CASTINE – A connection between Castine and New York City established days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks may continue next summer with the development of a camp for youngsters affected by the terrorist attacks.

The connection first was made when two local restaurant owners donated the dollar bills from the ceiling of their Castine business to the widow of a World Trade Center elevator operator.

Working with other volunteers around the state, restaurant owner Caroline Brouillard has established Camp M.E.N.Y. Hearts – pronounced “many hearts” – a nonprofit that hopes to bring as many as 100 9-11 children to Castine for a week next summer.

Brouillard said she was talking with another local woman about the idea for a camp, an idea that had been raised by other people with whom the restaurant owner had spoken.

“We got to talking about it and decided that this was something that we could put together,” she said recently. “This is doable. We can do it.”

Many details still have to be worked out, Brouillard said, but the camp will focus on healing arts.

The group has contracted with local artists who will work on projects with the youngsters designed to help them with the losses they’ve suffered. Projects will include poetry, weaving, painting, music and theater, she said.

Brouillard also has spoken with officials at Maine Maritime Academy, which will be the site of the camp, although all the arrangements have not yet been made.

The connection between Maine and New York City was established in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. For years, customers at the Brouillards’ restaurant had participated in a tradition of attaching dollar bills to the ceiling.

The couple and their daughter decided to donate the $12,313 on the ceiling to the family of James Audiffred, an elevator operator at the World Trade Center who died in the attack.

After their donation became public, several things happened. Letters began arriving in Castine containing a dollar for the ceiling, what Brouillard at the time called a “conspiracy for goodness.” And Caroline Brouillard developed a relationship with Audiffred’s widow, Robin. The Audiffreds already had a Maine connection. James Audiffred loved lighthouses and had been to Maine several times. At first, the two women corresponded by e-mail or by phone, but last summer, Robin Audiffred returned to Maine for a visit and to meet the Brouillards.

Audiffred also has been involved with the planning for the camp, Brouillard said.

“She’s really excited about this,” she said.

Robin Audiffred has been in touch with her husband’s union to help identify youngsters who potentially might attend the camp. Eleven elevator operators died in the attack on the World Trade Center, Brouillard said.

“[The union members] are all excited about the idea,” she said.

In addition, a number of churches in New York City have been working with families affected by the attacks and may be able to help with selecting campers. Brouillard plans to travel to New York in February to meet with ministers and union members and to start assembling a list of youngsters.

A lot of people have volunteered to help with the camp, but Brouillard said the camp still needs to raise about $240 for each youngster who will come.

“Everybody is excited about helping out,” she said. “We’ve already had about 10 people who have given the $240. I think it’s going to work out well.”

The group hopes to raise the funds through donations, but Brouillard said fund-raisers may be held.

Anyone who wants to donate to the camp effort may contact Camp M.E.N.Y. Hearts at P.O. Box 426, Castine 04421.