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.

Community Christmas Tree shines
     Organizer Kathy Land says the 16th year of the Community Christmas Tree program in Machias has been a success. "The elves have been working for quite a while, and donors have been generous, as usual." She adds, "We've been filling a lot more requests for warm clothing."
      The program is designed to assist newborns and children through age 18, as well as special needs adults and elderly people who live in the area from Jonesport to Machias.       Assistance comes from Maine Seacoast Mission as well as many churches, banks and community members. "We have a conference room table loaded with stuff that the United Bikers of Maine left," she reported on December 13.
      Land says one of the dependable donors is a woman in Florida who makes so many hats and mittens for the program that this year she spent $400 just on postage to make sure the items got to Washington County. "She is actually thinking of driving up next year in a pickup truck that is full of gifts for our program recipients."
      Land credits her longtime experienced volunteers for making the program run so smoothly, but many of them would like some younger men and women to take their places in the near future. "We enjoy it, but it's very time consuming to go shopping," points out Land.

Calais Lions help families
     The Calais Lions Club of Calais has been sponsoring the Santa's Helper program for over four decades, and one of the newer members, Nick Johnson, reports, "We did fairly well this year. We gave out over $10,000 that will help quite a few children."
     Each child ages one to 14 in a family received a $50 coupon that is to be used for clothing or toys. Each family got a gift certificate for a turkey from one of the local grocery stores.
     "We gave them out to between 20 and 30 homes in Calais and the surrounding area, including Perry, Princeton and Robbinston."

Hampers stuffed with goodies
     Ten food hampers were delivered to needy families on December 21 by the Deer Island Safety Net Food Bank, reports Joyce Stuart. "We're very fortunate. We have a lot of companies and individuals to donate to this every year."
Recipients received vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce and turkey for their Christmas dinner.

Making Christmas merry
     The Let's All Have A Merrier Christmas program is in its 32nd year and assisted approximately 500 needy Washington County children with toys and clothing this Christmas.
      "We had about 390 names submitted this year," reports organizer Rhonda French. "Then we had some leftover things not specifically donated to a child, so someone from schools or church groups will give us names, which accounts for the rest."
      "We worked the last four days and nights and finished [on December 19]," she says. "We use the Jonesport Pentecostal Church for space, which is a huge help, and we received help from businesses, churches, organizations and individuals. As items were taken, other stuff was added, and we double- and triple-checked every child's final gift package."
      "There are always emergency situations when the response from the community can be very touching," she adds. "The brother of the family in New York who lost two little girls when a radiator valve blew [and scalded to death two-year-old Ibanez Ambrose and one-year-old Scylee Vayoh Ambrose] lives in Jonesport. It took all of their money to go to the funerals, so their kids [in Jonesport] would have nothing for Christmas. When we heard about that we sent the mother 'shopping.'"
Island families receive aid
      Marilyn Cary of Action Ministries reports 62 hampers were delivered around Grand Manan by about 24 volunteers on December 20.
     "We gave them groceries for a week, including a turkey and ham. We also gave out some gift certificates, and some were for winter boots."

Silent Santa brightens season
      The longtime Silent Santa organizer in Eastport says this year was the best one yet in helping struggling families this Christmas season. "It was amazing," reports Chris Vizcarrondo. "We heard from people we'd never heard from before who wanted to help."
      Vizcarrondo says she was very pleased with how many people asked, "What can we do for you?" Approximately 100 children received gifts that would not have appeared underneath their tree without Silent Santa's financial assistance.
      "Most of the tags were for jackets and boots, but 95% of the donors added more than what was on the tag."
      Eastport Police Chief Dale Earle, Baileyville Police Chief Bob Fitzsimmons and the U.S. Border Patrol contributed to Silent Santa this year by participating in the Stuff the Bus project in Calais on December 4.
      "Jana Sutherland gave us a lot of personal hygiene products that teenagers need," she adds. "The people in this area really worked together to make sure that kids weren't forgotten at Christmas."
      "Dastardly Dick's gave us free space to store everything this year," says Vizcarrondo. "This was the first year that I didn't have to really run around looking for donations. That gives me a warm feeling."

Donating food
      The Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport is holding its annual Food for Fines program during which patrons can receive amnesty from overdue fines if they bring in nonperishable food and grocery items along with their books. Librarian Dana Chevalier reports, "We've taken four boxes of food to the food pantry so far."

Bringing Christmas to children
      Sharrie Curtis of the Washington Hancock Community Agency's Christmas Is for Kids program says trying to provide gifts to needy children this year has not been easy.
"I'm overwhelmed," she admits. "There are too many kids who haven't been sponsored. They are just asking for boots, and we like to add a toy or two to whatever was on their personal list."
      Youngsters from ages one to 18 in Washington and Hancock counties are eligible for the program, and Curtis points out, "We're the ones they come to after the deadlines are passed in the other [Christmas charity] program."
      Stanley's Subaru in Ellsworth was not able to assist this year, but United Bikers of Maine once again collected toys, and the Hancock County Sheriff's Department donated money toward the program. "We're grateful to everyone who had helped, and I'll make sure everyone gets what they want," says Curtis.