Sam’s Club in Bangor at 47 Haskell Road  is holding a Military Open House for all people with a Military ID including Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves and spouses. The open house takes place from Saturday, May 19 to Tuesday, May 22 from noon to 3:00 pm each day.

Military members who show their military ID will receive a sample bag from Sam’s Club at the appreciation table.  Military personnel can also show their military ID at the membership desk and get a $15 gift card when they purchase or renew a Sam’s Club membership as part of the ongoing Military Membership program.

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States and greatly affects those who are 65 years old and younger. The theme for Arthritis Awareness Month is “Take Action” which focuses on ways to self manage this chronic disease.

 Self-management education can help a person gain control of arthritis by learning techniques to reduce pain and activity limitations. The Center for Disease Control provides information on their program, state programs, interventions, arthritis basics and resources. Additional information on  juvenile arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis   is available from the The Arthritis Foundation. You can also dial 2-1-1 and speak to a Call Specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for information on the availability of resources in your area.

Eligible Maine seniors will once again be able to get free, fresh produce this growing season from local Maine farms. Participating Maine farmers offer a variety of methods for providing produce to seniors. Eligible produce includes fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Seniors pick up their produce at a specific farmers’ market or at their farm or farm stand. Some farmers offer delivery to seniors at their homes or housing sites. To qualify for a Senior FarmShare, a participant must be a Maine resident, at least 60 years of age, and have a household income of not more than 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines ($20,147/individual; $27,214/two-person household). Seniors can contact the Area Agency on Aging at 877-353-3771 to find a participating farmer or visit Maine Senior FarmShare Program . You may also contact Julie Waller, Program Manager, at 287-7526 for more information or questions.  Seniors are encouraged  to sign up as soon as possible.

Beginning on  April 1, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Child and Family Program in Augusta will be providing statewide child care resource and referral information. The  regional Resource Development Centers across the state that have provided this service will be closing.

Families seeking information on child care, can call 877-680-5866, visit Child Care Facilities Search. This site provides information on child care centers, family child care homes, nursery schools, legal-unlicensed child care, Head Start programs, school age programs, public school pre-k programs, in-home care and 12-15 year old programs.

 The Directory of Qualified Freelance Interpreters and information on interpreting services in Maine has migrated to the 2-1-1 Maine homepage from the LANA website.  Local organizations can find affordable, professional freelance interpreters for people with limited English proficiency. Simply roll over or click on the Interpreter menu tab on this page to access the interpreter information.

My Maine Connection is an online connection to the Food Supplement Program,  Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and/or Child Care. A screening tool helps you find out if you are eligible. The website also has an online application to apply for these programs.

Apply from home, libraries or any other location with internet access. My Maine Connection provides another option to apply for these benefits. You still have the option of going to your local DHHS office to get help if you want. If  you are having any problems, you can contact DHHS at 1-855-797-4357 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm or email mmchelp.dhhs@maine.org.

2-1-1 Maine is a comprehensive statewide directory of over 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, 7 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