Dear Editor:

For over 75 years, the St. Andrews Free Bed Fund has provided assistance to worthy local residents to help them pay their hospital bills.

This year, we are excited to announce a broadening of our commitment to help the people of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport pay toward their medical bills. We realize that either through personal choice or necessity, many of these bills are now being incurred beyond our peninsula. As a result, in an effort to help as many local residents as possible, we are now accepting applications from patients of other healthcare providers.

Obviously, your contributions are now more important than ever to ensure that the people of our communities can stay independent in their pursuit of accessible and affordable healthcare.

Please help the St. Andrews Free Bed Fund, an independent group run locally for the benefit of local people. Your gift is typically tax deductible to the extent of the law as we are a 501 (c)(3) organization. If you wish to donate highly appreciated securities, please call 1-800-543-6410 for delivery information.

Checks can be sent to: St. Andrews Free Bed Fund, 6 Campbell Street, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

Thank you for helping us to assist so many deserving people in our region.

Thomas I. Perkins

President

St. Andrews Free Bed Fund