Valentine fundraiser
to benefit church group’s March trip
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A chocolate fundraiser, planned just in time to get your special someone a scrumptious gift, will aid members of the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church raise the money needed for a March trip to West Virginia.
“We’re calling it Chocolate Lovers Sunday and it will take place Feb. 12 immediately after worship,” said Pastor Ron Chaffee.
The event will include a luncheon of sandwiches, chips, pickles, beverages and desserts.
“We’re accepting donations of $6 per person for the meal, with proceeds going toward our upcoming trip,” said Chaffee. “In addition, we’ll have lots of different chocolate sweets for people to purchase to take home or save as a Valentine gift.”
All money raised will help support a mission trip to West Virginia to assist the less fortunate of that region.
“Between our church and one in Augusta, we have about 24 people traveling to Oak Hill, W.V.,” he said.
This isn’t the first such project church members have planned. Following Hurricane Katrina, members of the church traveled south to assist with cleanup. Members have also been busy locally, working to upgrade transitional housing for Homeless Services of Aroostook.
“When we get to Oak Hill, we’ll be doing home repairs for the elderly, handicapped and low-income families of the area. We’ll be working in the community Monday through Friday. We’ll be leaving Presque Isle on March 16,” said Chaffee. “Some in the group plan to take their time returning, doing a bit of sightseeing on the way back.”
Chaffee said this is an ongoing effort by members of the congregation to aid others.
“This is an outgrowth of what we’ve done so far. We’re still doing our local mission with transitional housing, with work being done by our volunteers using material donated by area businesses. This other opportunity to go beyond the state came up and we thought it was a good idea. We have 14 members going from our church and nine from Augusta,” he said. “Our next step will be to go out of the country for a mission.”
Chaffee said work is still being done for HSA to refurbish housing for the homeless.
“We’re not getting done with transitional housing. We’d also like to help others in the community in need of help for small projects. We’re asking those in the community who are elderly, handicapped or low-income who are in need of minor repairs to let us know. We’ll help if we can,” said Chaffee.
Donations can be made to the church for the West Virginia mission or to be used locally.
“We’re accepting donations toward our trip or other projects, just specify how you wish the funds be used,” said Chaffee.
For more information about the mission trip, to volunteer, make a donation or if you have a possible project for the group, contact Chaffee at 762-9531.
