RUMFORD — Two local women are among the top five competitors in the Hannaford grocery store chain’s Create a New Summer Holiday Contest. 

Tamera Richards and Tricia Thurston both have a special purpose for the prize money: deployed soldiers.

Hannaford created the contest on Facebook on July 21 and entries were accepted until 3 p.m. on Aug. 16. It announced the winners the same day at 5 p.m. First prize, a $1,000 gift card, went to Thurston, and second place, a $250 gift card, went to Richards.

The idea behind the contest was to have a unique summer holiday for the month of August.  Thurston and Richards both entered the contest with military members in mind.

Richards’ son, Nic Smith, is a corporal in the Marine Corps and works on a fleet anti-terrorism team. He is currently deployed in an undisclosed location overseas. Richards stated she often will send his entire team a box of  “simple pleasures” that they miss from home. 

“It’s not like they want to win a contest to Disney World,” she said. “The guys overseas just want to come home, sit around a bonfire, enjoy some good food and visit with family.” Richards is hoping to send gift boxes to her son’s team filled with Maine items. “Every holiday that Nic isn’t home for, we send him and his team a holiday in a box.” 

She is also a big supporter of Thurston who has helped her family in the past.

Thurston, president of the American Legion Auxiliary unit 24 in Rumford, helps run a program that sends gift boxes to deployed soldiers.

Thurston is no stranger to the comforts a service member overseas misses on a daily basis. She previously served in the Navy, four years active duty and four years with the reserves. Her husband also served in the Navy for 20 years. Thurston also intends to use a portion of the prize money to send boxes to local military personnel overseas.

Anyone interested in donating to the American Legion in Rumford to help support the gift box program is encourage to contact Tricia Thurston at 357-3289. 

The Legion also accepts drop off donations of non-perishable food items, baby wipes and other goodies at 184 Congress St., Rumford.