Mapleton school community service project
benefits C.A.N.C.E.R.
MAPLETON NEWS
Have you ever seen anyone take on a challenge like a school full of energetic children? If the challenge is issued by a highly respected, well-liked school principal and there happens to be a popcorn party on the line, the results can be truly amazing! Students at the Mapleton Elementary School spent the month of February collecting donations for the local organization, Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery (C.A.N.C.E.R.). This group of volunteers assembles clinic bags that are delivered once a month filled with items like puzzle books, pens, pencils, hats, travel-size toiletries, and energy drinks, all to help cancer patients through lengthy treatment sessions.
With the support of school Principal Dan Duprey and other faculty and staff members, each class brought in as many items as they could and tracked the number of their donations. In a letter Mr. Duprey sent home to MES families in early February, he stated that “the more that our school can donate, the more of the funds collected by the C.A.N.C.E.R. group can be used for other costs to families such as gas, hotel accommodations, and prescriptions.” After that letter was sent home, the students and their families were off and running. Several teachers noticed an enthusiastic, competitive “buzz” around school, hearing students talk to each other about what they were planning to bring in to donate.
In addition to the items in the clinic bags, which are delivered on the third Tuesday of each month, cancer patients in treatment also receive a loaf of homemade bread baked by members of the community. For quite some time, the staff members at the school have helped cover the cost of baking supplies, and school cook Velma Sperrey volunteers her time to bake loaves for the monthly bags. Athena Hallowell’s second-grade class decided to collect their bottles and cans, hoping to pay for one month’s worth of bread baked in their school kitchen. When their collection ended, they were able to purchase four loaves of bread and additional items for the clinic bags!
“We used the items in the box as part of our morning math work … counting, tallying, and then adding the three different totals we got over the three weeks,” said Hallowell. “The kids were very excited to do this project and have felt a sense of pride in giving to other people.”
During this school year, each grade level has been making cards to be placed in the monthly bags being delivered. The school welcomed Susan Black and Louise Calabrese, members of the board of C.A.N.C.E.R, into the school last fall. They shared with the classes some of the services that their group provides and showed them a typical bread bag, as well as one of the bags provided at a patient’s initial treatment. On March 12, Black and Calabrese returned to the school to receive the donations collected by the students and their families.
Once the items were finally counted, the figures were staggering. The entire student body, along with the faculty and staff, collected a total of 1,786 items for the tote bags! The youngest students in the school, Phyllis Hanson’s pre-K classes, were the overall winners, collecting 409 items. Close behind, in second place, were the fifth-grade classes taught by Gail Hamel and Kellie Wood, who collected 401 items. The Mapleton Parent Organization will treat each group of winners to a popcorn party!
Louise Calabrese, C.A.N.C.E.R. board member, was moved to tears by the generosity of the faculty, students and their families.
“As I was talking to the children, I felt my eyes water,” she said. “I explained that our group is about neighbors helping neighbors and whenever I see any of them, now I will say, ‘Hi, neighbor!’ because now we are all neighbors!”
She estimates based on the amount of items donated, the organization will be able to fill their clinic bags for the rest of the calendar year. This will allow the group to use other financial donations for patient expenses like travel and lodging. Calabrese is completely overwhelmed by the support provided by the residents of Mapleton and would love to challenge other towns to do the same!
The staff at Mapleton Elementary also collectively sponsors a hole at the C.A.N.C.E.R. golf tournament each spring. This sponsorship includes a sign honoring the staff and family of staff that have had cancer. Anyone wishing to donate to the organization can mail their donations to C.A.N.C.E.R., P.O. Box 811, Presque Isle, Maine 04769. For more information, log onto www.c-a-n-c-e-r.com.
ON MARCH 12, students and staff at Mapleton Elementary School presented the C.A.N.C.E.R. organization with 1,786 items that were collected for their monthly clinic bags. Attending the presentation ceremony were C.A.N.C.E.R. board member, Susan Black, left, accepting an item from pre-K student Mason Allen, and fellow board member, Louise Calabrese, right, accepting items from fifth-grade student Jeremy Stevens.
STUDENTS AND STAFF at Mapleton Elementary School recently took on a community service project to benefit the local organization, Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery (C.A.N.C.E.R.). During the month of February and the early part of March, students collected items for the group’s clinic bags that are delivered once a month to cancer patients in treatment. After all of the items were counted, the school donated 1,786 items to the organization. Pictured are, front row, from left: Mason Allen, Elliot Bell and Noah Anderson. Second row: Lacey Condon, Megan Turner, Kylie Carney, Kendra Kennedy, Aaron Swanson, Brittany Warner, Domonique Evans and Emily Sjoberg. Third row: Emily Straetz, Sarah Sonntag, Marshal Dick, Ava Holder, Isabelle Seeley, Micah Calhoun, Michael Langley, Jaylee Howlett, Jack Hallett, Annabella Quirino, Braden Crouse and Sierra Farley. Fourth row: Logan Berry and Noah Garrison. Fifth row: Chandler Caron, Nathan Collins, Austin Smith, Nicole Theriault, Chan Villatora, Madison Walton, Sage Braman, Mari Shaw, Cassidy Clair, Grace Player, Jeremy Stevens and Dan Duprey, principal. Back row: Louise Callabrese and Sue Black, C.A.N.C.E. R. board members. The students are members of the pre-K and fifth-grade classes that won the competition, sponsored by the Mapleton Parent Organization.
Birthday wishes this week go out to Chad Putnam, Roxie Putnam, Samantha Boulier, Carla Carney, Robbie Hoffses, Alice McQuade, Sarah Beaulieu, Lynnelle Lavway, Asa Grendell, Bill Garland, Abigail Currier, Melissa Carson and Julie Roope.
Happy Anniversary to Frank and Gloria Clair on the 22nd.
The Mapleton Parent Organization will be sponsoring a Family Fitness Night Thursday, March 18 from 5:15-7:30 p.m. at the elementary school. The evening will begin with a light supper in the cafeteria, followed by guest speaker Carol Bell from ACAP. Families will then be separated into small groups to rotate between stations. The guests hosting stations for the evening include Dutch Soccer Academy, LeBlanc’s Karate, Northern Zumba, Maine Winter Sports, County Physical Therapy, and members of Presque Isle High School’s National Honor Society. Other activities planned include Dance Dance Revolution and relay games. Families of Mapleton Elementary are encouraged to come with your child(ren) to join the fun!
The United Methodist Church will be hosting its weekly luncheon Friday, March 19 at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
The Mapleton Methodist Church will be sponsoring a Family Fun Night every Friday night at the church. This week’s family night will be March 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
