Their eyes light up when they talk about ways to help others. Then, it’s the look, as the wheels begin to turn, as they bounce ideas off one another, the excitement builds and another idea pops into their heads.
Dawn Degenhardt and Dannette Ellis have been humanitarians for many years. Degenhardt founded the Maine Adoption Placement Service (MAPS) that brought over 4,000 children and families together through adoption under her direction. Ellis has been involved with numerous community organizations, projects and causes, as well as volunteering at Aid for Kids.
After Degenhardt retired in 2005, she continued her humanitarian aid for children through Aid for Kids, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide.
“It was founded by a group of family and friends concerned about humanitarian aid in foreign countries, primarily,” Degenhardt explained. “Now, it has grown to include programs in Maine, Florida, Mississippi and Colorado and continues their involvement in foreign countries.
Degenhardt is astounded by what was this “tiny idea of humanitarian aid, which very slowly, just keeps growing,” she said.
Recently, Katahdin Trust Company donated $1,000 to Aid for Kids as they were made aware of the development of the local programs Ellis is managing.
“We will use this generous donation for the book program, and for shipping and handling, and distribution of clothing, school supplies and other merchandise,” Degenhardt explained.
This summer, Ellis invited Bess the Book Bus to Houlton after seeing the story on a national news show. She sent an e-mail to Jennifer Francis who is the founder of Bess the Book Bus. When they set up the Book Fair at the Houlton Recreation Center last month, more than 500 children and adults were on hand to enjoy the bus, bouncing houses, face painting, clowns and refreshments — and receive more than1,200 free books. “We would like to thank everyone involved who made this a memorable occasion for the children,” Ellis said.
“Last year, we distributed more than 10,000 books and recently received 8,500 books from First Book to be distributed throughout Aroostook and Washington counties,” Ellis added. “And there are more on the way.”
Ellis distributed books to Houlton, Hodgdon, Danforth, Presque Isle and Fort Fairfield schools, and the three Head Starts.
“First Book donates the books so kids will build their personal book collection which, hopefully, will develop a love of reading,” Ellis said.
“Dannette has made this program grow,” Degenhardt said of her involvement with Aid for Kids. “I never thought there were so many resources available. She is incredible at finding them. Dannette is known for helping others and this is just a continuance of what she has always done in her life.”
The first donation of merchandise to Aid for Kids came from a business in southern Maine a few years ago. They had 16 pallets of new, top-quality clothing and other merchandise in their warehouse ready to go to the landfill and they asked if Aid for Kids could distribute it to those in need.
“That’s when Dannette got involved,” said Degenhardt. “That’s a lot of merchandise and she began the distribution when more arrived — and then the books came. Then there were the pajamas, the Slankets, the book bags, school supplies, bedding — and there seems to be no end to her resourcefulness.”
An important focus of the local program (now known as The “Other” Maine Project) is not only for children but to reach out to the elderly, many living on fixed incomes and who are no longer able to make ends meet. They are having to make choices between food, medicine or staying warm.
Degenhardt said, “When Dannette quietly puts together a box of items and delivers them, she receives many thanks and lots of smiles and hugs. One elderly woman, with tears in her eyes, said she had not had a new coat for 18 years.”
Over the past year, more than $150,000 of new good quality merchandise has been distributed directly or through 35 local organizations in northern Maine.
Aid for Kids has several projects under its main umbrella of care.
A new project that Ellis is currently developing is The Maine to Mississippi Program, which is Anthony’s story.
Anthony is a young man who Degenhardt and Ellis have known for years. He was adopted as a baby into a family in central Maine. He led a wonderful life and excelled in sports and academics, graduating as valedictorian of his high school class earning a full scholarship to Harvard. After graduating from Harvard in May of this year, he decided to give back, as he had been given so much in his life. He chose to join the Teach for America Program and asked to go where they needed him most. He was sent to the Mississippi Delta.
Mississippi is the state that ranks number 50 as having the worst schools in the country. With the enthusiasm of youth to make a difference, Anthony was soon dismayed. His school has nothing. Ninety seven percent of the students are low income or below and on the school lunch program. What to do? He called his mother for back up and asked for pencils and pens! She called Ellis and a new program was born.
Already Jennifer of Bess the Book Bus has agreed to deliver and send books and Ellis has located a company who will send backpacks. Next on the agenda will be locating school supplies for the backpacks. Anthony says nobody would believe the conditions in the schools and the lives of his students. He has spent two summers working in the inner city schools so has some experience to draw upon. Ellis is planning to engage some of the local youth organizations to help with The Maine to Mississippi Project.
As these difficult economic times continue to escalate, Aid for Kids projects will be needed more than ever. Donations are also needed to pay for shipping and handling as some organizations receive and send merchandise, but do not have the funds to pay the shipping and handling which is usually from 5 to 10 percent of the value of the product. With an all volunteer staff, and donated office space, Aid for Kids’ overhead is very low so all funds donated in the County are used to acquire and distribute the items here. They will be able to receive an unending supply of school supplies and teaching aids once there is space to organize and store them.
Located on the second floor of Houlton’s Masonic Building, Aid for Kids has a small two-room donated office space. There have been times when the overflow of merchandise has filled another larger office and lined the halls two boxes deep. Books are stored in Degenhardt’s garage and Ellis’s travel trailer and on porches. There is definitely no more room in the office.
They have a dream of eventually owning a distribution center with a loading dock and showroom where it will be easier to manage the program. But, right now, they are in need of a generous contributor to offer a place (warehouse, storefront or empty building) to temporarily house this developing program that does so much for so many.
If anyone might be interested or know someone who may help in donating temporary space, please call 532-7899 or 532-7584 or e-mail admin@aidforkids.org.
Spend time with Degenhardt and Ellis and feel the excitement build as they think of new ways to help others.
“If you see a need and want to help someone don’t hesitate — just do it,” said Ellis. “Remember the Starfish story — it matters to this one.”
