AREA — It’s hard to believe that the Hope Association’s 49th Snowmobile Ride-In is only a few weeks away. The Ride-In will take place on Sunday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and will be held at New Hope Residential Home, located at 91 Highland Terrace in Mexico, across the street from the Mountain Valley Middle School.

Whether you enjoy snowmobiles, good food, good fellowship, or all three, come on and join us for what always promises to be a great time.

The Ride-In is a fun opportunity for people to enjoy a great snowmobile ride into the woods surrounding our new Hope Residential Home, an opportunity to come out of the cold for a warm drink of hot chocolate, hot coffee or other beverages, hot dogs and so much more.

And, more importantly, it’s an opportunity to catch up with old friends who have been supporting the Ride-In for the last 48 years.

Ride-In Raffle Tickets are available at the Hope Association’s Central Office, the What Not Shop, and from all Hope Association employees. Tickets are $1 each or a book of 6 for $5. Tickets are drawn at the Ride-In with a $200 Cash First Prize, $100 Cash Second Prize, $25.00 Cash Third Prize, and several other wonderful prizes.

The Ride-In began in 1975 to raise funds to help build the Association’s first residential home to support adults with Developmental Disabilities – Horizons Unlimited and to purchase the first Activity Center on Waldo Street.

Over the years, thanks to the generous and ongoing support from all of the Western Maine communities, the Ride-In generated funds to help build four additional residential homes, expand the day programs, purchase special lift-equipped vans, and any additional services that support individuals with disabilities.

All of the Association’s opportunities to provide services can be directly tied back to the generous support that we’ve received from our community.

If you’re struggling with cabin fever or just like getting out for a fun day, the Ride-In is free to attend and is just one of the many ways we get to say thank you to our community and the snowmobile clubs for your ongoing support.

The Ride-In is open to the public. We have side-by-side snow machines and passenger sleds to assist individuals with disabilities.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to call Fawn Palmer, Financial Director, at 364-4561.