Shaw’s donates reusable bags to help D-F Kiwanis feed children 

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Rita Page, secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, was overwhelmed when she learned that Shaw’s in Dover-Foxcroft was going to donate several boxes with 500 new reusable bags to its backpack program. Pat Hinkley, president of the club, was on hand with Page to gratefully receive those bags from Tina Desimone, Shaw’s customer service manager. These bags will be filled by the Kiwanians with much-needed food for children of SeDoMoCha Middle School. SeDoMoCha serves the towns of Sebec, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Charleston.

Eighty-nine bags were stuffed to the brim and delivered by school buses to such children last week. These bags were lovingly packed by Kiwanians and community volunteers. It takes a lot of coordination with school administrators, the school nurse and teachers who know the families who need it the most. The school system is providing school lunches once a week, but that is not nearly enough food to help out these struggling families. That’s where the Kiwanis-sponsored “backpack” program comes into play. And why these bags from Shaw’s are so needed.

Photo courtesy of Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft
SHAW’S BAGS FOR BACKPACK PROGRAM — Rita Page, left secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft, was overwhelmed when she learned that Shaw’s in Dover-Foxcroft was going to donate 500 new reusable bags to the club backpack program. Pat Hinkley, right president of the club, was on hand as well to gratefully receive the bags from Shaw’s Customer Service Manager Tina Desimone.

A visit to a special room inside the Dover-Foxcroft’s Morton Avenue Municipal Building will find cans, boxes and bags piled high with non-perishable items ready to go in the next delivery. Much of this food was donated by local merchants such as Will’s Shop ‘n Save or bought from the Good Shepherd Food Bank. However, it’s not nearly enough. Page finds herself having to do a lot of extra shopping to make sure all the right food stuffs are kept in inventory. That bill adds up, and is paid by the Kiwanis Club of Dover-Foxcroft.

Raffle ticket sales, the annual auction in July and town events where club members can sell hamburgers and hot dogs help supply funds for the Kiwanis charity and local citizens support the group with financial donations as well. But with a small budget and big hearts, and with help from area businesses like Shaw’s, this club really comes through to support area residents.

“From the Kiwanis/Community Christmas Project, to Kiwanis Park, to meals for the elderly, to help given to many local charities,” Hinkley said, “if Kiwanis were to go away, our community would look much different. I am proud to serve alongside these dedicated people who put their hearts, their hands and their money into serving the children of the area.”  

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Checks can be made payable to D-F Kiwanis and mailed to P O Box 615, Dover-Foxcroft, ME  04426. The website is doverfoxcroftkiwanis.org and the club is on Facebook as dfkiwanis.