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Chamber exceeds food donation goal

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FARMINGTON – 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.

The Chamber’s program to collect donations and food for needy families began last year.

“Once you know there is a need, you feel responsible to respond,” said Lorna Nichols, the Chamber’s executive director.

The Chamber set up their holiday food basket headquarters in the future home of the Chamber’s new Visitor’s Center in the former Mt. View Chocolate Shoppe location in Farmington where the food boxes were sorted, tagged by location and 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,” Nichols said.

She credits the many people who pitched in to help this year. Donations were received from many individuals, businesses across the county, as well as from individuals out of state. The Chamber began its campaign of gathering donations in November and early December.

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 said.


Farmington Police Officers Darin Gilbert and David Galvan deliver boxes of food to a needy family. Seventy-three families received boxes of food, thanks to the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Hoilday Food Basket Program.

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.

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, Nichols said, “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.


Matt Wotton, Chamber president, hands a box of food to Mike Blanchet, Chamber board member as Lorna Nichols, the Chamber’s executive director, holds the door. Here, the donations were prepared for delivery to needy families across greater Franklin County at the future home of the Chamber’s visitor center on Wilton Road.

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