The Crafty Critters 4-H Club has again teamed up with members of Houlton High School’s National Honor Society to coordinate the Everyone Cares Community Dinner Program. Through the program, the students will once again put on a free meal during the last Sunday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Gentle Memorial Building in Houlton beginning Oct. 26, 2014.
The program was originally designed to provide a hot meal to those in need at the end of each month during the winter, when most people’s monthly checks have run out and they must decide between food and heat. However, outgoing 4-H Club President Kate Newman explained that the dinners have become much more for those who attend.
“Our 4-H Club wanted to put on these meals to help people who are food insecure during this difficult time of the year,” Newman stated. “Yet we discovered that many of the people we serve come each month for the socialization aspect. It was great to see people chatting and enjoying each other’s company. It really opened my eyes to how important these dinners are beyond feeding people, whether we serve just a few or dozens.”
Newman and fellow club members Isabel and Olivia Cyr are excited to be working on the project with Houlton Recreation Director Marie Carmichael once again. Newman commented that the Cyr family was instrumental in getting the dinners off the ground and were on hand to shop, cook, set-up, serve and clean-up throughout the year. Houlton High School Junior Isaiha Littleton has also stepped up to commit to cooking and serving at the event each month. Littleton’s family is no stranger to helping with the program as his uncle Isaac Cone, HHS Class of 2014, cooked for and served at every one of last year’s dinners. Houlton High School NHS members, under the direction of Erica Tweedie, will again take turns assisting with the dinners as well.
Newman added that the support the club has received from area schools, businesses, and organizations helps make it possible for the students to provide healthy meal choices to those in attendance.
For more information, please contact Crafty Critters Club Leader Andrea Newman at 532-0570 or check out the Everyone Cares Dinner Program Page on Facebook.
