Staff Writer
A few months ago, the basement of the Lions Community Building was transformed into a haunted house for Halloween fun. Now it looks like Santa Claus has taken up residence with hundreds of wrapped presents destined for distribution to area children at Christmas.
Aroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
Following his own instructions, Steve Corbin, coordinator of the Caribou Toy Project, wraps a gift destined for a child this Christmas. Delivery of hundreds of gifts is scheduled for Dec. 22.
The Caribou Toy Project plans to deliver $5,000 in toys and other gifts to more than 325 children in the Caribou area, including the surrounding towns of New Sweden, Stockholm, Connor, Woodland and Perham, according to Steve Corbin, the Caribou Toy Project Coordinator. Corbin also is a member of the Caribou Volunteer Fire Department, which sponsors the project.
“Anywhere we provide coverage, we’ll be delivering toys,” said Corbin.
In its 17th year, the project collects gifts for children that otherwise wouldn’t have Christmas presents The toys will be delivered on Saturday, Dec. 22, according to the project coordinator.
The department volunteers raised about $2,500 to buy the toys, Corbin said. Another $2,000 in toys were donated and the project received about $500 in cash donations to buy the children’s gifts.
Corbin emphasized that money raised and donated is used to purchase the toys from Caribou merchants.
“The money stays in Caribou,” he said.
Hundreds of gifts, wrapped by volunteers from service clubs, such as the Girls Scouts and schools, including the Caribou Learning Center and Caribou High School, according to Corbin.
In the community building basement, wrapped gifts are piled almost to the ceiling. There are signs taped to the wall designating the intended ages for the gifts, as well as a poster advising volunteer wrappers to “take pride in their wrapping.”
Each gift is labeled with the recipients’ age and gender, according to the poster.
Donations will be accepted right up until the delivery date, Corbin said. Any funds or toys left over, will be used to jump start next years effort, according to Corbin.
Individuals wanting to become involved in the program, by wrapping gifts or donating new toys or money, may contact Corbin at 227-2107.
