AUBURN – May is Foster Care Awareness Month in Maine. In order to show appreciation to foster parents in the tri-county area, the Lewiston office of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services will host its 28th annual foster parent appreciation event at Martindale Country Club on Wednesday, May 30.

Approximately 50 foster parents are scheduled to attend. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will include a buffet dinner, door prizes and a skit written and performed by DHHS staff members. The Park Avenue School children’s choir will also perform at 6:30.

Two foster families will be honored for their 35 years of service. The families are Linda and Lyle Wiggin of Bryant Pond and Lillian and Robert Fidler of New Sharon.

There are approximately 130 licensed foster families in the tri-county area at this time, and the Lewiston-Auburn area is experiencing a shortage of families.

For those who might be interested in finding out more about becoming a foster family, contact the A Family For ME agency at 1-877-505-0545 toll free or on the Web at www.AFamilyForMe.org. Contact could also be made directly to the Lewiston DHHS Office at 1-800-482-7517 toll free or 795-4620.

Informational meetings for prospective foster and adoptive families are held monthly at local DHHS offices.

Contact person for more information regarding the May 30 event is Paula Lyons-Myrick, foster home licensing worker, DHHS, 795-4628, cell phone 837-2512 or pager 818-0168.