WCCC Students Making Christmas Boxes for Veterans

More than any other time of year, the holiday season is one that reminds us of the importance of togetherness and sharing in the bounty of what we have. The students of Washington County Community College’s Supervisory Management class are working to raise funds and items to put together to ensure that some very special members of the community have a happy holiday season: the residents and their families of the Maine Veterans’ Homes in Machias.

The effort is part of the business program’s focus on providing students with hands-on service learning projects that unite the personal interests of each class with a meaningful activity that impacts or engages the community. In previous years, students have sent shoes to Tanzania, organized an anti-bullying program for area youth, and sent personalized gift boxes to the men and women of the armed forces, and many other projects.

For this year’s project, students began by collecting donations from area businesses for a raffle of two different baskets. One basket included gift cards to Nook and Cranny, Walmart, and Dunkin Donuts, along with a necklace, lotion, and handmade items. The second basket included kitchen amenities such as a loaf pan and strainer, knives, wine glasses, and other utensils. The winners, Patty Ferguson from WCCC and Joanna Oakes from Machias, were drawn on November 16th.

The proceeds from the raffle will be used to purchase materials to make handmade knot blankets and other items to be included in gift boxes for the 30 residents of the Maine Veterans’ Homes. The class is aiming to hold a Christmas party for veterans and their families at the home in December.

“Our goal is to show these veterans they are not forgotten and to appreciate the services they gave to us by giving to them,” said Sarah Norton, one of the students helping to coordinate the effort.