PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — This year marks the first annual Presque Isle Christmas Ball to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The community event will host a dinner and charity auction.
Many have said that they can never find an event to get all dressed up and go out to. This event offers the opportunity to be Cinderella for a night, all while helping out a humble cause.
“Dust off your best duds or come as you are and enjoy a night of dining, dancing and the charity auction. Many prizes have already been donated to the event and it promises to be a fun evening for all the princesses and princes in all of us,” said organizer Donna Delong of Westfield.
During this time of year we are all busy with our families and holiday activities, but there are so many who wonder if they will eat that day, week or month to focus on much else. Many of these people go among the nameless and usually people don’t know that they have that kind of need.
The Raven Pantry will benefit directly from the Christmas Ball. It is not affiliated with any one religion. It caters to anyone who has a need and does not ask for lengthy paperwork to be filled out to receive food. Many look forward to having a volunteer stop by, when they deliver their food, to visit with them. The Raven Pantry delivers throughout Aroostook County, where the need exists. Their food and produce has gone as far as New York. They also work with up to eight different social work services and churches to fill requests for food.
This event is being held to raise money and awareness of The Raven Pantry on Roberts Street in Presque Isle. The pantry generally feeds more than 300 people a month. The food is delivered to patrons, which is essential to those who don’t have a way to get to the pantry.
Christ Built Ministries, Inc. had been working with youth in our community, but when a local pantry closed they saw a need that they felt they had to fill. The Raven Pantry was established in April 2009 with the guidance of Dean and Mary Lawrence. The pantry relies on volunteers to run the day to day operations and deliveries. Over 150 have worked for the ministry over the years, currently they have five volunteers. Just recently, they received their 501 c (3) designation from the IRS.
“Raven Food Pantry wants to get the word out that they are here and say thank you to all who have helped over the years. This event will give everyone the opportunity to show their Christmas spirit and do for others that can’t always do for themselves. This is everyone’s chance to give back to the community,” Delong said.
The first annual Presque Isle Christmas Ball and Charity Auction will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle in the Campus Center Ballroom. The event will start at 6 p.m. with a dinner and charity auction followed by the ball at 7 p.m.
Visit www.pichristmasball.com for more information. Call with any questions at 207-768-7850 or visit their Presque Isle Christmas Ball Facebook page.
