Goodwill lives in kind deeds of Quoddy area

Once again, despite the bad economic climate, the spirit of Christmas is evident in Charlotte County and eastern Washington County as people generously gave to neighbors who were less fortunate.

Food baskets go to needy

Eastport area churches donated items through the Labor of Love Food pantry to fill over 170 food baskets for needy households. Participating were members of St. Joseph's Church, Christ Church, Central Congregational Church, Blakey Memorial Methodist Church and the Unitarian Meeting House in Eastport; Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church; Grace Christian Church, St. John's Church and United Methodist Church in Pembroke; St. Ann's Church in Pleasant Point; Perry Congregational Church and North Perry Methodist Church; and Sewall Memorial Congregational Church in Robbinston.

Food was also donated by the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association, as well as Shead High School students. Every year the four classes at Shead compete in a contest to see which one collected the most items to give to the food pantry. Teacher Nick Gamertsfelder says "a lot of food" was collected this year, with the sophomore class being the winners.

Shead students in Gamertsfelder's U.S. government class helped pack the food baskets on Tuesday, December 23, and delivered them in 10 cars.

Making Christmas merry

Now in its eighth year, the Machias area group "Let's All Have a Merrier Christmas" provides gifts to local children. On December 17, coordinator Helen Vose reported that everything was going very well. "We have over 600 applications, and there will be some last minute ones," she says. "They can list anything they want on the applications. That doesn't mean they'll get it, but we try to give them something on the list."

"This year, there has been a change in requests. People are asking for children's clothing instead of toys," Vose adds. "The biggest age group is five to seven years old and, although most of [the applicants] are from Machias, we have some from Marshfield, Jonesboro, Roque Bluffs, East Machias, Wesley, Addison, Lubec, Trescott and Pembroke."

"This is all run by donations, and there's a big group of volunteers that run it," she reports. "We don't stop until we give out all the presents."

The "Let's All Have a Merrier Christmas" group doesn't deliver, but recipients can pick up their gifts at the Holy Name Parish Hall in Machias.

Supporting domestic abuse victims

Laurie Fogelman, executive director of the Next Step, says her organization has once again been operating a Christmas charity program in Washington County, but there were a few families left on the gift list. "They would be so grateful, it wouldn't matter if they received the gifts after Christmas. They've had a major upheaval in their lives and lost the ability to be in contact with people they were close to."

"We've been able to help 12 mothers and then there's two or three children per family," she says. "But we know it's been a tough year for a lot of people. They're feeling the effects of the economy."

Anyone wishing to adopt one of the families and purchase gifts or donate money, can call the Next Step at 255-4934.

Spreading joy in Washington and Hancock counties

Christmas for Kids & More is a program of Washington-Hancock Community Agency (WHCA) that provides gifts for those in need, including children, seniors and the disabled. This year WHCA delivered presents to 350 people in Washington and Hancock counties.

"We had over $2,500 in toys and gifts. People have been extremely generous this year. They are very aware of how bad the economy is and how it's affecting others," says WHCA publicist Ellen Hathaway. "This program actually began with the United Bikers of Maine Toy Run, and in the past, people would donate gifts. This year, we started raising cash for several reasons. People are so busy, it's hard for them to find the time to shop. Also, the need is so great."

Hathaway says the WHCA employees in Milbridge wrapped the gifts, and "the whole agency makes deliveries. It's like a lot of little elves around here."

Feeding families at Christmas

This is the 36th year Marie Thomas has coordinated the Empty Stocking Fund on Grand Manan, and she says 50 boxes were packed at the North Head Baptist rectory and delivered to islanders on Thursday, December 18. "They all get a complete Christmas dinner, plus extras like sugar and teabags."

"I think everybody will be quite pleased with their boxes," she adds. "A lot of people donated gifts for children. They got a child's age and number, so those presents go in the box, too."

Thomas says the charity had just over $2,000 in donations "and there will be more."

Helping Santa Claus

The Silent Santa program at the Eastport Elementary School is once again providing many youngsters with gifts under their Christmas tree. Doreen Johnson and Sandy Lembo are organizing the popular event this year, and Johnson reports that, as of December 19, over 250 gifts had been brought in. "We're still getting stuff," she says. "It's just amazing."

Operation Santa

Shead High School students once again participated in Operation Santa, buying and wrapping enough gifts for everyone in k4 through Grade 8 at the Eastport Elementary School. "Santa has shopped. He got a lot of help from the Calais Wal-Mart, which gave him 20% off retail," reports Shead teacher Nick Gamertsfelder, who has been heading the program for many years. "We've raised an incredible amount of money thanks to businesses and a lot of private individuals. It was a bit of a worry for me this year, with the economy the way it is, but I should've known I didn't have to worry."

The gifts were delivered via fire truck on Tuesday morning, December 23, by Santa Tommy Pottle and assisted by elves Jocelyn Stanhope, Sarah Hoche, Megan Patterson and Patricia Johnson. Students in grades K4 through Grade 5 received a wrapped gift, and each of the older students received a certificate for a personal pan pizza and coke.