Annual Christmas Food Basket Community Service Project 2009

December 18, 2008

2009 donations are being accepted  - download a 2009 flyer for more information and thank you for your generosity and kindness with this wonderful project!

Our goal is to help at least 100 families in Franklin County - please, with your help - we can make this goal a reality.

Press Release

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

Chamber exceeds goal for 2008 by 23 baskets!

December 17, 2008

                       

FRANKLIN COUNTY - The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce once again exceeded their goal of providing a holiday meal with many extras to 50 families this year – with a final count of 73 families in Franklin County being recipients of the Chamber’s Holiday Food Basket Program.

 

“Once you know there is a need, you feel responsible to respond,” said the Chamber’s Executive Director, Lorna Nichols on Wednesday afternoon. The Chamber set up their holiday food basket headquarters in the currently empty future home of the Chamber’s new Visitor’s Center in the former Mt. View Chocolate Shop location in Farmington where the food boxes were sorted and tagged by town – ready for delivery.

 

“The feeling you get when you see a grown man accept this gift at his door with tears in his eyes or the hugs and disbelief of ‘how did you know we needed this?’ from an older couple on a fixed income – you know – money doesn’t buy that – knowing our communities have pulled together to do the right thing by helping our neighbors in need.”

 

“Many folks really stepped up this year – with donations being received from many individuals and businesses in the communities we serve, as well as from individuals out of state,” Nichols said. The Chamber seeks donations of food and monetary contributions each November and early December in preparation for this community service project – but monetary contributions can be made anytime to the Chamber – simply include a note designating those funds for the Holiday Food Basket Program.

 

Last year’s project was very successful but the Chamber knew this year would be more difficult for many and set the goal for 2008 at 50 families. “I thought I may be stretching it a bit to be able to help so many – but one should never underestimate the generosity when folks know of the need. I still cannot believe we were able to help 73 families!” Nichols shared.

 

Food collection boxes were set up at Key Bank, Wilton; CSM Real Estate, Kingfield; Franklin-Somerset C.U., Kingfield; Western Maine Chiropractic & Sports Injury, Farmington; and at the Chamber office, Farmington.

 

Monetary donations and delivery help were received from so many to include: Aaron and Tracy Knapp, Ann Crafts, Annamaria and Randall Beal, Anonymous, Bangor Savings Bank, Barclay's - Wilton, Becky Powell, Belinda Maillet, Ben Saviello, Betty Shibles, Big Apple Wilton employees, Bruce A. Williamson, Camden  National Bank, Catherine Landry, Charles Lavin, Coldwell Banker Sandy River Realty, CSM Real Estate, Dale and Maxine Platt, Dan and Janice Maxham, David Robie, Deb Howard, Debbie Davis, Denney and Cheryl Rand, Dennis and Laura Ward, Depot Street Girls, Doreen Cardona, Ed Westgate Lawn and Plow, Ellen Curtiss, End of the Rainbow, Eric and Betty Martinsen, Farmington Emblem Club, Farmington Police Benevolent Assoc., Farmington Police Dept., Foothills Management, Forrest/Wayne Hutchins, Franklin Chapter MSEA SEI LO 1989, Franklin County 4-H Beef Boosters Club, Franklin-Somerset FCU, Gary Stillman, Glen Kapiloff, Good Times Unlimited, Hammond Lumber, Hannaford, Farmington, Heidi Elliott, Hight Chevrolet, ICT employees, IEC, Inc., Ivan Gould, K. Scott and Mary Beth Morrison, Janice Atwood, Kaye L. Olmstead, Key Bank, L. Ray Stillman, Leanne N. Smith, Lois J. Henry, Lynda C. Haskell, Lynn-Hom Electronics, Main-Land Development Inc., Margery and Fred Blonder, Mary Anne and Roger Collard, Mary Frank, Mary Nickerson, Matt Wotton, Melissa Hill, Mike Blanchet, Mountain Council of Realtors, Nancy J. Stefani, Northern Lights Sports and Hearth, Nurses FMH, Patricia Ridley, Patricia Rowe, Patty Ladd, Richard Davis, Rob Elliott Trucking, Rocky Hill Landscaping, Ronald and Eileen Stiles, Save-A-Lot, Farmington, Shannon  Smith, Stephen and Julie Shible, Sugarloaf Ambulance/Rescue Vehicles, Suzie Sanders, Teena Dubois, Theresa Richard and Walt Smith, Tom Saviello, Tom Sawyer, Wal-Mart, Farmington, Western Maine Chiropractic, Western Mountain Financial Services, Wilton Fish and Game, Win and Vici Robinson, ‘Windowman’, as well as Executive Director Lorna Nichols and her husband Scott. There were many unknown contributors too – a heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one who gave so generously this year – teamwork made this year’s project a success.

