Mainers continue efforts to help attack victims

Today’s column offers more insight to the thoughtfulness and caring of Mainers for those affected by the terrorist attacks on our country the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, and the efforts of residents of the Pine Tree State to help others.

Through Monday, Oct. 15, the United Way of Eastern Maine has received and forward more than $15,000 to The September 11th Fund.

The New York Community Trust and United Way of New York City established The September 11th Fund, which is headed by Franklin Thomas, former president of the Ford Foundation.

Board members are drawn from the sponsoring organizations and include other recognized leaders from the public and private sectors, according to information provided by UWEM.

Joshua Gotbaum, former executive associate director and controller of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, has been named executive director and CEO of The September 11th Fund.

To date, that fund has received pledges and contributions totaling more than $170 million to assist with emergency and long-term needs of victims, their families and the affected communities.

When President George W. Bush issued his plea to the children of America to earn or give $1 each to help provide food and medical supplies for the children of Afghanistan, members of Boy Scout Troop 478 of Orono-Veazie were listening.

Marlene Charron, chairperson of the Parent/Leader Committee of Troop 478, reminds us that President Bush, addressing our children and youth, told them that “Many children there [in Afghanistan] are starving and are severely malnourished. One in three Afghan children is an orphan, almost half suffer chronic malnutrition, and we can and must help them.”

Members of Boy Scout Troop 478 have found a way to not only fulfill the president’s request, but to help raise funds for their own projects and help their neighbors as well.

For a $5 hourly wage, members of Troop 478 will help anyone with their fall gardening chores, from raking leaves to cleaning up around the house. Half of each $5 the Scouts raise will go to America’s Fund for Afghan Children.

If you want help with your fall cleanup, want to help the children of Afghanistan and want to help your local Boy Scout troop as well, call Charron at 581-4095 or 990-0380.

I received a delightful voice mail message from Dolly Sullivan of the Bucksport American Pride Committee reporting that community raised more than $20,000 for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for assistance to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Sullivan’s recounting of the final day of that fund-raiser speaks well of who we are: Americans.

The Bucksport American Pride Committee’s closing ceremony took place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, along the Bucksport waterfront, she said.

It came complete with “Dixieland music and patriotic songs,” and, at approximately 4 p.m., the check presentation was made.

“It was just a wonderful communitywide effort. Lots of kids got involved,” as did the community’s four schools, Sullivan said.

Pupils at the Miles Lane School raised more than $1,000 through a penny drive. The Jewett School had a change drive; the middle school, a bottle drive; and Bucksport High School, with the leadership of the student council, a change challenge.

“The businesses, the nonprofits, just everybody came together,” Sullivan said of the united effort of this community to help victims of the terrorist attacks.

Recognizing the sacrifices made by police and fire departments working the attack sites in New York, Arlington, Va., and Pennsylvania, employees of the Four Points Sheraton at Bangor International Airport decided to do something for their local police and fire departments.

To show their appreciation for the work of these public employees, Four Points general manager Vivian Cammack wrote that Four Points employees sent large baskets of baked goods, fruits “and lots of goodies” to all Bangor fire stations and the police station Friday, Sept. 28.

“All of the items were donated by employees to show appreciation to the men and women who serve and protect our community,” Cammack wrote.

More than $5,000 was raised during a “Dress Down Day” for employees Friday, Sept. 14, at Union Trust Co. in Ellsworth. To participate, employees had to wear red, white and blue, and donate a minimum of $3 to the American Red Cross for terrorist attack relief efforts.

In addition, donations from customers and the community were accepted at each of Union Trust’s 15 branches.

Union Trust also sponsored the performance of “New Wave Vaudeville” Friday, Sept. 21, at the Grand Auditorium in Ellsworth, and all proceeds from that show were donated to the families of New York City firefighters who died in the World Trade Center attack.

With the collection of additional donations at each Union Trust branch, as well as at The Grand the night of the show, more than $3,000 was raised for the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund.