By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

NORWAY – Christmas for Kids and Christmas for Teens, two Rightstart programs that buy gifts for needy kids and teens in the Oxford Hills, have a higher number of applicants this year, likely driven by higher costs for heating oil, propane and gasoline.

In Christmas for Teens’ case, the number of applicants has tripled, Jean Delamater, the program’s co-coordinator, said Thursday. “There are close to 90 applicants at this time. Last year at this time there were 30,” she said. Thirteen of this year’s applicants are considered displaced, meaning they do not currently have a permanent home and may be staying with friends or at hotels.

At Christmas for Kids, there are 444 applicants to date, 70 higher than last year, said Gerri Price, the program’s chairperson.

And both women are expecting even more applications between now and Dec. 15, the application deadline. “We’ll get an onslaught between now and next Thursday,” Price said.

Christmas for Kids raises funds to purchase gifts for low-income kids from birth through age 12. Christmas for Teens does the same for teenagers ages 13 to 18 who attend school full-time at Oxford Hills Middle School or Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

Many teens are referred by teachers, outreach workers and guidance counselors. The annual Christmas for Teens concert, the program’s largest single fundraiser, was held Dec. 2 and raised more than $4,000.

All program applicants must fill out a form that verifies low-income status. They also may write down what gifts they would like for Christmas.

Both programs spend an average of $50 per child or teen.

Price and Delamater agreed that higher prices for heating oil, propane and gas are likely driving the increase in applicants this year.

“It’s a hard area,” Price said. She said parents have told her they cannot afford to heat their homes, put gas in their vehicles and buy holiday gifts for their kids. Even government assistance for heating fuel doesn’t seem to help, she said. “That gets half a tank (of oil) for most people,” she said.

Price said all children receive a book, plus a bag that has a minimum of five toys. Delamater said teens request simple items including jeans, personal care items such as shampoo and hairbrushes, bed comforters, games and compact discs.

Anyone wishing to donate to Christmas for Kids can call Price at 539-4011 or take a toy or cash to Community Concepts in South Paris. Anyone wishing to donate to Christmas for Teens can contact Delamater at 539-4587.