Pine Needle Christmas Club final gift

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A small local club celebrated more than 90 years of friendship and giving back to their neighbors and extended community.

The Pine Needle Christmas Club was started in the 1930s as the J. B. F. (Just Busy Folks) Club by the ladies of the Bear Hill District in Dover. Founding members were Inez Merrill, Fannie Hurd, Elvie Merrill, Lilla Bell, Sadie Perkins, Eva Oakes, Clarice Judkins, Cora Leathers, Calla Chase, Grace Cochran, Harriet Ladd and Betty Berry. The club was renamed the Pine Needle Christmas Club in the early 1950s to honor Maine’s Pine Tree State and the original purpose of making Christmas gifts throughout the year.

Over the years the Pine Tree Christmas Club has contributed to Kiwanis projects, Womancare’s Hannah House, hospice, the Red Cross, Heartwise, the food cupboard, along with many other worthwhile local causes. In addition, the club continued to help individual neighbors in need. 

Present members included founding member Grace Cochran’s daughter, Eleanor Godreau. The club recently disbanded, closed their savings account and presented a check for $336.29 to the Piscataquis Regional Food Center.