HRH sponsors ‘Giving Tree’

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    With the holiday season comes the sentiment of giving to others.  That’s why Houlton Regional Hospital is sponsoring a Giving Tree for the Northern Lighthouse.
    The Northern Lighthouse, located in Mars Hill, works with families from Oakfield to as far north as Cross Lake.
    “We provide a variety of services,” said Henry Carpenter, Section 28 supervisor. “Most of what we do consists of  working with children in the mental health field.”
    A year ago, Houlton Regional Hospital staff and the community generously donated gifts from the Giving Tree to the agency.
     “Last year was our first year of participating,” said Janene Moran. “The project was spearheaded by Patrice Lunnie of the volunteer department.”
    The tree will be displayed in the hospital concourse on Dec. 1, with gifts picked up by the Lighthouse on Dec. 16.
    Carpenter, son of Debbie and Billy Carpenter of Houlton, knows how the community rallies around a cause.
    “I would like to thank Houlton Regional Hospital and the community of Houlton for helping in a time of need,” said Carpenter. “I grew up in Houlton and once I contacted Houlton Regional Hospital, they were more than willing to help us and they have been so great and kind.”
    The Northern Lighthouse is a six-bed residential treatment facility where youth come to live.
    “We work on a variety of needs such as living skills, social skills and communication,” Carpenter explained.
    The agency also supports a Section 28, which is a home and community-based treatment facility for children with a variety of categories for needs. The agency also has a 65m, which is where a therapist works in a home with a parent and their child helping with parenting needs and the needs of the child.
    “We are currently servicing 102 families throughout Aroostook County and when Christmas comes around we find that the families that we work for have many needs,” said Carpenter.
    The Northern Lighthouse is putting together 102 food baskets this year, along with trying to supply two items a child needs such as a coat, hat, mitten or socks, along with a child’s want like toys.
    The Northern Lighthouse is a non-profit organization and relies on community support.
    “We have to reach out to the community for help and the Houlton Regional Hospital has agreed to help us again this year,” Carpenter said.