Spirit of giving lives Downeast

Once again the spirit of Christmas is evident in Charlotte County and eastern Washington County as folks generously gave to neighbors who were less fortunate.

Filling empty stockings

Marie Thomas, coordinator of the Empty Stocking Fund on Grand Manan, says about 46 food baskets were delivered on Thursday, December 20, to islanders. "We have 10 drivers, so they each don't have to make too many trips," she says of the volunteers. The baskets contained a variety of vegetables and fruits, as well as a turkey or chicken, depending on the size of the household to which it was delivered. In addition, some handknit mittens and stockings, as well as a few toys, were given to the needy. "But the dinner basket is the main thing," points out Thomas, who has been involved with the Empty Stocking Fund for 35 years.

Thomas reports that this year's offering from the annual fundraising event, Singspiration, which was held on December 2 in the Grand Harbour Baptist Church, "was great! It reached almost $4,000, and we've had donations since. It was practically a full church. There was an overflow to the vestry."

"We know, if we run out of money, that different organizations [on the island] will donate."

Food baskets go to needy

Eastport area churches donated items through the Labor of Love Food Pantry to fill 150 food baskets for needy households. Participating were members of Blakey Memorial United Methodist Church, Central Congregational Church, Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Unitarian Meetinghouse in Eastport; Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church; St. John Catholic Church, United Methodist Church and Grace Chapel in Pembroke; North Perry United Methodist Church and Perry Congregational Church; St. Ann's Catholic Church in Pleasant Point; and Sewall Memorial Congregational Church in Robbinston.

Every year Shead High School students in Nick Gamertsfelder's U.S. government class have packed food baskets in Christ Church Institute, but this Christmas season the group of approximately 18 juniors and seniors gathered at the new Labor of Love Food Pantry to fill the baskets. "We have a whole regiment," reported Gamertsfelder on December 19, two days before the event. "Nine riders and nine drivers. They'll be delivering all over the area."

According to Colin Windhorst, president of the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association which oversees the Eastport food pantry, 66 of the food baskets were distributed in the Pembroke, Edmunds and Pembroke area. "Many, many people who receive food baskets don't go to the Labor of Love food pantry, but they have a particular need, because of unemployment, sickness or even a car accident."

Shead students also competed in the annual contest to see which class collected the most items to give to the Labor of Love Food Pantry. At a weigh-in conducted on December 19, Gamertsfelder reports that the four classes collected a total of 444 pounds. "The weigh-in was won by the juniors with 201 pounds." To encourage even more food to be collected, a second weigh-in was held on December 20, and those food items were added to the school's food pantry donation.

Operation Santa

Shead students also participated in Operation Santa, buying and wrapping enough gifts for everyone in K-4 through Grade 8 at the Eastport Elementary School. "We've done very well with gifts," notes Gamertsfelder. "The community at large has been very generous." He says support has come from donors in Eastport, Pleasant Point, Perry, Calais, Pembroke and Dennysville.

The gifts were delivered on Friday, December 21, by Santa Kris Sullivan assisted by elves Shelly Segien, Ashley Brown, Camisha Doten and, for the first time, a male elf, Dalton Young. "He was enthusiastic about being included," says Gamertsfelder of Young.

The group arrived via the traditional Eastport Fire Department truck.

Helping Santa

The Silent Santa program at the Eastport Elementary School once again provided many youngsters with gifts under their Christmas tree. Doreen Johnson and Sandy Lembo organized the popular event this year and made sure youngsters got two gifts, one they needed and at least one that they wanted.

"It was wonderful," says Johnson. "This Christmas has just been great. One hundred ninety-six gifts were collected from financial donations, churches and businesses, and 39 families were served. Some had two kids, some three and some five."

"We got quite a bit accomplished," adds Lembo. "We were working right up to the end."

Supporting domestic abuse victims

Penny Guisinger of Next Step reports her organization has once again been running Christmas charity programs in Washington and Hancock counties. "In Washington County, we've provided gifts to 40 people. Thirty-two [are] kids. We've been working with the Department of Human Services with children they have in their care."

The number of people helped in Washington County this Christmas season by Next Step is fewer than last year, while in Hancock County, where Next Step has helped 61 children and 34 mothers, the number is higher than last year.

"We were able to connect every person who applied [for gifts] with a donor," points out Guisinger. "Last year, more people offered to help, but the business community filled the gaps for us."

In addition, the Washington County moms group to which Guisinger belongs adopted three mothers and bought gifts for them.

Next Step volunteers have been "wrapping, wrapping and wrapping presents for the moms, and the moms do the wrapping for their kids' presents," says Guisinger. "There have been a lot of smiling faces coming in and out of the office. People get overwhelmed by what they see. It is very gratifying for us."

Remembering veterans

Mike Farrell of Passamaquoddy Memorial VFW Post 11299 says declining membership has led to a decrease in Christmas projects for that group. However, the post sent a donation to Togus, as well as making sure the veterans' home in Machias has playing cards.