PRESQUE ISLE – On Sept. 15, 2008, Brenda Barker, director of community services for the Aroostook Agency on Aging, received a check from Heidi Graham, chief executive officer, and Ray Gauvin, president, of Advantage Payroll Services in support of a much-needed service offered by the agency.
Contributed photo
At left, Brenda Barker, director of community services for the Aroostook Agency on Aging, left, receives a check from Heidi Graham, chief executive officer, and Ray Gauvin, president, of Advantage Payroll Services in support of a much-needed service offered by the agency. Barker had previously applied for and received a grant from the Aroostook County Fund (ACF) of the Maine Community Foundation to support the Money Manager Program. The purpose of the Money Manager Program is to promote independent living for elderly people on a limited income who are at risk because of difficulty with managing their financial affairs.
Barker had previously applied for and received a grant from the Aroostook County Fund (ACF) of the Maine Community Foundation to support the Money Manager Program. The purpose of the Money Manager Program is to promote independent living for elderly people on a limited income who are at risk because of difficulty with managing their financial affairs. Monies from the ACF grant would provide trained volunteer bill payers to assist these people with tasks such as budgeting, checkbook balancing, writing checks, opening, organizing and sending out mail, and dealing with creditors.
“The project capitalizes on a community resource – volunteers and their time – to address one of the needs of the growing older population of Aroostook County,” said Barker. “Provision of this service also assists a broader community – utility companies whose bills may not be paid; fuel dealers who may not deliver needed fuel because a bill has been overlooked; a bank customer who is in financial difficulty because of an inability to manage day-to-day finances.”
In addition to the monies granted by the Aroostook County Fund, supplemental funds were donated by the Gauvin Lighthouse Fund. A creation of Ray and Sandy Gauvin, the Gauvin Lighthouse Fund was started in 2000. After the sale of several downstate and out-of-state franchises of his business, Advantage Payroll Services, Gauvin wanted to give back to the community that has supported him throughout his life. So the Gauvins created the Gauvin Lighthouse Fund to support organizations that need a helping hand to better themselves, and, in turn, their community.
“We’re able to make donations to projects such as these because of the success of our business, Advantage Payroll Services,” said Gauvin. “It’s an honor to be able to give back to the communities that have supported us for over 25 years.”
