The mission of “Set for Success,” a program of Boothbay Region Community Resources (BRCR) implemented last year, was to support families by providing school supplies for children aged 4 through 12 on the peninsula. Click here to read about last year's event.

That mission was met with tremendous success thanks to donations from the community at large, business owners and church groups, supplying 365 children with everything from backpacks to pencils.

This year Set for Success will be held on Sunday, August 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Boothbay Region YMCA.

The idea was brought to BRCR by Boothbay resident Sue Burge, formerly of Massachusetts. Burge presented it to the members of the group last year and found they were very supportive. Not only did she have the right group to support the initiative, she also found a service group to work with.

“The idea just exploded in my head last year when I learned how many children qualified for free and reduced lunch. We've got a problem,” Burge said. “Who are these people? Many of the parents are service workers who keep the wheel turning here for the visitors. But when everything closes in October, they still have little ones to take care of, to feed.”

Burge said she and BRCR estimated parents spent $50 per child on school supplies, including backpacks.

From the outset, the program was for every child instead of income based; in this way every child was the same.

Last summer, 302 children waited outside the doors of the YMCA, lined up all the way back to the Field House. When they entered, children and their parent or guardian would go to the reception table. The child was asked their name, grade and teacher's name.

A volunteer at the table would give them a supply list and send them to the tables with supplies on them some had scientific calculators, some had 3-ring binders, crayons, etc. After choosing a backpack, volunteers at each of the tables helped each child fill the pack with their teacher's student supply list.

Business owners from five hair salons volunteered their time and talent to any child wanting a cut; little girls could also have their nails painted; eye exams were performed, the Boothbay Harbor Police Department handed out bicycle helmets and the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department gave away firemen's hats; and the Boothbay Harbor and Southport Memorial libraries had tables with free books for the children.

Hannaford provided fruit kebobs and food coupons. The supermarket also provided all of the paper products and food for the event. Lamey Wellahan's shoe store in Brunswick was also present with hundreds of pairs of children's shoes.

Burge said representatives from other organizations had tables: Head Start, The Boothbay Region Food Pantry and BRCR.

Burge is hoping this year will be as successful as last. In fact, she is setting a higher goal this year: to supply 425 children with back to school items. Last week Burge mailed out donation letters seeking monetary or material donations.

“We have this unique community here and there are so many phenomenally generous people, from senior citizens to who knows who,” Burge said. “We need to reach out and help our neighbors and be there for one another.

“Particularly in this day and age when things are so difficult. Make a difference in someone's life, even if it's only one person,” Burge said.

Right now at The First N.A., on Oak Street in Boothbay Harbor, a large donation container in is set up in the lobby to collect school supply items (see side bar that accompanies this article for a complete list) waiting to be filled.

Thanks to the efforts of a unified community we can each contribute to every “Gift For Learning.”

Mail checks or money orders to: Carol Ostermann, Boothbay Region Community Resources, P.O. Box 468, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, with back to school on the memo line.

For more information, call Burge at 207-633-7049.