SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club Miracle Tree Event brightens the holidays

DOVER-FOXCROFT — On Dec. 3-4, as part of the Hometown Holidays celebration, over a dozen decorated trees and accompanying goods were on display at The Mill Event Center. The trees served as more than decorations to get visitors thinking about the season; they were a fundraiser organized by the SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club.
Inspired by the Anah Temple Shriners’ Festival of Trees, Builders Club Adviser Heather Whitten said $6,000 was raised through the purchase of raffle tickets that could be placed by the tree or trees of the ticket holder’s choice. The lucky winners were able to walk away with a tree — each was sponsored by an area business or organization — as well as all of the accompanying items on or beneath the tree.
The $6,000 raised at the second Miracle Tree Event is about twice what was raised last year. Builders Club members also collected a little more than $300 for club activities through a bake sale on Dec. 3-4.
The fundraiser was created to benefit local charities, with an emphasis on helping area families through the winter months. Whitten said money will go to the backpack program at the SeDoMoCha School, which enables students to bring home backpacks full of healthy food for when classes are not in session, and similar endeavors for SAD 4 in the Guilford-area and in Greenville.
A portion of the Miracle Tree Event proceeds have also been given to the Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Cupboard. Builders Club members are sponsoring five children in the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Christmas program this year with Miracle Tree monies, providing these recipients with gifts and needed items for the winter.
The sponsored trees were won by the following: Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis – Julie Knowlton; Mayo Regional Hospital – Chuck Martell; SeDoMoCha School – Shawn Leland; A.E. Robinson – Wendy Hutchins; Subway – Judy Vines; Shear Design – Megan Martell; South End Salon – Bridgette Teachout; Piscataquis Regional YMCA – Selina Cleaves; Will’s Shop ’n Save – Julie Lyford; JD Raymond – Miranda Nelson; Foxcroft Academy – Doug Cummings; Ready, Set, Grow – Jerica Towner; Steinke & Caruso – Kristen Gilbert; Carpe Diem – BillieJo Moores; Bears Den – Ronnie Towne; Masonic Temple – Terry Moulton; Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union – Amy Connor; and Dave’s World – Tami Morrison.
Mystery gift winners are bracelet kit – Maryann Faucer; sand art – Diana Voter; glow markers – Melissa McKusick;
crystal growing kit – Shawn Latorte; wooden rocking horse – Rachel Greenlaw; Bob’s Sugarhouse – Raymond Mountain; Thirty-One – Wendy Hutchins; and Save-A-Lot – Fred Petros.
Miracle Tree Event sponsors are the PRYMCA, Carpe Diem, JD Raymond, SeDoMoCha School, Foxcroft Academy, Masonic Temple, Bear’s Den, Foxcroft Printing, Mayo Regional Hospital, Dave’s World & US Cellular, Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union, Steinke & Caruso Dental Care, Shear Design, Ready Set Grow, Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis, Mike’s Photography & Subway, The Mill , Pat’s Pizza, Bob’s Sugarhouse, Charleston Correctional Facility, Foxcroft Veterinary Services, Will’s Shop ‘n Save, A.E. Robinson, Save-A-Lot, Kate Taylor and T. Dow Photography.
Whitten contributed to this story.

Photo courtesy of Heather Whitten/SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club
MIRACLE TREE DONATIONS — The SeDoMoCha Middle School Builders Club held its second annual Miracle Tree Event on Dec. 3-4 at the Mill Event Center in Dover-Foxcroft, with proceeds from raffle tickets for over a dozen trees sponsored by area businesses and organizations totaling $6,000 to benefit backpack programs in RSU 68, SAD 4 and Greenville, the Dover-Foxcroft Area Food Cupboard and five children in the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Christmas program sponsored on behalf of the Builders Club. Club members pictured are front, from left, Jacob Johnson, Ryan Webster, Riley Inch and Jack Kingsbury. Middle, Emma Ladd, Cadee Gil, Cierra Jackson, Logan Walton, James Doore, Devin Henderson and Ashton Ade. Back, Diana Voter, Austin Jackson, Lucas Ronco, Brad Whitten, AJ Atkinson, Austin Gil and Kaiden Whitten.