Child sex trafficking church topic

The South Gorham Baptist Church, County Road, is hosting a program about child sex trafficking following a potluck meal at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.

Michael Mercer, a retired police officer and director of Operations for Keeping Kids Safe Inc., a nonprofit organization, will speak. His topic is titled “Keeping Kids Safe from Pimps and Predators.”

“Michael has experience working with groups both locally and nationally, including Shared Hope International,” said Cindy Elder, organizer of the monthly church series Potluck With a Purpose. “He is host of a new radio show on WLOB and podcast called ‘Not on Our Watch,’ a program dedicated to crime prevention through education and awareness.”

Everyone is welcome, and those attending are asked to take food to share. Donations to support anti-trafficking programs and causes will be accepted.

Packing party Sunday for Christmas project

Gorham kids, families and volunteers host a packing party for Operation Christmas Child, a project that fills shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas, Sunday, Nov. 9, at noon, at Little Falls Baptist Church, 46 Gray Road in Gorham.

During National Collection Week, Nov. 17-24, shoebox gifts can be dropped off at Stroudwater Baptist Church, 1729 Congress St., Portland. The boxes are then prepared and delivered to needy children overseas using whatever means necessary. Using special tracking technology, participants can follow their box online and discover the country in which their gift will be delivered to a child in need. The drop-off hours during Collection Week are 3-7 p.m. Monday through Friday 1-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children in more than 100 countries. In 2014, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 10 million children.

For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child or how to host a packing party, call 318-7525 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.

Woman’s club to meet

ITN Portland will present a program about transportation alternatives, when the Gorham Woman’s Club meets on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St., Gorham.

Refreshments will be served at 12:30 p.m., followed at 1 p.m. by the program.

“Please join the club members old and new for an afternoon of fellowship and an interesting program,” JoAnn Means of the club said.

First-aid classes set

The American Heart Association’s first aid and CPR certification class will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. on two Mondays, Nov. 10 and 17, at Cressey Road United Methodist Church, 81 Cressey Road, Gorham. To register, call 839-3111.

Girl Scouts registration meetings

Girl Scouts of Maine will host registration meetings at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, at Village School and Thursday, Nov. 13, at Narragansett School.

Girls and adults are invited to attend the meetings to find out about participating in Girl Scouting. Participants will learn about the flexible options and benefits of becoming a Girl Scout volunteer.

Girl Scouts of Maine serves more than 12,000 girls in grades K-12. For more information or to volunteer, call 1-888-922-4763 or visit www.girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Gorham Town Manager David Cole on Oct. 30 in Gorham Municipal Center unveils a bronze plaque in a ceremony observing the 250th anniversary of the town’s incorporation in 1764. Town Councilor Sherrie Benner looks on along with two other councilors, Bruce Roullard and Suzanne Phillips, who are obscured.  

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