Our area businesses and organizations contribute so much to the community. And often that giving back to the community goes on outside of the news where people can see it in action. Today I want to focus on just one story of how a local business (and Chamber member) is making a difference.
Penny Jackson is a special education teacher in Caribou. One of her students is a girl named Kaylee, who is autistic. Jackson noticed that her own personal iPad was one of the few ways that Kaylee would calm down. The problem was that Jackson had to take her iPad home at the end of the day. Jackson and her co-workers decided to do something to raise money to purchase a tablet computer for Kaylee to make life easier for her.
One of the ideas was a bottle drive. And that is where Bennett Drive Redemption located at 88 Bennett Drive came into the picture. Bennett Drive Redemption saw the response from the community, including Kaylee’s fellow students as they brought in bottles and cans to put in “Kaylee’s account.” The owner of the business was so touched that he decided to match whatever was raised to help Kaylee.
Kaylee received her iPad and then another child received one and the fundraiser is currently working toward a third device purchase for yet another child. These are the kinds of stories that lift our spirits and help us believe in our community. And this is just one out of many others that happen all the time around here. Money is tight. But hearts are big.
Believe it or not, the City-Wide Yard Sale is less than two months away! Beginning Thursday of this week, you can come into the office to sign up for the event that takes place May 16 and May 17. The prices are the same as last year when we had over a hundred yard sales all over the area.
People flock here during that weekend and I get calls from Millinocket and even farther south and also from up north in The Valley and into New Brunswick asking for maps. So sign up soon and get rid of some clutter and make a few bucks while you’re at it. You can also get forms on our website at www.cariboumaine.net. Just click the Popular Forms link to print the form.
I also want to remind you that our Annual Recognition Dinner is coming right up at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center on Thursday, April 16. I will announce who we will be recognizing in next week’s column. If you have a last minute nomination, get it to me as soon as you read this!
Have a great week, everyone!
Executive Director William Tasker may be reached in the CACC office at 498-6156 or email him at cacc@cariboumaine.net.
