Thanks to this community

To the Editor:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Rightstart, Inc., Christmas for Kids and Christmas for Teens programs, we would like to thank the many schools, businesses, banks, credit unions, churches, civic groups, and individuals in the Oxford Hills community as well as individuals who live outside the Oxford Hills for their support of these programs. Rightstart is an all-volunteer organization serving children and teens in the Oxford Hills.

From cash donations and gifts of toys to hand-knit mittens, hats, scarves, and slippers, once again our community joined together to help over 317 children and 167 teens in the Oxford Hills enjoy Christmas 2022.

Thank you to the Advertiser Democrat for their coverage. A special thank you to Stan Bennett and WOXO for the wonderful Radiothon, which helped raise some of the necessary funds for the programs. Thank you to the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce and the Festival of Trees. We especially want to thank John Williams, who allowed us to use the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce as a drop-off for gifts, as well as distributing and collecting applications in 2022. John also helped with the Radiothon. We extend thanks to Norway Savings Bank, C.N. Brown, WOXO, and Walmart for all they did to support our programs. Thank you to Paris Public Library for collecting so many knitted and crocheted items and to the community for making and donating them. Thank you to the Norway Savings Bank employees, Stephens Memorial Hospital employees, Oxford County Bikers, Weary Club, Swinging Bears, Big Rig Shop, Oxford Hills Snow Hoppers, Oxford Hills Dental, Oxford Hills Pawn and Gun Shop, Saracens Motor Cycle Group and Toys for Tots for their contributions to our program, as well as Chris and Heidi Charlton for their help with our programs. A special thank you to Mary Bonang, who donated her yarn deals and talents, making 189 homemade hat and mitten sets for us for the third year in a row.

Christmas for Teens wishes to thank the many groups listed above, including Maine Machine Products, Oxford Casino, Oxford Hills Rotary, Oxford Mill End Store, United Bikers of Maine, WOXO, Northeast Bank, and the Chamber of Commerce. Special thanks to Rose Schwaner for shopping for almost all of the cases. Also, thanks to Carol West for organizing applications for both programs and to Carol Trebilcock, Rachel Edwards, Deb LaFrance, Carlene Treadwell, and Jean Delamater for help with distributions.

Last but not least, a big thank you to Janis Hutchins and Sue Batchelder for all the time, talent, and energy they put into the Christmas for Kids Program, as well as Heather Delamater, Rachel Edwards, Lynette Gatchell-Seames and Ray Seames, Debbie and Don Koczon.
We appreciate the support of the entire Oxford Hills community.

Connie Allen

Jean Delamater

Debra Koczon

Susan Batchelder

Janis Hutchins

Carlene Treadwell

Carol West

Doreen Tibbetts

Heather Delamater

Rachel Edwards

Rightstart Board of Directors

Oxford Hills