Local holiday giving programs fulfill wishes and basic needs

For the communities of Passamaquoddy Bay, coming together to help neighbors brings home the spirit of the holiday season. Local giving programs reach out to support their community, whether it is with food, gifts, warm clothes or basic household supplies.

Volunteers, donors fulfill wishes

In Machias, the Community Christmas Giving Tree just wrapped up a successful season making the holidays brighter for those in need. Sue Derickson explains that they try to do the best they can to fulfill wish lists received from area agencies for children, disabled adults and nursing home residents. "I don't have final numbers yet, but the program usually serves around 600 individuals, and demand felt higher this year. When we get requests for coats and boots, we make sure to fulfill those. Each child also gets a hat, mittens and a book as well as a toy."

Each year, around 50 volunteers, who call themselves Helen's Elves in recognition of founder Helen Vose, get together in the Holy Name Catholic Church parish hall to sort donations, make lists of what is left to purchase, peruse wish lists and bag presents.

Derickson says, "I am always amazed by the response of the community, who provide storage and workspace, as well as donations." She says they could not do this without their donors. "They are not just individuals in our community. One family who spends summers in the area, but lives out of state, donates 25 coats each year, and many local businesses and organizations are regular contributors. For instance, one business can be counted on each year for donations of boots."

This year's work is done and packed away, but the program accepts donations year around and can be reached through their Facebook page.

Lions are Santa's Helpers

Matt Lacasse reports, "The Calais Lions Club has recently finished our 52nd Santa's Helper campaign. Started by the club in 1973, it is the longest running holiday charity program of its kind in the state. This year the club hand delivered $14,290 to 147 children in 67 families in greater Calais and Baileyville, in the form of $50 food vouchers and $75 gift vouchers, one per child, redeemable solely at local businesses."

To make this happen, the club accepts donations through the year, as well as operating a food truck and hosting fundraisers such as road tolls, comedy shows and an ice fishing derby.

Lacasse says that the Lions Club is grateful to all the people and entities who gave to the program this year, "as well as those who attended a comedy show, bought raffle tickets, a hot dog or otherwise lent their time, business and resources to further the program." He adds, "It is truly a community effort."

Lubec program provides gifts

Co‑founded by Sonja and Cassie Kinney, Toys and Treasures, which serves Lubec, Whiting, Trescott and Campobello, allows residents to collect gifts to give to their loved ones. They also provide gift bags for residents of low‑income housing and shut‑ins. Sonja Kinney said she was happy with the stock, felt ready when it was time for this year's distributions and things went smoothly. "The weather was good, and people showed up on time. We had a few newer families. Donations have been strong. Community response has been phenomenal."

Kinney notes, "The Lubec Woman's Club has a Christmas party each year, and this year they bought gifts for our program rather than for each other. The 500 raffle winner donated their winnings back; we split that with the food pantry. The community went way, way above and beyond."

Eastporters help neighbors in need

A recent Saturday saw an even greater flurry of activity than usual at the Labor of Love Food Pantry in Eastport. That day volunteers were assembling baking bags of ingredients and mixes to distribute that afternoon, and community coordinators arrived to pick up gift cards to help provide holiday feasts to their community members.

According to Madeline Murphy, president of the board of directors, manager Lindy McClellan keeps things humming with a personal touch. "Lindy knows people so well. For example, she knows that Mary does not eat fish, so if a distribution one week is pollock, she will make sure Mary gets ground turkey."

The pantry used to distribute turkeys or oven stuffers for Christmas, but the logistics became complicated, and now patrons receive a gift card. Murphy says, "Not only is it more efficient for us, but it allows the dignity of choice in what you have for Christmas dinner."

Murphy also praises the community support the pantry receives. Local churches respond to requests for themed distributions, such as pumpkin and cranberry sauce in November and baking items in December.

"We have a community member who makes and raffles off tote bags to raise funds for us. Merilyn [Mills] has let us keep a collection box at the IGA for years, and Ian Pratt of Pratt's Chevrolet offers a 'Pratt Match.' It makes what we do possible."

Neighbors helping neighbors

Michelle Kropiniski reported a very successful year for Action Ministries on Grand Manan, where 99 children from 46 households received gifts from the Home Hardware Christmas tree, Project Linus allowed them to give out blankets to 20 of those families, and 114 Christmas food boxes were delivered, including everything needed to make Christmas dinner.

Parents were especially grateful. Said one, "This is such a huge blessing at Christmas time and helps us out in ways that people wouldn't even understand."

In the Seniors/Pick Me Up Program, 15 Grand Mananers received a gift crafted just for them. Kropiniski reports, "As the needs rose this year, so did Grand Mananers rise to the occasion once again with the fierce spirit of tenacity mixed with overwhelming kindness."

Silent Santa program struggles

Chris Vizcarrondo is struggling to help the Silent Santa program in Eastport meet requests from truly needy members of her community.

"There are still many tags that haven't been chosen. Little kids' tags get picked right away, but not so many choose older kids or teenagers. And the kids are not asking for electronics; they are asking for hygiene products and warm clothes. There is so much poverty here in Downeast Maine. You have kids wearing snowpants in the house because it is so cold, sleeping on bare mattresses on the floor."

A plunge in donations this year has meant the program has not been able to fulfill its requests.

"My heart is struggling. It is awful when you have to pick and choose who to help. We couldn't do our warm blanket program at all, and for the elderly we only supplied basic household bags, with things like dish soap, to 25 households instead of 37."

Vizcarrondo believes a lack of publicity hurt donation numbers and looks forward to involving more community groups next year.

She also wants to make sure readers know it is not too late to help a child. The program will continue to accept donations and make distributions into the new year. Donations can be brought in person or by mail to Bangor Savings Bank, Silent Santa program, 102 Washington Street, Eastport, Maine 04631; or to 144 Water St. in Eastport.