Laser tag event benefits kids, families

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — With another successful Moosestompers Weekend having wrapped up this year, the final tally for a special benefit event resulted in a welcome donation for two local organizations — the St. Mary’s Food Pantry and the Just For Kids Playground.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
CHECK IT OUT — Bangor Savings Bank sponsored G-Force Laser Tag as a benefit during Moosestompers Weekend. Accepting checks from the proceeds are, from left, Marie Carmichael, recreation program director for the Houlton Parks and Recreation Department and Mildred Madigan, coordinator of the St. Mary’s Food Pantry. With them are Chris Nickerson, vice president and northern area sales manager for Bangor Savings Bank and Jim Brown, chairman of this year’s Moosestompers Weekend.
    Bangor Savings Bank sponsored the G-Force Laser Tag during Moosestompers Weekend with the proceeds going back into the community. “We here as a group, our staff, decided as a result of the economic conditions, that we wanted to donate to the food pantry and the Just for Kids program,” said Chris Nickerson, vice president and northern area sales manager for Bangor Savings Bank.
    “It was a great event. A lot of adults and families came and stayed for three or four hours. They brought lunches and it was nice to see the families together. We were pleased to sponsor the event so it could be held and give the proceeds to two very good organizations,” added Nickerson.
    Jim Brown, chairman of Moosestompers agreed. “It worked out great. It’s a fun event for the kids.” The event raised $675 which was divided so that the two organizations could each receive $337.50.
    Mildred Madigan, coordinator of the St. Mary’s Food Pantry said: “People remember the poor at Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, somehow we kind of forget that people eat three times a day, 12 months out of the year. So, this is wonderful because it’s a slow time for donations and we are so grateful to receive this money.”
    Also on hand for the check presentation was Marie Carmichael, recreation program director for the  Houlton Parks and Recreation Department. “We will be using the money for the Just For Kids Playground program that we sponsor in the summertime. We are hoping to get as many kids as possible into the program. And, this will help some of them who cannot afford to come,” explained Carmichael.
Help during tough times
     During the check presentations, the current tough economy was cited by all as a prime reason the money was sorely needed and would make a difference to area residents.
    Madigan said she is seeing elderly people requesting assistance from the food pantry. “They cannot stretch the dollar any farther. I would encourage elderly people to come to the food panty. It will help your nutrition enormously and we welcome you there.” Madigan also explained “to get food from the food pantry all that is required is calling for an appointment at 532-9122. We are very careful about people’s privacy.”
Donations get multiplied
    She also said the donation is actually much more than the dollar amount since she can purchase food at the food bank in Brewer. “I can get food for 16 cents a pound which is magnificent if you think how many boxes of cereal you can get down there. We can also get meat for that price. Its many, many times the amount you can buy at a grocery store. So, we are very, very grateful.”
    Carmichael said the seven-week summer playground has a wide variety of activities for as many as 150 children ages 5-13. “We do everything you can imagine. We play basketball, there’s arts and crafts. There are all kinds of sports.” She said barring any more snow days, the program should start around June 22 or 23 and go through August 9 or 10. However, interested families have to sign up their children in advance.
    Information will be disseminated through the schools and ads in the Pioneer Times. For more information call: 532-1310.
    The next Moosestompers Weekend doesn’t roll around again until February 2011. But, Nickerson said “we hope to sponsor it again next year. We are looking forward to that.”