 

Each family received a turkey, canned or fresh ham, stuffing, gravy, carrots, cranberry jelly, potatoes, canned vegetables, rice, peanut butter, jelly, rolls, pie, cool whip, bread, marshmallow fluff, cereal, oranges, apples, tuna, soup, pasta, spaghetti sauce, brownie mix, sugar, flour, hot chocolate, spaghettios, sweet pickles, candy canes and more!

 

The food gift boxes are distributed to families throughout the greater Franklin County area by members of the Chamber and its Board of Directors before Christmas for each family to enjoy.

 

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Press Release

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

Annual Christmas Food Basket Community Service Project

December 20, 2007


 

 

          

PHOTOS: (Top left)  From l to right: Trooper Scott Nichols, Chamber Executive Director Lorna Nichols, Chamber President Matt Wotton and Chamber Board Member Shannon Smith prepare Christmas food baskets for 25 families in Franklin County as part of the Chamber's Annual Christmas community service project. (Top right) Chamber Executive Director Lorna Nichols attaches Christmas greetings to each food basket. (Bottom left) Chamber President Matt Wotton of Webber Energy helps to sort and package food boxes. (Bottom right) Maine State Police Trooper Scott Nichols delivering Christmas Food Baskets 12/21/07.

 
FRANKLIN COUNTY - The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce exceeded their goal and provided a holiday meal with extras to twenty-five FranklinCounty families this Christmas.

“Once you know there is a need, you feel responsible to respond,” said the Chamber’s Executive Director, Lorna Nichols from her office in Farmington Thursday afternoon. With higher prices on everything consumers purchase – our communities  are seeing more families – in many instances with both parents working – just not able to make ends meet. “The feeling you get when you see their faces light up – money can’t buy that. You know you’ve done the right thing.”

 The Chamber seeks donations of food and monetary contributions each November in preparation for this community service project. “Many folks really stepped up to the plate this year because they know it’s a difficult time for folks. This is our way of giving back to the communities we serve,” Nichols said.

 On that note, Lorna mentioned the project to her husband, Trooper Scott Nichols of the Maine State Police, who in turn spoke with other Troopers who live in and patrol Franklin County – they expressed interest in helping out in some way, too.

 Once Troop C Lieutenant Don Pomelow heard of it, he jumped right in and made sure each Trooper and Sergeant in the Troop had the opportunity to participate and adopted the Chamber’s food basket program as their Christmas project. A large donation was made, along with other contributions from Chamber members R.S. Osgood, Good Times Unlimited, CSM Real Estate, Coldwell Banker Sandy River Realty, North Wind Media, Hannaford, Wal-Mart, Farmington Save-a-Lot and other folks like Narrow Gauge Realty, Chamber Secretary Nancy Morgan of UWTVA, Chamber Vice President Ellen Curtiss of Camden National Bank, Chamber President Matt Wotton of Webber Energy, Chamber Board members Shannon Smith of the Farmington Emblem Club #460, Tom Sawyer of Franklin Savings Bank, and Mike Blanchet of the Sun Journal – as well as Executive Director Lorna Nichols and her husband Scott. There were many unknown contributors too – a heartfelt thank you to each and every one who gave so generously – it was truly a successful group effort.

 
Each family received a turkey, canned ham(s), stuffing, gravy, carrots, cranberry jelly, potatoes, canned vegetables, rice, peanut butter, jelly, rolls, pie, cool whip, bread, marshmallow fluff, cereal, oranges, apples, tuna, soup, pasta, spaghetti sauce, brownie mix, sugar, flour, hot chocolate, spaghettios, sweet pickles, tissues, candy canes and more!

 
These food gift boxes are distributed to families referred by local service agencies, schools and Operation Santa Claus by members of the Chamber’s board of directors and area businesses and agencies before Christmas for each family to enjoy. By everyone doing a small part, it really makes a big difference!

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