DEAR SUN SPOTS: Once again the annual children’s Christmas shopping day will be held at the Avon Town Hall, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

Children with accompanying adults will be welcomed to shop while the adults have coffee and snacks. Adults and young adult elves are welcome to be helpers, too.

The children greatly enjoy being able to choose and buy gifts for their family members.

Donations of gently used or new items (especially for men) are needed. Meetings for drop-off and pickup from out-of-town friends will be arranged when possible. Call me at 207-684-3394 or Sandy Curtis at 639-5304.

The event is sponsored by the Phillips area community of Christian women. Thanking you in advance. — Barbara Gardiner, chairwoman, Avon

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends will hold its annual December bake sale on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15, at Big Lots in the Auburn Plaza Shopping Center on Center Street in Auburn during the operational hours of Big Lots.

Tommy’s always has a wide array of yummy holiday treats for sale. Although Tommy’s has several talented volunteer bakers providing those goodies, this is a popular two-day event and we can use as many baked goods as possible.

If you would like to be one of Santa’s little baking helpers for Tommy’s, please call Norm Blais at 207-650-8374 or send a message to P.O. Box 274, Greene, ME 04236.

So many of us bake during the holiday season anyway, so why not turn out an extra dozen cookies or whatever your specialty is and donate it to an organization that really needs support?

Winters here are cold and long, and it takes a lot of funding to do the work that Tommy’s does. It will give you a warm holiday glow to know you’ve helped homeless cats. Thank you. — Jenora@aol.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Cottrell-Taylor Christmas Basket Fund was established about 45 years ago in memory of Henry L. Cottrell, a Monmouth principal, and later Robert Taylor, a teacher. Its purpose is to provide Christmas dinners and gifts for families in Monmouth, who are in need during the holiday season.

The committee is hard at work and is accepting donations for these families. We realize times continue to be difficult for all, so we think it is important to remember the children.

We were able to help 116 children and six elderly couples through your generous contributions last year. Your consideration is appreciated.

In addition to money, we are accepting new clothing, mittens, hats, gloves, games, puzzles, school supplies and books for kids of all ages, which can be left at one of the Monmouth schools.

If you choose to donate money, a check can be written to the Cottrell-Taylor Christmas Basket Fund. If possible, the committee would like contributions on or before Dec. 3 but will gratefully accept them at a later date. Monetary donations can be mailed to Laurie Gifford, P.O. Box 218, Monmouth, ME 04259. — Penny Robertson, grammiepen@gmail.com

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 emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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