Spirit of giving helps to bring holiday cheer

Despite the pandemic, local community groups are once again spreading cheer this holiday season by providing food and gifts to their neighbors in need.

Silent Santa speaks wonders
With a focus on providing warm clothes and toys, the long running Silent Santa group of Eastport continues to bring seasonal cheer and comfort to the younger residents of the island city community. "Eastport is a very giving community, and the support for Silent Santa has exploded this year," says organizer Chris Vizcarrondo as she runs down the list of generous individuals and institutions who have helped pitch in. "There are no contributions too small. It doesn't matter if it's $5 or $1,000, you're helping," she says. "Even kids donated gifts," she adds, telling the story of one elementary school boy who took the time to drop off Legos to the Bangor Saving Bank for Silent Santa. "It's things like that, kids helping kids -- you can't explain that feeling when you see it."
Vizcarrondo says that some children have it harder than others, "but they all look out for each other. The high schoolers even helped wrap some of the younger kids' gifts." She adds, "It was a really nice feeling this year. It was truly magical. We couldn't do it without all our dedicated volunteers."

Toys and Treasures treats loved ones
The Toys and Treasures program has become a pillar of goodwill for the communities of Lubec, Trescott, Whiting and Campobello Island. "It's a learning experience every year," says Sonja Kinney, who started the program with her daughter Cassie back in 2010. "We had gone to the homeless shelter in Ellsworth to help on Thanksgiving 12 years ago and saw such a need that it touched our hearts. We knew we had to do something in our own community, so we started it." Since then, people and businesses have stepped up to support the Toys and Treasures cause. "We do a 50/50 raffle about five times a year and raise money that way, but we don't solicit anyone," she says. They also have a dedicated group of direct donors who give what they can each year. Money raised then goes into purchasing the gifts. "People call me and give me an idea of what their children might like, or adults. All these gifts are for giving to a loved one," she says.
The last two years they've had to operate from home due to the pandemic. "One way or another we make it happen," she says. "There always seems to be somebody who has our back," she notes, adding with gratitude, "If it weren't for the community, it wouldn't happen."

Community Christmas Giving Tree shines
Every holiday season for the past 20 years the Community Christmas Giving Tree program has fulfilled their mission statement of "putting Christmas presents under trees for individuals and families unable to do it alone." Debra Eckart, who leads the organization, says, "We work with 15 different agencies in the greater Machias area to provide toys and winter clothes to children, seniors and folks with disabilities." The program has provided gifts for 585 individuals this year, 395 of those being children. "Agencies like Wings, Community Health and Counseling, the Department of Human Services, churches and local schools will provide us with a wish list of items the individuals might like, plus every child receives a book," she says. At that point the volunteers work hard to gather the items and fulfill the orders. "This year we had 53 volunteers. It's a totally volunteer-based organization, and everyone has a different role," Eckart says, adding, "We have a wonderful group, and each year we're able to get a few more volunteers. People have just come out to help their neighbors, and we can't thank them enough."
This year and last year have seen the highest amount of donations the charity has ever collected. "We sincerely appreciate all the support that we've had from the Washington County community and businesses. About half a dozen businesses gave $1,000 each, and I have a whole book of well over 100 people and organizations who have donated." Eckart extends her thanks by saying, "All together as a community we can take care of those who are less fortunate, so everybody is going to have a nice Christmas."

Labor of Love Food Pantry spreads love
The Eastport Labor of Love Food Pantry operated by the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association (GEECA) will be distributing gift cards to pantry recipients and area residents that could use a little extra help at Christmas time. "I feel like this is one way to love our neighbors and to make sure that people have enough in a small way," says President Lynn Rutledge.
Previously GEECA would distribute food baskets with everything for a Christmas dinner and more but in recent years has opted to distribute gift cards because of the pandemic. "It also allows the recipient to have some choice about what they want," she says.
The recipients are enrolled through the local churches, the food pantry and recommendations from community members. "It's not always the same names every year. Sometimes folks have a particularly bad year and they need this extra help, and perhaps the next year when we call they say, 'No thank you. I don't need it this year. Give it to someone else who needs it more than I do.'"
The food pantry and GEECA have been conducting this seasonal program for over 20 years. It is managed by a core group of volunteers and drivers who help distribute to the surrounding towns.

