NORWAY — In a small, baby-blue-and-white-painted room in the building that houses the Stephens Memorial Specialty Clinic, people affected by cancer can find out more about their disease and the resources available to them, or just sit and have a cup of tea and conversation.

Now, the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine is looking to expand its services, but it needs more volunteers to make that happen.

The 100 percent volunteer-driven center began with a core group of cancer survivors, Barb Deschenes, Dave Wilson and Suanne Craib, who wanted to give back to their community by helping other people whose lives cancer had touched.

“We’ve been working with the hospital for the last couple of years, trying to get some activities and support for cancer patients in this area,” Craib said.

“This area” is actually all of Western Maine, she said, not just for patients of Stephens Memorial. Craib said the center welcomes people from all over the region, and it might be closer for many people than traveling to Lewiston or Portland.

Until recently, the center’s hours were sort of hit or miss. They may or may not have lined up with times the oncology clinic, in the same building, was open. Volunteer coordinator Sherri Otterson, who joined the effort last fall, said if the organization can find more people willing to volunteer, they will be able to be open more regular hours.

“Our push for the fall is to be open two days a week — every Thursday and Friday from 9:30 to 4,” said Otterson. “If we have more volunteers, then we could offer more and be open more hours.”

The need for volunteers is great, and the organization is looking for more than just people to cover drop-in hours, though that in and of itself is an important job. They also need people who might be willing to offer transportation to patients who need help traveling to treatments or support services, or people who might like to run activities.

Activities are a large part of what the center offers: from traditional support groups to stamping, knitting, jewelry-making and even coloring for adults. 

“Those activities are free to the person with cancer and their caregiver,” Otterson said.

Craib said they hope to find more activities for men, such as fly-tying or sports, but they need people willing to run the activities. The sky’s the limit for what types of activities the center might offer, and Craib encourages anyone with an idea to contact Otterson.

“We (also) need a male facilitator to run a men’s health group,” Craib said. “You don’t have to have experienced cancer yourself to volunteer.”

There’s a current push for volunteers willing to participate in training for the Maine Buddy Program, a service of the Cancer Community Center which puts cancer patients in touch with one-on-one support.

“The person affected with cancer is matched up with someone over the telephone in a similar situation,” Otterson said, adding that she can put interested persons in touch with the training for this program.

Not every volunteer has to interact with others or lead activities. Since the resource center also provides free wigs, hats, blankets and other things to give some measure of comfort to cancer patients, the center also needs people with crafting skills willing to donate their time.

“We have patterns and some materials for people willing to help,” Craib said. “We’re finding that people are very supportive of us.”

Fundraising efforts help to raise money to facilitate and publicize the activities and crafts, and also to help buy supplies for volunteer crafters.

A wish list posted to the center’s refrigerator includes basic needs, such as a small waste receptacle, wooden shelves, a printer and games, and some wants, such as a digital camera, a CD player and a television to help make the center a welcoming place for its visitors. Craib said they’re also hoping to eventually have a website and telephone lines. For the time being, volunteers use their personal phones, and the only online access people have to find out more information about the organization is by visiting the center’s Facebook page.

Anyone interested in volunteering or making donations of time or materials can contact Sherry at (207)890-7063.