DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thanks for all you do for us! You seem to find out things we cannot find for ourselves.

My question: Last year a young man with a large backpack appeared at our church looking for food and shelter. He was “passing through” town, seemed a bit disoriented, and perhaps borderline retarded mentally. It was cold outdoors, and he had nowhere to go.

We, of course, gave him food, and then spent several hours calling all over to see if there was a shelter he could go to, all to no avail. Either we got an answering machine at a shelter or they were full.

What should we do in a case like this? Whom should we call? We want to be ready if, and when, this happens again. — No Name, Bethel

ANSWER: Unfortunately, Sun Spots has no good answer for this problem, which is increasingly common in this era of lots of need and few resources. This is especially true in rural areas, where there are few homeless shelters and distances make getting to them difficult.

To help with that lack, the first shelter in Franklin County opened Nov. 11 at the Living Waters Assembly of God Church. Read reporter Ann Bryant’s story about the opening is at http://tinyurl.com/pgbzdwy.

Western Maine Homeless Outreach is at 547 Wilton Road, Farmington, ME 04938, 779-7609.

Other charitable resources can be accessed by calling United Way’s 211: “2-1-1 Maine is a comprehensive statewide directory of more than 8,000 health and human services available in Maine. The toll free 2-1-1 hotline connects callers to trained call specialists who can help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Finding the answers to health and human services questions and locating resources is as quick and easy as dialing 2-1-1 or visiting www.211maine.org.”

Another option for locating available social services in Androscoggin, Franklin or Oxford counties is Community Concepts. There are two regional offices:

* 240 Bates St., Lewiston, ME 04240, 795-4065

* 17-19 Market Square, P.O. Box 278, South Paris, ME 04281, 743-7716

And a satellite office in Wilton, which also houses Head Start and transportation offices:

* Bass-Wilson Building, 284 Main St., Wilton, ME 04294, 645-9512

Or if all of these are a toll call, please call 800-866-5588.

Sun Spots wishes she had more help to offer, but resources are limited and  If readers have any ideas, please write.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am a single mother with six children. I am disabled and can barely meet my family’s everyday needs. Our family would really appreciate the gift of a Christmas dinner.

We don’t get around very much because I have trouble walking, even more so in the winter.

We have never asked for assistance before, so I have no idea where to turn. — Brandy, Lewiston

ANSWER: Brandy’s letter arrived too late for the holiday, but even if it had been timely, there is little she can do other than suggest visiting one of the many holiday dinners provided by churches and other nonprofit groups.

Sun Spots gets an increasingly large number of these distressing letters. Unfortunately, she cannot print contact information, as she has no way of knowing if the pleas are genuine.

Anyone in need of help should make use of the resources in the previous answer.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I saw a glider chair for sale in the paper and called the people to see if they had the chair, and they did. I decided to buy the chair for my friend living at Bolster Heights.

I called Bolster Heights and left a message asking if it would be permissible to have the chair delivered there. I didn’t receive an answer, so I decided to go and ask in person. Lo and behold, there my friend sat in her new chair, and she began to thank me. I told her that I didn’t get it for her, but she insisted that the man who had delivered the chair said it was from me.

May God bless this person who took it upon himself to make a lonely woman happy. What a blessing at this time of year. What can you do to help someone in 2014? — Grace St.Hilaire, Lewiston

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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