West Paris Provisions owner Andelena Henderson, left, stands with employee Amanda Edwards while holding the community impact award presented to the business by Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation for “extraordinary service” to its Veterans No Boundaries program. Evan W. Houk/Advertiser Democrat

WEST PARIS — West Paris Provisions, a medical cannabis store, has received a community impact award from Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation for “extraordinary service” to its Veterans No Boundaries program.

The Route 26 shop has donated about $21,000 since 2022 to the twice-a-year program that hosts disabled veterans free of charge at adaptive recreation camps, where they get the chance to do things like cycle, kayak, ski, and even stand-up paddleboard. The money was raised through many customers voluntarily “rounding up” their purchases to the nearest dollar and donating that difference.

“I’m only as good as the people around me,” West Paris Provisions owner Andelena Henderson said. “Many hands make light work.”

Henderson has the award proudly displayed at the store’s checkout and tells customers, “this is your award too.”

Veterans No Boundaries recently held its summer program at Camp Wavus in Jefferson on Damariscotta Lake Aug. 23-25. Although she was presented with the community impact award, Henderson said that her personal highlight of the weekend was seeing her good friend, wheelchair user Karen Ackins, stand-up paddleboarding.

“You think stand-up paddleboarding, someone in a wheelchair can’t do that…wrong,” Henderson said.

She said that volunteers installed milk crates on top of the stand-up paddleboards to enable anyone to participate.

Henderson has always had a philosophy of community involvement and helping others, saying that growing up in rural Virginia, “we were always encouraged to help our neighbors.”

She continued that service directly after high school by joining the U.S. Navy, becoming a third-generation military veteran. Henderson referred to her time in the military as “the proudest time in my life.”

Henderson started working with Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation and its Veterans No Boundaries program in 2010 to give back and help others who may be struggling.

According to the organization’s website, Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation is a “501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1982 in Newry, whose mission is to promote year-round education and training for individuals with disabilities in order to develop skills, enhance independence, and provide enjoyment through active recreation.” 

“Over 400 volunteers assist our students in appreciating the joys and challenges of sports participation. Maine Adaptive provides over 2,500 lessons to over 450 individuals each year and continues to grow.”

The weekend retreat at Camp Wavus was as much about outdoor recreation as it was about community, lifting each other up, and networking, Henderson said.

From left: John Vacca, an athlete with Move United Warfighters, poses with West Paris Provisions owner Andelena Henderson and her good friend, Karen Ackins, who also works with Move United, during Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation’s Veterans No Boundaries program at Camp Wavus in Jefferson Aug. 23-25. Submitted photo

“Many of them this weekend said we saved their life,” Henderson said. “We are one big happy family.”

In turn, Henderson says that Maine Adaptive’s Veterans No Boundaries program saved her life as well, by providing her with ready-made meals and extra support. She was in a tough place after first opening West Paris Provisions nearly four years ago – raising a child, helping to care for her husband, Brad Henderson, who had just been diagnosed with stage four throat cancer, and working seven-days-a-week to get West Paris Provisions off the ground.

Brad Henderson’s cancer is now in remission. During his illness, he took CBD and THC cannabis products to help with the pain and depression.

“It truly is a medicine,” Andelena Henderson said of cannabis.

There was also a lot of networking between nonprofits that happens at the Veterans No Boundaries Camp. Henderson said that her friend Ackins also works with Move United Warfighters, an organization that provides adaptive sports opportunities to severely wounded veterans. John Vacca, another athlete with Move United, also attended the camp, allowing valuable information to be exchanged between the two groups.

West Paris Provisions has conducted food drives, back-to-school drives, clothing drives, sent care packages to local veterans stationed overseas, and spent time with residents at Maine Veterans’ Homes in South Paris. The store also offers 20% off to veterans.

Henderson said she hopes to inspire others to give back through her volunteerism and the round up donation system. She said Maine Adaptive’s Veterans No Boundaries is always looking for volunteers and they will train.

“For me, if I can save one person, if I can help one person that actually deserves it, it’s always worth it,” Henderson said. “Anything you give, you get back times 10.”

For more information, visit maineadaptive.org/veterans-no-boundaries.