letter to the editor

In trying times ...

Mon, 02/04/2019 - 2:45pm

Dear Editor:

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all who pitched in to help the Coast Guard during the government shutdown. There were so many individuals and groups that stepped up to help and I’m certain this response grew out of the deep respect and appreciation we have for our beloved Coast Guard.

When Chief Adam Smart came over to the Congregational Church to help set up chairs for our fundraising dinner, he indicated that no community had rallied round the Coast Guard as expansively as had ours. I was not surprised to hear this but it is, of course, always nice to hear.

Special thanks to all who helped with the dinner, starting with David Eastwood, Holly Stover, Susan Reynolds and Fleet Davies, who collectively came up with the idea of doing a fundraiser. Susan and Fleet took the ball and ran with it powerfully, creating a wonderful, well-attended, and delectable spaghetti dinner. Thanks to Ralph Smith and Karin Guerin for providing all of the luscious sauce.

In addition, I’d like to thank the following people who helped set up, prepare food, serve, and clean up (please forgive me if I’ve inadvertently left you off the list): Chief Adam Smart, BJ Dobson, Sandra Seifert, Abbe Levin, Marion Coleman, Susan Gelarden, Joe Gelarden, Dan Bryer, Becky Welsh, Russell Jackson, Dorothy Ferrell, Carol Ostermann, Jane Ribble, Rimar Reed, Judith Anderson, Rusty Court and Bill Prince.

Finally, thank you to all who made a contribution. Adding up contributions that were brought into the church the week before the dinner, the night of the dinner, and in the days that followed, more than $12,000 was raised, all of which was given directly to the Coast Guard through their “Chief Petty Officers Association” fund. In addition, thanks to the Y for setting out a donation box that generated an additional $1,600.

In trying times, loving one's neighbor becomes all the more important.

Sarah Foulger, Pastor

Congregational Church

of Boothbay Harbor