HOULTON, Maine – When American Legion Cmdr. Charlie Clark Sr., heard that children on a toy drive list were asking for essentials like toothbrushes and warm blankets, he got involved.
“No child should have to ask Santa for a toothbrush,” he said.
And so the three branches of the American Legion Chester L. Briggs Post # 47 got busy raising enough money for the children on the Houlton Powersports Holiday Toy Drive list.
“We took care of the whole tree,” Clark said.
On Thursday, the trio donated $3,500 to the toy drive, with $2,500 from the American Legion, $1,000 from the Auxiliary and $1,000 from the Sons of the American Legion.
“We all know each other very well and we’re a team,” Clark said. “When we get something in our heads, we get it done.”
Now in its fourth year, the Houlton Powersports Toy Drive was able to get presents for 150 students, said organizer Brittani Suitter, Houlton Powersports marketing director.
Suitter contacted Houlton and Hodgdon schools to get a list of children who might be in need.
“We give them a form to fill out and they give us a want and a need list,” she said. “We try to get most things on the list.”
This year some of the children asked for warm bedding, boots, shoes, socks, Sharpies,
Pencils and sketchbooks. And by Thursday, the showroom on Main Street was filled with bags of toys ready to go back to the schools for wrapping.
“This is our second load,” Ellie Hagerman, HPS marketing coordinator said.
They are accepting new unwrapped toys or money donations at the HPS Main Street location until Dec. 18.
According to Clark since he took over as commander in April, Post #47 has raised nearly $8,000 for the community.
