FOOD DRIVE BENEFITS PANTRY

The Bridgton Hospital and Bridgton Hospital Physician Group Employee Activity Committee sponsored a 10-day food collection drive to benefit the United Methodist Church Food Pantry. The drive, held during the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, collected more than 500 pounds of food. The group delivered the food to the church Feb. 16. Other food drives hosted by this group during the year benefit the Harvest Hills Animal Rescue. Commitee members Carol Miller, left, and Lori Stevens coordinated the drive, along with Doreen Carpenter. Other committee members include Pam Smith, Sherry Bedard and Katherine Ross.

Additional Photos

Ocean Bank donated $1,500 to Caring Unlimited of York County in support of its 10th Annual Atlantic Plunge on New Year’s Day. Pictured from left to right are Caring Unlimited Director Cindi Peoples, Ocean Bank executives Sandy Bisson and Mary Matheson, and Caring Unlimited’s Emily Flowers. Courtesy photo

Larry Buteau, left, and Adam Carlton present Betsy Norcross Plourde of Advocates for Children with funds raised at a food festival. Courtesy photo

Carol Miller, left, and Lori Stevens helped coordinate a food drive sponsored by staffers at Bridgton Hospital, collecting 500 pounds of goods for a church pantry. Courtesy photo

AUCTIONEERS MAKE DONATIONS

About $1,000 was raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation during the Maine Auctioneer Association’s annual meeting in January. The meeting, which featured a seminar with Mark Shear of the National Auctioneer Association, and Larry Trueman of Waldoboro, held a contest for bid calling with several members participating. The winner, James Heckman Sr. of Vassalboro, received a $250 check, which he also donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

$25,000 FOR EMERGENCY CENTER

Jasper Wyman & Son Vice President and CFO Robert Mancini recently presented a $25,000 donation to the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Capital Campaign to help fund the F. Eugene Dixon Jr. Emergency Center. The donation qualifies the hospital for a matching grant, allowing all donations up to $500,000 to be matched dollar for dollar. To make a donation or for more information, call 664-5548.

KEEPING PANTRY SHELVES FULL

Maine Bank & Trust collected 22 boxes of non-perishable food items during the month of January in six locations — Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, Falmouth and Yarmouth. The goal of the bank’s joint venture with the United Way of Greater Portland and Preble Street is to keep local food pantry shelves full to feed hungry people through June 2010.

FREE TAX SERVICE PAYS OFF

KeyBank helped process 108 tax returns at Casey Family Services in Portland during Super Refund Saturday, a one-day event created to offer free tax preparation and draw attention to the Earned Income Tax Credit. Federal refunds for the day totaled nearly $190,000 and state refunds totaled more than $25,000, with 45 clients qualifying for the tax credit and receiving an average of $1,200 in returns. The credit is the largest antipoverty program in the country for households earning less than $50,000. KeyBank employees volunteered their time in Portland and across the country to help with the free tax preparation.

FIRM SPONSORS YOUNG ATHLETES

Norman Hanson DeTroy, a statewide law firm with offices in Portland and Lewiston, announced joint sponsorship of the U.S. Biathlon team and the Maine Winter Sports Center. The firm’s managing member, Stephen Hessert, said the firm is proud to support the state’s young athletes as they train at the sports center and participate in competition around the world and at the Vancouver Olympics.

THE FRUITS OF PUPPY LOVE

Planet Dog’s Sixth Annual Valentine’s Day Canine Cocktail Party and Dog Kissing Contest had 17 contestants compete for the best dog kiss. With a $5 entry fee, $250 was raised for the Planet Dog Foundation, a nonprofit grant-making organization that supports canine service organizations. The winner of the dog kissing contest was Beau, a Yorkie mix who kissed for a whopping 52.5 seconds, a record. Beau’s ”mom” is Linda Walton, but the pup broke the record kissing his longtime pet sitter, Stephanie Argetes. Second place went to Rosie, a labradoodle and a companion of Katie Rawls, for a 14.4-second kiss. Third place went to Buster, a corgi-Jack Russell mix and a companion of Nancy Jackson, for an 11.2-second kiss.

BANK HELPS CARING UNLIMITED

Ocean Bank donated $1,500 to Caring Unlimited of York County in support of its 10th Annual Atlantic Plunge on New Year’s Day. The organization began in 1977 as a grass-roots movement of women helping women. It now is a diverse agency with 20 employees serving the York County community and working to end domestic violence.

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