DEAR SUN SPOTS: Lewiston High School’s STEP program is open once again to serve the educational needs of students experiencing homelessness in our region.

We are always in need of many items and are also available to speak to local groups and agencies regarding issues related to homelessness.

We are currently collecting gift cards to help students get new school clothes and supplies. Additionally, we are in need of shampoos, conditioners, deodorant, toothbrushes, alarm clocks with batteries, three-ring binders, boxers, underwear, socks, small padlocks for lockers, shoes and sneakers, nonperishable food, granola bars, juice boxes, etc.

We are very proud of the support this program affords our students, so please give us a call if you would like to visit us at Lewiston High School. Thank you to our community for its ongoing support! — Mary Seaman, mseaman@lewistonpublicschools.org, 795-4190, ext. 2214 or 2215

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Are there any programs where I can read the Sun Journal voluntarily to blind people? Thank you. Patrick Chaloux, Auburn, pchaloux@yahoo.com

ANSWER: There is indeed. It is the Maine Airs program, which is part of the Iris Network. This program arranges for volunteers to read newspapers, including the Sun Journal, and magazines to the visually impaired. You can check out the opportunities at www.theiris.org/maine-airs/programming, which offers the following information: 

“We invite you to consider becoming a volunteer reader for the Maine Audio Information and Reading service. Readers present local stories from statewide daily and weekly newspapers for listeners who are visually impaired, blind or print handicapped.

“We broadcast from studios at 12 Acme Road in Brewer and at The Iris Network, 189 Park Ave., Portland, over the secondary audio program channels of MPBN. Our broadcasts reach listeners from Portland and Lewiston to Houlton and Presque Isle.

“We seek readers who can commit to at least a one-hour on-air shift per week or be available for substituting for regular readers. Volunteers read in pairs, and spend about 30 minutes prior to airtime preparing the papers for broadcast. The Maine Reader offers opportunities to record books. We conduct a brief audition for each new reader prospect.”

Potential volunteers may call 989-0058.

Another option is the BookReach program, which is the topic of the next letter.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Calling all storytellers! The BookReach program is seeking dedicated volunteers to spend up to an hour of their time every one to two weeks reading to children. Sponsored by both the Lewiston and Auburn libraries, the BookReach program is dedicated to fostering a love of books in our youngest readers and bringing quality children’s literature into local family childcare homes.

After a brief orientation at the library, a volunteer is matched with a nearby child care provider. Using a bag of preselected books, the volunteer conducts a 20- to 30-minute storytime at the provider’s location every one to two weeks. This is a great opportunity for people who enjoy working with children and children’s literature.

We have three child care providers looking to start up the program again this fall and are in need of a volunteer. If you’d like to be one of them, please call or email me. — Nancy O’Toole, Lewiston Public Library, 513-3004, ext. 3515, bookreach@lewistonmaine.gov

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am a regular reader of your column. The lady looking for knee-high support hose (Aug. 17) should go to the Dollar Tree Store. They have some that are as good as some more costly. They have white, brown and black. There’s one of their stores in the Auburn Mall and in Oxford. Great buys. Good luck. — M.C., Norway

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). Please include your phone number. 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 e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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