Pier 1 Pizza & Pub bartender Winter Page is hosting her third annual birthday fundraiser to benefit Underhound Railroad Rescue, a nonprofit rescuing dogs from overcrowded shelters and who are at risk of being euthanized. The organization serves communities from Maine to the Carolinas.  

This month, Pier 1 created a menu of specialty shots in partnership with Tito’s Homemade Vodka. For every shot sold, the business will give $1, and Tito’s will match the donation up to $500. Fifty percent of the profits from Jello shots also go toward Pier 1’s fundraising efforts. Page used a combination of donations from Pier 1 patrons, Jello shot profits and her own tips to raise $3,000 for the rescue last year.

For Page, it's the least she can do for an organization that introduced her to her best friend, her late dog Mowgli. “Mowgli was my soul dog. He changed my life. He opened my eyes to dog rescue and just the horrifying things that go on.”

In the 15 years since, it's been Page’s mission to raise awareness about the staggering realities of kill shelters and encourage people to adopt, not shop. As a pet foster mom for over a decade, Page has also done on-the-ground work helping man’s best friends find their forever homes, previously describing herself as “dog matchmaker.” “You can adopt a perfect puppy from a kill shelter. You can save lives instead of buying.”

Animal welfare isn’t the only cause Pier 1 is involved with. Since May 2025, Pier has given about $9,200 to a variety of organizations, including $3,000 for Boothbay Harbor Fire Department, $3,000 for Midcoast Humane, $1,200 to buy new jerseys for the high school football team, $1,000 for Special Olympics, and $972 to the Children's Holiday Fund.  

In June, Pier 1 is helping Boothbay Region high schooler and defensive lineman Griffin Yereance, who is participating in the Maine Lobster Bowl Classic, raise funds for Shriners’ Children’s Hospital.  

While some money comes from direct donations and raffles, a large portion is raised one dollar at a time from Jello shots and Pier 1’s weekly trivia nights. Family-friendly trivia is held every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Donors get a bonus point on their trivia card.

“Our people have been so incredibly generous (as well as the) tourists that come in wanting to give to something local.”

Page credited her bosses, Korey Lewis and Rick Carmolli, for always being open to anything and making all these charitable efforts possible. Lewis has a different take on the situation: “We gave her a place to do it. That's it ... It wouldn't happen without Winter. She would have done it somewhere else if she could. She just chose Pier 1.”