Local 4-H Club to host monthly dinners for those in need

  HOULTON, Maine — A small group of 4-H members from southern Aroostook County have decided to take their dedication to community service to a whole new level by reaching out to their community. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 27, the Everyone Cares Dinner series will begin at the Gentle Memorial Building from 3-4 p.m.    The event will provide a free dinner to those in need of a hot meal and fellowship on the last Sunday of each month.
The Everyone Cares Dinner project was the creation of members of the Crafty Critters 4-H Club, who decided they wanted to reinstate an event they felt was an important part of their community. When Club President Kate Newman of Ludlow was informed that the monthly community dinners her family and 4-H Club had often volunteered at through the Umbrella of Care were no longer taking place, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
“I’ve helped with the dinners on many occasions for as long as I can remember,” Newman said. “I have always felt the free dinners were important to our community, because they not only feed those in need at the end of the month when things start getting tough financially, but they also provided companionship to people who might go an entire month without seeing hardly anyone.”
Newman presented her plan to fellow 4-H members Isabel and Olivia Cyr. The sisters, who had also volunteered at the monthly dinners, wanted to ensure the program continued by taking things in a new direction. Club secretary Isabel Cyr came up with the name Everyone Cares for the dinner, explaining that the daunting task of putting on a hot meal for a community wouldn’t seem quite so insurmountable if the club members sought out others who also “cared” to help them, which is exactly what they did.
The girls immediately met with Houlton Recreation director Marie Carmichael and contacted Houlton High School National Honor Society coordinator Erica Tweedie who were more than happy to help make the dinners a reality. They then sought out those who would be willing to provide support for the dinners in the form food and donations.
With their plans secure, the girls are ready to put their hard work into motion by hosting the first monthly Everyone Cares Dinner this coming Sunday. It is hoped that the dinners will be held at the Houlton Rec. Center from 3-4 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month through to May, and will start up again the following October. For more information on the Everyone Care Dinner project, please contact Crafty Critters Club Leader Andrea Newman at 532-0570.