Anyone wanting to understand the definition of the word “community” need look no farther than Carmel, where people are joining hands, and hearts, to help finish what one of their own began.

A benefit supper for the Jim Woodard Family starts at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Masonic Hall on Route 69 in Carmel.

All donations will be accepted at the door.

Woodard, 49, died unexpectedly while hunting on Saturday, Nov. 4.

When the 30-year Maine Department of Transportation employee did not return home at the expected hour, authorities were notified and a search for him was launched.

Woodard was found a few hours later lying on the ground near a friend’s hunting camp, the victim of an apparent heart attack.

At the time of his death, Woodard was in the initial stages of building a house for his wife of 19 years, Lois Woodard, and daughters Jimakea, 12, and Cheyanne, 11.

All proceeds from the supper will go toward the purchase of materials to close in the home he was building.

Regina Ross of Carmel called to report what friends, neighbors, family members, and even those who did not know Woodard personally, are planning for his family.

They are going to finish the work that Woodard started. They are going to complete the Woodards’ new home.

“What amazes me is every organization wants to help,” Ross said of the outpouring of support volunteers have encountered as they seek assistance in completing this work.

“Everybody knew him, and everybody liked him,” Ross said of Woodard.

Darwin Thompson was Woodard’s foreman at the MDOT Carmel site.

The men had known each other for more than two decades.

“Jimmy was probably one of the best employees that I ever had working for me,” Thompson said.

“And I’m not just saying that because he’s gone. I even told him that. He was conscientious. He was always ready to work anytime I needed him, and he was always a friend to everyone.”

Thompson also pointed out that Woodard was someone everyone in the community liked and respected; a good man everyone could count on.

Thompson said Woodard was getting close to completing the construction of the home when he died, which makes it even more important to those who knew him that they complete what he started.

One of Woodard’s closest friends, Greg Mahon of Carmel, is owner of G&P Home Improvements.

Ross said Mahon has donated the time and expertise of his company to oversee the final construction of the Woodard home, and that many other local business owners, and individuals, have offered materials to help complete the work.

The supper, alone, demonstrates the communitywide support this effort has generated.

The benefit is a joint effort of the Carmel Historical Society, the Golden Harvest Grange, Simpson Memorial Library, Carmel Union Congregational Church and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Also participating in the benefit is the Carmel Square & Compass Club, Carmel Senior Citizens, the Parent-Teachers Association, the North Carmel Christmas Club, members of the Ole Tyme Pentecost Church of Carmel, and the Carmel Fire Department and Ambulance Service.

Working hand-in-hand with members of those organizations will be individual volunteers and local merchants, Ross said.

And, of course, all the food for the supper is donated, she added.

Committee members working on this community project to help the Woodard family would be happy to hear from anyone willing to offer assistance.

If you cannot attend the supper but would like to make a monetary donation or donate materials, you can call Connie Graves at 848-7468, or mail your contribution to her at P.O. Box 214, Carmel 04419.

Members and guests are invited to attend the Dinner and Annual Meeting of The Curran Homestead at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Bonsai Room of the Oriental Jade Restaurant, Bangor Mall Boulevard.

The event is sponsored by Bangor Letter Shop.

The Curran Homestead is a turn-of-the-century living history museum located at Fields Pond in Orrington.

At this meeting, participants will learn about a new challenge grant, receive an update on the new trail system and learn about plans for the educational programs design.

Curran Homestead members will also elect board members and officers of the organization.

If you plan to attend the dinner, you are asked to respond no later than Friday, Jan. 12.

Further information can be obtained, and dinner reservations made, by calling Brian Higgins, 989-1769; by fax to Irv Marsters, 942-9914; by e-mail at irv@bangorlettershop.com or by writing Curran Homestead, P.O. Box 107, Orrington 04474.

Shoppers at the Wal-Mart in Bangor on Saturday, Dec. 2 might like to know that they helped that store make a donation of more than $4,200 to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.

That day, Bangor Wal-Mart contributed a percentage of its sales to the foundation that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.

According to Tom Peaco, executive director of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine, donations from the Bangor Wal-Mart have enabled the Maine chapter of this wish-granting organization, which is based in Camden, to fully fund the wishes of three Maine youngsters in the last two years.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402;

990-8288.