The air is crisp, we’ve gained an hour’s sleep, and winter is at our doorsteps. As we await the first signs of snowflakes, many of us are preparing for Thanksgiving, and looking forward to snuggling up with special someone or a good book by the fireplace, while enjoying a hot cup of cocoa.

Meanwhile, the silence of the homeless, within our community, who struggle to avoid frostbite while living in tents, alleyways or abandoned doorway. There bodies already weakened by the affects of addiction, many will fall victim to flu symptoms, some to COVID and pneumonia.

At “The Lighthouse” the dedicated volunteers of the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen are at their assigned tasks of cutting vegetables for the day’s main course, while our cooks are tending boiling pots on our industrial stoves, the daily meal which will feed close to 300 people or more. Our doors open at 8 a.m. to the aromas of fresh coffee, assorted cereals, muffins, bagels, and breakfast pastries, assorted juices and lemonade.

Many of you have graciously allowed me to place somewhere near your cash registers a mason jar, which has become a symbol of the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen’s fall fundraiser. By the end of the week, I hope to have all 50 distributed. Our campaign runs for six weeks with a goal of $3,000. It’s amazing how nickels, dimes and quarters will add up.

My name and phone number are on the label affixed to the jar, designed for us by SBS Printing.

Thank you all for warmly welcoming me again this year. Thank you for making it possible for us to continue to provide for those less fortunate of our community.

May your patrons be many and our donations be plentiful.

Aline Poulin

Waterville

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