By Nicole Duplessis
Special to the Star-Herald
Abigail “Abby” Ladner was celebrated and remembered for the beautiful, active and intelligent person she was. On December 4, White Smiles Family Dentistry along with many volunteers, held a benefit supper at the Fort Fairfield Elementary School in her memory. A silent auction took place as well as a 50-50 raffle. The idea for this event arose when Ladner, 19, was involved in a serious car accident at the end of October. Staff members White Smiles Family Dentistry sponsored the event, and thought it would be a great way to give back to the community. Ladner, a 2012 Fort Fairfield High School graduate and second-year student at UMPI, was very active in the community, and they felt getting the community involved would be a wonderful way to support and give back to Abby’s family in remembrance of all she had accomplished.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this time,” Brooke Beaulieu, the event coordinator and dental assistant at White Smiles, said. “Abby was an amazing girl, so we are very happy to be able to give back.”
The cost for the meal was five dollars. All of the food was donated and a spaghetti dinner was served. People also had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction.
“We had a huge outpouring from the community,” Emily Ala, a FFES staff member and volunteer at the event, said. “We had a lot of items that were dropped off anonymously.”
The silent auction took place in the library. There were an astounding number of items donated and many anonymous donors. Items such as hoodies, T-shirts, gift certificates, electronics, furniture, holiday signs and home décor were all a part of the auction. Fort Fairfield High School National Honor Society members also volunteered their time selling 50-50 tickets. Organizers are still collecting proceeds from the event and expect to announce a grand total in the near future.
All of the money raised at this event is going toward a scholarship fund in memory of Ladner. Abby’s grandmother, Connie Jarvis, is in charge of the scholarship fund. The college sophomore had just recently declared her major as social work.
“It’s amazing to see a family who lost such a valuable and precious part of them still able to give back, and give back in a way that will always represent Abby,” Beaulieu said.
Not only was the benefit supper a great way to give back, it also showed how tightknit of a community Fort Fairfield is. This fundraiser brought out the best in people, and people were more than gracious. Abby Ladner has left a mark on her community, and will continue to affect the lives of many in the years to come.
