This year Santa is unable to be at the Aroostook Centre Mall due to the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, Santa has agreed to work with the Mapleton Daze Committee to help them with their new upcoming fundraiser starting at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Dec. 5.
Cars and trucks are directed to drive-thru around the Mapleton Lions Club. Children attending will receive a goodie bag and have an opportunity for a photo with Santa. Children will be required to stay in their cars or trucks while meeting Santa and his elves, and should remember to bring their letters to Santa and hand them to him directly. He is eager to read them to know their wishes for this Christmas.
As this is a fundraiser for the 2021 Mapleton Daze Festival, there will be a charge of $5 and a nonperishable item (like a canned good) to help the Community Cupboard) per child.
Following all COVID-19 protocols, Santa and his elves will be wearing masks/face shields as they pose for pictures with kids, who will stay in their cars. They are advising everyone that there will be 200 bags available, and bags will be only for the kids.
All are encouraged to come early as lineup will start at 9:30 a.m. The Mapleton Daze Committee asks everyone to help spread the word by telling family and friends. They want to put smiles on the kids’ faces in this hard year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, please check out Mapleton Daze event page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/825927331508949.
Stephen Parkes and son, Joe, carry hot roasted turkeys from the Mapleton Diner where they were cooked to the Mapleton Lions Hall, where the turkeys were sliced and served with each of the 200 Thanksgiving dinners prepared for drive-thru and delivery recipients. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Thanksgiving dinner a happy event
On Thanksgiving Day, approximately 200 meals were provided via drive-thru at the Mapleton Lions Hall or by home delivery. A few meals were provided to Martha and Mary’s Kitchen in Presque Isle.
The Mapleton Lions Club and Darcy and Bob McBay, dinner organizers and cooks wish to thank the many volunteers who came out to help serve, package and distribute the meals to the drivers and home deliverers. Using all these volunteers and supporters was the only way dinner could be successfully carried out.
The Lions Club wishes to thank all the individuals and families who gave financial donations as they accepted their prepared dinners.
The Mapleton Lions Club sponsored the community Thanksgiving dinner that was open to all residents. Club President Rick Fowler slices turkey under the supervision of the Darcy McBay, dinner organizer and cook. Behind them are Lions Wes Buck, Tim Graham and Bruce Guerrette, preparing mashed potatoes and green peas for 200 diners. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
