hammers and saws. Like an army, the people with the hammers and saws must have a support system behind them to carry out their mission.

At this time Androscoggin Habitat badly needs volunteers to staff committees that do the important work of preparing for a build. This includes finding property on which to build a house, helping to select a family from among applicants for a house, working with contractors and suppliers to build a house, raising money to pay for building supplies, writing newsletters and releases, working at fundraisers, arranging speaking dates, working with churches that provide support, and lining up new volunteers.

Another important job is clerking at the Habitat ReStore, a warehouse at 44 Strawberry Ave. in Lewiston that raises money by selling donated goods that cannot be used in building a house. People with special skills would be valuable in several of these positions — experience in retailing, office work, public relations, and business management, to cite a few — but the most important qualities needed are a willingness to give their hearts and time to an important cause, and being willing to work with others and learn new skills.

Age and gender do not matter. Can you type? Stuff envelopes? Count change? Got a pickup truck? We need you. For those volunteers who might consider assuming a higher level of responsibility, there are openings on the board of directors. Being a board member requires attending monthly meetings and taking part in Habitat activities as needed.

If you can help us, please call me at 782-0400 so I can give you more details. — Allen Sterling, president, Androscoggin Habitat for Humanity

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Monday, Dec. 14, on the Bonnie Hunt show at 10 a.m., there was an author with a book that sounded very interesting, but I did not get the name of it. Is it available in this area? Hope someone has the answer. 

Lorraine, I have more magazines if you want them, call me.

Thank you again for a great column. — Barbara Gervais, Turner

ANSWER: As it so often does, the Internet provided an answer. At www.bonniehunt.com, Sun Spots learned that author Mitch Albom was on the show that day. Albom’s newest book is “Have a Little Faith: A True Story.” Albom is well known for his other books, including “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “5 People You Meet in Heaven.” It seems likely that the local bookstores will have this one in stock, but if they don’t, ask them to order it for you.

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