Needy receive Christmas cheer

This holiday season, despite the poor economy, the spirit of Christmas is evident in Charlotte and Washington counties as people give to neighbors who are less fortunate.

Calais Lions Club aids families
The Lions Club of Calais has sponsored the Santa's Helper program for over 40 years, and longtime member John Mitchell says the club will spend all of the approximately $10,000 raised in 2014. "We give out $40 worth of coupons per child to parents who have children age one to 14 and let them do the shopping," he says. "There's a limit of $120 per family. We also give them gift certificates to buy a turkey dinner at Shop 'n Save or the IGA."
He adds, "There are fewer businesses to help out, so we can't give as much as we used to." In addition to Calais, some of this year's Santa's Helper recipients live in Robbinston and Woodland.

Christmas Is For Kids And More
Sherry Curtis of Washington Hancock Community Agency says the Christmas Is For Kids and More program will benefit "an immense amount of kids this year age 18 and younger." She did not have a monetary figure for this year's donations but says financial gifts come from both businesses and individuals who adopted a family.
"Unfortunately, some people wait too long to be included on our list, or the givers are stepping up too late," says Curtis. "It's wonderful when the donations are spread out over the year."
She adds, "I want to give a big thank you to everybody who donated. They make Christmas possible for the kids whose parents don't have the money to buy gifts."

Community Christmas Tree
Organizer Kathy Land says the 13th year of the Community Christmas Tree program in Machias "has gone pretty smoothly."
Although Land says she doesn't have the final number of people helped this year, the program is designed to assist children aged newborn through 18, as well as special needs adults and elderly who live in the area from Jonesport to Machias.
"We get assistance from Maine Seacoast Mission out of Cherryfield as well as many churches, banking institutions and community members. We even got gifts from the Jobs for Maine's Graduates members from Machias Memorial High School and Washington Academy," reports Land. "People really come together this time of year."
The number of Community Christmas Tree program volunteers has remained "pretty steady," she adds. "We have about 40 volunteers, including 12 women who are a solid work group all year."

Deer Island food hampers
Ten holiday food hampers were delivered to needy families on Deer Island this year by the Deer Island Safety Net food bank. "The food bank was very fortunate to have a lot of food donated, as well as receiving financial help, too," reports Joyce Stuart. "They were beautiful hampers this year."

GEECA packs Christmas baskets
Approximately 264 Christmas dinner baskets were packed at the Labor of Love Food Pantry and Nutrition Center in Eastport this year, and over 50 volunteers helped to deliver them to the needy on December 19.
"We actually ran out of turkeys and had to make a trip to the IGA in the middle of the packing," reports Colin Windhorst, president of the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association (GEECA), which runs the Labor of Love Food Pantry. "But we had plenty of help. We even had 24 for bagging the vegetables on Wednesday.
"We had two volunteers for each town, although Robbinston had four because they went in two shifts, and Pembroke had six people because that's where the greatest concentration of deliveries was.
"We're really thrilled that we had so much help, and I'm immensely grateful to everybody who assisted in the planning and carrying out of the Christmas dinner baskets."
Allen Lund won the fairy house raffle, and one gingerbread house was won by Joel Mahar. "Someone named Ross won the other gingerbread house," reports Windhorst. "All of the money earned from the raffles will go back to the food pantry."