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| Photo courtesy of The Aroostook Medical Center Standing behind the 16 new bicycles that were purchased in memory of Mike Wiltse of Caribou, a longtime employee of TAMC, are, from left: Keith Boot and his son, Adam, Ricky Beaulieu, Connie Ennis, Doug Charette with his stepson, Marcus Czosnek, and Tom Puzewski. The bicycles were donated to the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department’s annual toy drive. The bikes and other toys will be delivered to children Saturday who otherwise would be unable to afford such gifts in Caribou and the immediate surrounding communities. |
PRESQUE ISLE — Mike Wiltse of Caribou, a longtime employee at The Aroostook Medical Center, had a tradition. Every year during the holiday season, Wiltse donated a bicycle to the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department for their annual toy drive.
When Wiltse passed away in November, his friends and co-workers at the hospital wanted to continue his bicycle tradition in order to pay their respects.
“I thought it would be nice to carry on Mike’s tradition by collecting enough money to purchase and donate three or four bicycles,” said Tom Puzewski, supervisor of respiratory care services. They ended up with quite a bit more than he had expected.
People came together to contribute what they could. One person purchased four brand new bicycles for the cause. Another friend and co-worker donated enough money to purchase another bike. The generosity flowed and the contributions kept coming in.
Employees in the laundry department gathered department store gift cards with leftover balances from anyone willing to donate them. These were used toward the purchase of more bicycles and other toys. When all was said and done, Puzewski had gathered enough donations for 16 brand new bicycles, as well as several other toys for the Caribou Fire Department’s Toy Project.
“The Caribou Fire Department has been doing this since at least as far back as the 1930s and 1940s,” said Michael Devito, volunteer firefighter and chair of the Toy Project.
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| Photo courtesy of The Aroostook Medical Center Doug Charette, left, and co-worker Tom Puzewski unload one of the 16 bicycles that were donated to the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department for their annual toy drive. The bikes were collected by colleagues of Mike Wiltse of Caribou, who passed away in November. |
On the Saturday before Christmas, firefighters dress up in their uniforms and deliver toys to children who otherwise would be unable to afford such gifts in Caribou and the immediate surrounding communities.
“A lot of the kids come running to see what we are bringing,” said Devito, who is enthusiastic about the prospect of having a large number of gifts to deliver Saturday.
“Response from Mike’s TAMC family has been overwhelming,” added Puzewski. “Donating to children in need was something Mike enjoyed doing every Christmas, and I am glad we were able to extend his tradition.”
