For nearly four years, Lois Woodard of Carmel and her late husband, Jim Woodard, had been working together, side by side, building a home for themselves and their daughters, 13-year-old Jimakea and 10-year-old Cheyanne.

But work on their dream stopped when Jim Woodard died unexpectedly while hunting in early November, and Lois and the girls were left living in the cellar of the uncompleted dwelling.

A 30-year Maine Department of Transportation employee, Jim Woodard was well-known and well-liked by everyone in the community.

So much so, in fact, that those friends, neighbors, family and community members decided to finish the work Jim and Lois had started.

Earlier this month, the community sponsored a benefit supper to raise money to help complete the family’s home.

Regina Ross of Carmel, a member of the committee organizing the benefit, wrote to report that the event was a great success, raising nearly $4,500, and that, “in addition to raising this money, the siding, windows and other building supplies have been donated” to help complete the home.

“Greg Mahon of GP Home Improvements, and his volunteers, have already picked up plywood to start laying the subfloors” at the end of this month, she wrote, and “Greg has estimated that the home will be completed, for occupancy, sometime in May of this year.”

When I wrote in early January of the plans for the benefit, I included names of the clubs, businesses, organizations, churches and public service agencies that were involved in the fund-raiser.

In her letter, Ross added to that list members of Girl Scout Troop #314 who “came to set up the tables for the first seating, and Boy Scout Troop #18, who came at noon to collect and take care of all the food as it came in.”

In addition to the letter from Ross, I received a letter from Lois, Jimakea and Cheyanne Woodard thanking the community of Carmel “for fulfilling Jimmy’s dream.”

The family expresses their gratitude “to each and every person in the community,” and “those of you outside Carmel” who have, in so many ways, demonstrated your love and support since Jim Woodard’s death.

“We want to let you all know how much we appreciate all of your kindness, and for showing us how many people out there really do care,” the family wrote.

“So, from us to you all, we thank you so very much for giving us this dream; from those of you who cooked and baked, waited on tables or washed dishes,” to those who served food and, especially, “to those of you who came to enjoy a great meal that helped to support a dream.”

The family is grateful not only for the support of loving family members, but also “all our special friends and all of the friends we have yet to meet but were in some way involved” in helping them through this very difficult time.

They also extend their thanks to those who helped search for Jim Woodard the day he failed to return home from hunting.

And although he is no longer here to complete the work of building his family a home, the work goes on, in his memory, thanks to the love and support of a very caring community.

If you were unable to attend the benefit supper and would like to make a contribution to this project, you can call Greg Mahon at 848-3869 for more information, or send a donation to him at RR2, Box 1555, Carmel 04419.

You will be reading much more, as the time approaches, about the United Cerebral Palsy of Maine seventh annual dance planned for Saturday, April 7, at the Brewer Eagles Club.

In the meantime, however, UCP executive director Bobbi Jo Yeager wants the public to know UCP needs your help preparing for this fund-raiser.

While the admission is $10 per dancer, the goal is to raise $10,000 through pledges so, “we encourage each dancer to get pledges,” Yeager wrote.

And there’s a reward for raising the most money, Yeager wrote of “a great vacation package.”

UCP also needs dance instructors for the day of the event, since this fund-raiser is a line dance.

And UCP would appreciate your ideas for a theme and a logo for the event. The winning logo will appear on fund-raiser brochures, posters and T-shirts.

If you want pledge forms, if you would like to be a volunteer dance instructor, or if you have an idea for a theme or a logo, you can call Yeager at UCP, 941-2952, Ext. 204; e-mail ucp2@midmaine.com or Rachel@midmaine.com; or write UCP, 700 Mt. Hope Ave., Suite 320, Bangor 04401.

Writing on behalf of the Maine Youth Center in South Portland, superintendent Lars Olsen salutes churches “across the state of Maine, from Bethel to Bar Harbor, and from Kennebunk to Fort Kent who, during this past Christmas season, delivered hundreds of carefully wrapped gifts to our facility.”

But the Christmas presents were not all that was delivered because, with those deliveries, also came “the gift of hope, the gift of support and the overwhelming gift of caring for the youth in our care,” he wrote.

Olsen added that MYC residents “expressed their appreciation to those invisible supporters who did not even know who they were … by writing thank-you notes directly to them.”

On behalf of all associated with the MYC, Olsen extends “sincere appreciation for the generosity of everyone who contributed to this effort.”

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.