By Kathy McCarty Staff Writer
CARIBOU – Visiting Nurses of Aroostook found a way to raise funds and help keep at least one family warm this winter, with the recent raffling of a wood stove. “In late July, VNA began selling a maximum of 1,000 tickets to raffle off a Quadra-Fire Mt. Vernon Pellet Stove, including free installation in Aroostook County,” said Lynn Dube, VNA office manager.
The stove was valued at over $3,700, with installation running about $500, for a total top prize of around $4,200.
“The raffle also included a second-place prize of $500 cash and third- through fifth-place prizes of $100 cash each. The proceeds will benefit the patients and families who receive home care and hospice services from VNA and Hospice of Aroostook,” said Dube.
In all, a total of 688 tickets were sold at $20 each, netting VNA $11,151, after expenses.
“We generated some excitement around this raffle, with such a timely prize,” said Saundra Scott-Adams, executive vice president for VNA. “Our employees and board members across the County sold a whole lot of tickets.”
The drawing was held at The County Stove Shop on the Caribou Road in late August. The County Stove Shop was recognized a major sponsor of the fund-raiser. The raffle was also sponsored by Affiliated Healthcare Systems.
“Money raised will be used for uncompensated care for our clients,” said Scott-Adams.
Sheila Gustafson, of New Sweden, was selected as the lucky winner of the pellet stove. Lynne Adams, of Connor, took the $500 second-place prize. Winners of $100 prizes included: Gordon Ledger, of Amity; Karla Harrison, of Monticello; and Dan Dionne, of Grand Isle.
“The Mt. Vernon Pellet Stove retails around $3,949 and about $4,500 installed,” said Will Labbe, owner of The County Stove Shop. “The stove offers up to 60,200 Btu/hour – more than 81 percent efficiency.”
The stove features five manual or automatic heat settings, has a cast iron fluted fire back, airfoil heat exchanger, comfort-quiet blowers and much more.
For almost 40 years, VNA has been providing services to their Aroostook County neighbors and friends. Last year, the staff drove 781,813 miles to provide 42,694 visits to 1,131 patients and their families. A part of the Eastern Maine HomeCare Family, and a member of EMHS, VNA works to ensure that the highest quality home care and hospice is available to all who need it in the nearly 80 towns they serve.
For more information about VNA, contact one of the following offices: Caribou, 493-3111; Fort Kent, 834-6179; or Houlton, 532-1345.
