On the third Sunday in August for the seventh straight year, Boothbay Region Community Resource Council held Set for Success in the field house of the Boothbay Region YMCA. Churches, businesses and community members pitched in to bring enough writing utensils, notebooks, cases, binders and backpacks and more to send just over 300 students back to school fully equipped.

Sue Burge came up with Set for Success and has spearheaded the event every year. It was a bit busier than most years. Burge toured guests who included Augusta’s Mayor David Rollins, his wife Jan who is assistant principal of Cony Middle School, Lina and Shu Michaud of Augusta’s Elks Lodge #964, and David Hammond and Felicia Gaulin of Waterville’s Elks Lodge #905.

They wanted to see firsthand how Set for Success is run and how many community members it serves. The Elks Lodge in Augusta is set to hold its own version of Set for Success for the second year and the Michauds wanted to see how they can plan better. Waterville does not have such an event, but Hammond and Gaulin hope to enlist their Lodge to do a similar drive next year.

Lina Michaud said the Elks Lodge in Augusta really does not have the space needed to accommodate all the area students, so she brought Mayor Rollins along to tour the event and consider the use of the Augusta Civic Center or Armory in the future. A friend of hers from the Boothbay area put her in touch with Burge and the rest is history.

“When we thought about doing this last year, we didn't know this was being done down here,” said Lina.

“Sue said, 'Come on down and see how we do it.' This has been so helpful because we haven't gotten to the point where we're doing it by school district. We're just opening up to the greater Augusta area. With that being said, we know we'll get kids from outside Augusta; however, we're going to serve as many as we can. We're not going to turn anyone away.”

Last year, Lina said they thought they were going to do a simple backpack giveaway, but seeing how Burge and the BRCRC has put the event together, there is a bigger picture. For one, tables are set so students can fill their backpacks rather than walking away with one (or more) filled with items they have not seen, said Lina. She added she was not seeing a rush of people grabbing things. Last year's event in Augusta was a complete free-for-all, often with people grabbing more than they needed, some knowingly, but most unknowingly, she said.

“It was good to have direction. We hope to grow so that it becomes like this. Seven years and you guys have got it mastered down here. That's what I tell everyone: 'Boothbay has it mastered.' They say 'Really?' I'm gonna bring it back and I'm gonna show you.”

The Michauds said Augusta will put its best foot forward this year with the many organizations now involved and the nearly $15,000 raised.

“Last year we received a grant from Elks National for the lodge's 150th anniversary – $1,500. That's how we started,” said Lina. “We're doing the best we can and we feel so happy to be here today.”

The Augusta Elks Lodge school supply giveaway event is Saturday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

School Resource Officer Larry Brown wandered the field house with a Boothbay Region TV microphone to do interviews. Asked how he felt about the event, Brown said he thinks it is tremendous that all of the students are on a level playing field on the first day of school. “We're living in the greatest community that I've ever seen where people come together to support each other. I've been involved in this pretty much from the get-go and Sue Burge is just amazing for what she's been able to pull off for this event. How does it go? When somebody copies you, it's the greatest form of flattery. That's what I'm seeing this year and it's been going on for a while.”

Burge and BRCRC Addiction Outreach counselor Holly Stover gave Hannaford’s Evelyn Andrews a certificate of appreciation for helping make healthy eating a part of this and past Set for Successes. Andrews is taking a job in the superintendent’s office.

“Today we want to say thank you, Evelyn, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the tons and tons of health foods and everything else you bring to our families,” said Burge.

With all the excitement going on, it was hard to pin Burge down for a few words and though the event speaks for itself, she was able to set her mind on one word for how the seventh annual event made her feel: Happy.

“That's it,” said Burge. “Everything here is from this community and it's all about community – community helping community.”