Program helping to bridge gap, help older kids
By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer

PARIS – Thanks to some hard work and high-profile fund-raisers, the Christmas for Teens program is helping to bridge the gift-giving gap for older children in the Oxford Hills.

For decades, Christmas for Kids has focused on providing gifts for needy younger children in the region. But because many families have both younger children and teenagers, it didn’t seem fair to leave the teenagers out, said Jean Delamater, co-chairwoman of the Christmas for Teens program.

“Teens are children, too,” she said. Some parents have been reluctant to sign up for gifts under the Christmas for Kids program if they couldn’t afford to buy gifts for their older children, she said.

Jo-Ann Prue, who has since died, began Christmas for Teens five or six years ago, in conjunction with schools and area churches. After her death, the program was picked up by Carlene Treadwell, a guidance counselor at Oxford Hills Middle School, and Rhonda Maher, co-owner of Ken & Thom’s floor covering in Norway.

To qualify, the teens’ family must meet income guidelines and the teen must be 13 to 18 years old and a full-time student at either Oxford Hills Middle School or Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

The Christmas for Teens Committee is comprised of the two women, along with Delamater, Migrant School teacher Sherry Grant, Head Start employee Marcia McAllister, high school teacher Sally Jones, Sherry Keaten of Community Concepts Inc.

The committee enjoys tremendous support from high school music teacher Cynthia Wescott, who has spearheaded an annual Christmas for Teens Benefit Concert since 2000. This year, The Candle Place is also helping out by hosting a silent auction Dec. 6 on a limited edition Christmas doll.

Both Christmas for Teens and Christmas for Kids are under the umbrella of Rightstart, begun in 1979, which also sponsors book swaps, a tutoring program and Jackets for Kids.

“It’s wonderful to be under one umbrella because we all work together,” Delamater said.

Homeless teens who are still attending school are served as well, she said.

“Out of 150 teens we served last year, probably 40 of them were homeless,” she said. “And by that I mean they don’t put their heads on the same pillow two nights in a row.”

The needs of all teens served by the program are simple, she said. When they are asked to list their requests, rarely do they list expensive games or other “luxury” items.

“Their requests are usually clothing, personal care items, hats, blue jeans, mittens, shoes, socks – those are their luxury items.”

The Christmas for Teens Committee tries, when possible, to “spice it up” with hot requests such as personal CD players or CDs. The committee spends around $45 a teen, but that money doesn’t go far when buying new items, she said.

Donations are accepted right up to Christmas and beyond. Money donations are preferred, so the committee can better meet individual teens’ requests. But anyone who has a new or unused item they think a teen might like is encouraged to donate.

Drop-offs can be made at Ken & Thom’s Floor Covering, 27 Paris St., Norway. For more information, phone Delamater at 539-4587.

ggeraghty@sunjournal.com

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