A penny goes a long way

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    The Chester L. Briggs Post 47 auxiliary and junior members of Houlton’s American Legion have provided another successful shopping event for local children. The ladies of the auxiliary, work year round raising money through a variety of events to purchase items for children to buy for their parents at Christmas time.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
PENNIES — The ladies auxiliary at the Chester L. Briggs Post 47 and junior club members provided a shopping day for children at Christmas. Shoppers come with their pennies to purchase one gift for mom and one for dad. The money collected from this event will be given to the Salvation Army. Auxiliary member Tammy Acott collects the pennies from seven-year old twins, Michael and Dameon Sanders.
    The children bring their donations of pennies to buy one item for their mother and one for their father, and sometimes for a friend. Seven-year old twins, Michael and Dameon Sanders were buying gifts for mom, dad and a friend Sue.
    Michael thought it was fun shopping, and he couldn’t wait to give the gifts to his parents. He said that he couldn’t save them for Christmas. He also saved some of his pennies to buy a toy four-wheeler for himself.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
TIME TO WRAP — Danielle Welton, left and her twin sister Danica, wrap the gifts that Angelina Jones chose for her parents for Christmas at the Penny Shopping Day. The Ladies Auxiliary and junior members of the local American Legion provided this shopping excursion for local children. Little Hailey Quint and Hollie Barton watch as the gifts are wrapped.
    His brother Dameon on the other hand, was not going to give his gifts early. He picked out a picture frame for his mother that had flowers and butterflies on it. He thought that she would put his picture in it because he bought it for her. He chose a tape measure for his dad because his were all broken. For Sue he chose a plant pot because she likes flowers.
    Once the gifts were chosen they took them to the wrapping table where Danielle and Danica Welton, junior members of the auxiliary were waiting to wrap them.
    Some of the items offered were flashlights, tape measures, plant pots, picture frames, combs and brushes, pens, clips, scarves, mugs, ice scrapers, trinket boxes and small tools.
    This project raised $200 that will be donated to the Salvation Army in Houlton.