TAMC’s ‘Pitch in for the Paws’ collection
a huge success
PRESQUE ISLE — Employees of The Aroostook Medical Center and MMG Insurance collected a record number of needed supplies for the Central Aroostook Humane Society during the week of Nov. 5. The “Pitch in for the Paws” fundraiser was a huge success that will benefit the humane society with what officials there are calling the single largest collection of donated items ever.
TWO THUMBS UP 
— Employees of TAMC and MMG Insurance collected enough donated items through the “Pitch in for the Paws” fundraiser to fill the TAMC Birthday Buggy to the top and then some. An estimated $3,000 in donated items was collected for the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Pictured with the donated supplies are, from left: Dan Corey, Presque Isle’s animal control officer and shelter volunteer; Jessica Ouellette, TAMC intern; Dawn Poitras, TAMC manager of rehab and therapy services; Chris Robinson, president of the CAHS board of directors and owner of Critter Hill Kennel; Hollie Gowen, vice president of the CAHS board; and Betsy Hallett, manager of CAHS.
Photo courtesy of The Aroostook Medical Center
MMG INSURANCE employees collect their items for the Central Aroostook Humane Society before loading them in the TAMC Birthday Buggy last Friday as part of the “Pitch in the Paws” fundraiser initiated by TAMC. 
Pictured are, from left: Lynn Lombard, chair of the TAMC board of trustees and vice president of human resources at MMG; Tylor LaPointe, custodian; and Margo Dyer, human resources manager. This was the largest donation the humane society has received at one time.
On Friday, Nov. 9, the TAMC Birthday Buggy, a decommissioned TAMC Crown ambulance, traveled across central Aroostook County piling up the donated items at each TAMC site in the region. The donated items filled the entire buggy to the roof and CAHS put additional items in their new Toyota Sierra van because there was no more room in the buggy at the last stop — TAMC’s North Street Healthcare facility.
CAHS estimated that TAMC and MMG raised about $3,000 in donated items, a record number received at one time. According to humane society officials, even the number of items collected from various individuals and community groups during the holiday season doesn’t compare to the number collected for “Pitch in for the Paws.”
“This is by far the largest donation the humane society has received at one time,” said Hollie Gowen, vice president of the CAHS board of directors. “We now have most of the essential products such as paper towels, bleach, hand soap, and both dog and cat food to ensure that the animals will continue to live more comfortably at the humane society.”
“Looking at how full the TAMC Birthday Buggy is I feel overwhelmed,” said Dawn Poitras, TAMC manager of rehab and therapy services and one of the “Pitch in for the Paws” project coordinators. “I am thankful for the generosity of my fellow TAMC employees, TAMC patients, and MMG for all of their generous donations to such a great cause.”
Unloading all of the donated items took over an hour and CAHS employees were actually pleased that they were running out of places to store the items. Most of the supplies that were donated are otherwise a financial burden on the humane society. Shelter personnel and board members now feel it won’t be such a struggle to keep their doors open this winter since they now can spend money on other expenses.
“Every week, when I shop for the humane society, I spend anywhere from $100 to $150 in pet supplies,” said Betsy Hallett, manager of CAHS. “I realize that the humane society will need a few items each week, but now I can spend that money on other expenses such as vet visits, medications and fuel to heat the building. These donations are saving us financially.”
CAHS wants to remind TAMC employees that the special discount rate is continuing for the entire month of November. The employees just need to present their badges when purchasing a pet at the humane society.
“We really want TAMC employees to take advantage of their special discounts in order for these pets to go and live in a forever home,” said Hallett. “Every day more cats and dogs are dropped off at the shelter and we just want to see these animals go to caring and loving families.”
“Since ‘Pitch in for the Paws’ was such a huge success, TAMC employees look forward to making this an annual event,” said Poitras. “We want to encourage other local businesses in the community to collect donated items. We are so pleased that MMG came on board with us this year and hope others will join us next fall. Together we could collect an even greater amount of needed supplies for our local shelter.”
Poitras and her fellow members on the TAMC Total Health Team, who worked along with staff at TAMC sites in Presque Isle, Mars Hill, Fort Fairfield, Caribou and Ashland, extend their appreciation to all employees, patients, and MMG employees for teaming up and collecting such a record number of items. Efforts for the project were led by TAMC communications and development department student intern Jessica Ouellette of Caribou, a senior at Northern Maine Community College.
