An ongoing area-wide bottle drive and a barbecue during Kingfield Days on July 17 will allow Shining Star, a new nonprofit, to assist community members in need.

Bottles may be left at Madore’s Market and Ron’s Market in Farmington or at North Jay Redemption. Shining Star founder Kevin Frost said $800 has already been raised.

“I’m trying to get (a redemption site) in each town in the county,” he said.

A recent takeout barbecue meal offered at the Blue Skies parking lot in Farmington raised $1,600 in two hours, Frost said. The same menu — pulled pork, ribs, macaroni and cheese — will be available for $15 per meal from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 17 near Skowhegan Savings Bank in Kingfield, he said. Soda, desserts and possibly cotton candy for the children will be available for additional fees. A donation bucket will also be set up, Frost said.

Shining Star is available for families in need throughout Franklin County, Frost said.

“We’re doing this for the right reason,” he noted. “I’m not taking a paycheck, nobody is.”

Among Frost’s goals are holding four barbecues a year, getting dinner dances going again and offering assistance such as that provided by Operation Santa Claus.

“I want to get the community more involved,” he said.

Frost said last winter that he worked with a lawyer in Kingfield to get a tax identification number, qualifying Shining Star to help with anything from a small hardship to a full-blown disaster.

Shining Star was approved as a 501(c)(3) nonproft Feb. 15, Frost said, and all donations are 100% tax deductible.

With a ton of experience and a pulse on what the community needs, Frost was a natural fit to form a nonprofit to assist those in need, Matthew Smith said June 29.

“Kevin asked if I was interested,” Smith said. “We grew up together as kids, I knew he always did a lot with Operation Santa Claus.”

Smith is chairman of the Farmington Board of Selectmen and commander of Roderick-Crosby American Legion Post 28 at Middle and High streets in Farmington.

A board of directors is being assembled and meetings will be held at the post.

Board members so far include Kendra Baker from United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, Tim Thayer who works for Archie’s, and Kelsie Pinkham from Franklin Savings Bank, Frost said. He is looking for three more members with at least one more person from the community.

“Each of these roles is basically two years,” he said.

Having the public involved as much as possible will make the nonprofit more transparent, Frost noted.

Shining Star has a list of some 30 people available to help, Frost said.

“This county has needed this type of program for the last 2o years,” Frost said.

“We all know it’s needed,” Smith said.

For more information or to donate, contact Frost at 207-491-4272.

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