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Some Scaling New Heights of Generosity

December 24, 2008 - The sight of an elderly woman opening her wallet to extract the lone dollar bill inside, so she could pay for a single can of cat food at the grocery store, inspired a Kennebunk woman to open a pet food pantry this holiday season.

Memories of Christmas during the Depression spurred a Raymond man to cross all adults off his $1,200 annual gift list this year and give the money to a food pantry instead.

A conversation between a South Portland teenager and a bottle recycling center worker sparked a South Portland High School toy drive.

The holidays always cause some people to increase their charitable efforts, but this year, the recession is spurring some individuals to new heights of giving.

For Michele LaVerdiere of Kennebunk, the image of the elderly woman buying cat food was enough to push her into action.

"I said to myself, 'Either she is going to feed herself or choose to feed her animal instead.' Either way, it was upsetting," said LaVerdiere, a retired special-education administrator.

So shortly before Thanksgiving, she started her own one-woman pet food pantry – and has been overwhelmed with the response ever since. The collection boxes for pet food, medicine or cash donations that she set up in six spots around Kennebunk fill up quickly.

The pet food is distributed to those who need it through York County Shelters Food Pantry, which is open weekdays at the Brothers of Christian Instruction, Shaker Hill Road, Alfred.

Steve Jacobsen, executive director of the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, said the pantry helps pet owners keep their animals at home rather than surrender them to a pet shelter.

LaVerdiere said the donation baskets seem to spark a certain response in people.

"When you see a sign that says 'Keep people's animals in their homes, please feed hungry animals,' people think 'Do I really need that sweater from Macy's?' " LaVerdiere said.

She is optimistic the response can be sustained "long after Christmas," she said.

BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE

The financial crisis and recession have sparked memories of growing up in Bangor during the 1930s Depression for James Coyne, 80, of Raymond. He said his third-grade teacher would feed breakfast to one of his classmates every morning. One of five children in his family, Coyne's father was often out of work during the Depression years.

"We didn't have a heck of a lot," said Coyne, a retired accountant.

Coyne decided to eliminate his practice of giving presents this year, except for his three grandchildren and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. He gave the money instead to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, which gathers and distributes food to hunger relief agencies across the state.

Coyne also fired off a letter to all of his family members encouraging them to eliminate him from their gift lists and donate the money to a charitable cause.

"I feel great about it," he said.

SACRIFICING TIME FOR TOY FUND

A Company of Girls, a Portland arts education group, inherited the Stocking Stuffers toy fund from another nonprofit agency four years ago. The toy fund links needy families who prepare a wish list with sponsors who try to fulfill as many of the wishes as they can.

But the arts organization's board of directors decided to drop the time-consuming toy fund this year because it was not really part of the group's core mission.

"It took a lot of resources and time to make it happen," said Odelle Bowman, executive director.

Mindful of the dismal economy, Bowman and her staff of two decided they couldn't let the toy fund disappear this year. "So we have been doing it on our own time," she said.

Bowman said they have been showered with donations.

Many of the wish lists included practical items, such as socks, underwear and winter coats. Bowman said the families also ask for cleaning and personal products, which they are not allowed to buy with food stamps.

This year's effort culminated Friday, when volunteers descended on the Adams School on Munjoy Hill and wrapped 2,000 presents for 65 families and 250 children during a daylong wrap-a-thon.

"The amount of people giving in the city, it is quite remarkable," Bowman said.

A GENEROUS IDEA TAKES OFF

South Portland High School senior Tyler Bickford, 17, an aspiring culinary college student, was dropping off the results of a bottle drive by his French Club to buy school materials for Haitian school children, and mentioned that fact to a worker at a Hannaford supermarket bottle-recycling center in South Portland.

"She said, 'That was a good idea, but what about (the needy in) South Portland?' " Bickford said.

Tyler took her up on the challenge and started the Red Riots Holiday From the Heart Toy Drive. Students responded by donating a pile of new or lightly used toys and board games, enough to entirely fill two minivans.

"This was definitely worth it. To be able to help feels good," Bickford said.

By BETH QUIMBY, PPH Staff Writer December 23, 2008





Heating Aid Goes to More Mainers


AUGUSTA — The state's housing agency has processed more than 48,500 applications for heating assistance, officials announced Monday.

MaineHousing has also paid out $28 million in heating assistance benefits, officials said.

"Our energy department staff and the staff of the Community Action Program agencies have been working nights and weekends in order to get the benefits out to qualifying low-income households as quickly as possible," Dale McCormick, MaineHousing's director, said in a release Monday.

Those 48,500 households account for two-thirds of the total number of applicants expected to receive heating assistance through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, through April 30.

More than 3,300 newly eligible households applied for LIHEAP aid this season, MaineHousing officials said.

McCormick said the number of households and the benefits given increased over last year because federal lawmakers changed funding and eligibility for LIHEAP.

The program serves households earning up to 230 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The limit was 170 percent last year.

People earning between 200 percent and 230 percent are eligible for benefits if a member of the family "is susceptible to hypothermia," McCormick said.

Applications for assistance will be accepted through April 30, 2009.

MaineHousing is not affiliated with Heat Helpers, a fundraiser organized by a joint effort of Kennebec Valley communities, the United Way and Goodwill Industries.

Heat Helpers is designated as an emergency fund to help families in need of heating assistance when they have exhausted other resources, such as LIHEAP.

"So far, we have raised just over $50,000," Rob Gordon, executive director of the United Way of Kennebec Valley, said. "We're very pleased at people's generosity. Everyone's gift is valuable."

Heat Helpers will start providing regular help to those in need in January for "the coldest weeks of winter," Gordon said.

The average price per gallon for heating oil in Maine on Monday was $2.43, according to the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security.

By MEGHAN V. MALLOY, Kennebec Journal December 23, 2008


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