DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to donate a queen-size mattress (Serta Sandburg Firm) to a nonprofit organization. It’s in excellent condition, has been in a pet-free, smoke-free home, and only one person has slept on it for about five months. It just isn’t working for me and I need something else. Unfortunately, it’s too late to return it.— Dottie, no town

ANSWER: So many places don’t seem to want mattresses, which is a shame as your mattress seems ideal for someone who doesn’t have the means to purchase a new one. I found Furniture Friends in Westbrook. The organization serves low-income individuals unable to afford basic household furniture on their own. (https://furniturefriends.org/donate-furniture/). Depending on your location, they may be able to send a volunteer to pick it up. It would be better if you could arrange delivery though. Go to the website and file out their form or call 210-5797.

If you know of a nonprofit who could take this almost-new mattress, please write in.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Our country’s flag has been changed and colorized in various ways. I don’t understand all this but see it more and more. What do all the colors mean? — No name, no town

ANSWER: This has been addressed before but I’m happy to go over it again. The colors support everything from gay pride to law enforcement and various branches of the military. Some people feel it is a desecration of the American flag to add or change its colors while others say doing so is within their right of free speech. We won’t get into that can of worms but will answer our reader’s question as best I can.

A black and white flag with a thin blue line honors our law enforcement officers. A flag with a thin red line honors firefighters and EMTs. If there is both a red and blue stripe, the flag is displayed to honor both.

A flag with a green stripe honors members of the military as well as federal agents such as border patrol personnel, park rangers, game wardens and conservation personnel. If you want to honor all the above, you can get a flag with a blue, a red, and a green line.

If the flag has a stripe of rainbow colors, it supports gay pride, while a flag with a pink stripe is to note breast cancer survivorship and the power of women. An orange stripe is for search and rescue personnel. Silver is for correctional officers, and yellow is for security and loss-prevention officers.

A purple stripe stands for those who died or suffered great injury while in political office due to violence.  Purple and teal stands for suicide prevention.

I saw a black and red striped flag with a green background for the black stars. That one is hung in support of Black Lives Matter.

There is also a “blacked-out” flag. The meaning for this flag is mixed and sometimes controversial.

I hope I covered them all, but if I didn’t please let me know what ones you have seen and what they support, if you know.

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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