MECHANIC FALLS — Thanksgiving this year came with a tinge of sadness for Jennifer Oliver and her family.

It’s not that they wanted for anything themselves. Their family was together and there was hot food at home. But as they walked through their neighborhood and came upon a house that had burned the night before, they realized that not everyone was so blessed.

“I was going for a walk with my mother and sister,” Oliver said. “We went by the house and some of the people were moving whatever they could out of the building. We stopped to talk to some of them, and they were so nice. They were so overwhelmed. It was Thanksgiving and these people were thankful for just the clothes on their backs and that they were alive.”

One man died in the evening blaze at 3 Maple St. on Nov. 25. Nine others were left homeless, including a couple with a 2-year-old son.

“I just thought, ‘I have to do something to help these people,'” Oliver said.

The helping has begun.

With the help of town leaders and other groups, Oliver initiated a drive to round up basic items for those affected by the fire, and maybe a little something extra for the 2-year-old.

“This is probably the first Christmas where he’ll really be aware of the holiday,” Oliver said.

With that in mind, people are encouraged to drop off whatever they feel they can donate at the Mechanic Falls Town Office. Furniture and basic household items in reasonable condition are among the items needed.

Canned goods, gift cards from Walmart or other stores or cash will be welcomed, too. Oliver said a group from the Poland Community Church was at work rounding up clothes for the misplaced families.

Town leaders will take responsibility for inventorying donations and doling them out to the people who need them. Oliver has already contacted someone from each misplaced family — all but a single man she has been unable to reach — to make sure they are OK with accepting donations.

“They were all very grateful,” she said. “They pretty much lost everything.”

Donations can be dropped off at the Town Office during business hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday.

Her efforts are just getting under way and Oliver said people are already stepping up to help. Some are from the neighborhood; some are complete strangers.

“It’s kind of getting contagious,” she said. “It’s a small community and we need to remember that this is something that could happen to any of us.”

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