Christmas for Kids & More shares joy
Every year Downeast Community Partners' Christmas for Kids & More program services Washington and Hancock counties by gathering donations and resources to service children and seniors who might not otherwise have a Christmas. Sharrie Curtis, who manages the program, says, "Right now I have 580 kids that have made requests," with a few seniors included on the list as well. "The sheriff's department does a big portion, and then there's a lot of people who donate. There's a lot of people who volunteer packaging all the orders once they come in, and many others get involved as well," she says.
The charity has been providing this seasonal gift-giving for over 20 years, and word of mouth has helped spread the word. "We never have not had enough," says Curtis, adding, "We really appreciate all of those who do the donating, and all those who do the volunteering, and everything people do to help out with this program."

Deer Island Safety Net brings cheer
The Deer Island Safety Net food bank held their annual food hamper program on Wednesday, December 15. "We had a great turnout and everyone left very happy," says Joyce Stuart, who helps run the program with a group of volunteers. "We have nobody on salary. Everyone is a volunteer who wants to help," she says.
Every year for the past 25 years they have continued the food hamper, "and then this year we gave our clients a gift certificate to purchase what they want for a Christmas dinner, and it's worked really well," she says.
The food bank operates on donations and the support from the New Brunswick Food Bank. "We used to raise funds, but we haven't had to for a long time because people are very generous helping us out." Speaking personally, she says, "I've been in it right from the beginning, and well, I don't like the idea of people not having food, especially children." The program offers more than just food, Stuart says. "We're a safety net. Whatever the need might be, we help them look after it."

Santa's Helper gives lion's share
The Calais Lions Club brings seasonal cheer to their neighbors who need it most with the Santa's Helper program. The program, now in its 50th year, provides gifts and food to eligible families with children up to the age of 14. This year the club raised close to $16,000 in fundraising and donations. "We gave $75 per child and $50 per family in food," says member Matt Lacasse. "That includes about 85 families and 147 children," he says, adding, "It's been a significant year."
Members of the Calais Lions Club dedicate themselves throughout the year to raise funds for the many different causes they support, with the Santa's Helper program being the largest. "It's a big push this time of year," says Lacasse. The members also take the time to distribute the vouchers themselves. "We divide the list up into geographical areas and hand deliver them to the doors of the families," he says. "People are super happy. We've even had people come out and give us hugs." Lacasse ends by saying, "Many thanks to everybody and their generous donations this year. You can know that it's being used well."

Action Ministries brightens lives
During the holiday season the volunteer-based group Action Ministries of Grand Manan lifts spirits by providing gifts for children and food boxes to those who need it most. The food boxes contain everything you need for a Christmas dinner and more. "To give you an idea," says volunteer Susian Lambert, "you'll have a choice of turkey, ham or chicken, milk, instant coffee, tea, corn, four different cans of soup, hot chocolate, spaghetti, crackers, cake mix, hard cheese, margarine, potatoes, onion, carrots, squash, turnip, apples, clementines, cereal, bread and eggs!" She adds, "We have about 89 going out this year."
In addition to sorting and delivering boxes of food, the volunteers work hard to gather toys for children. Home Hardware puts up a Christmas tree, and volunteers hang envelopes containing lists with gifts children would like. "Community members can select an envelope and purchase the gifts. We then gather those gifts and deliver them to the children's parents to give for Christmas."
The annual program is heavily supported by the generosity of local businesses and supportive individuals. "The community helps so much," says Lambert, "and we couldn't do it without our volunteers and donors. There's just no way. People have really stepped up, and it's really amazing."