To the Editor:
I will admit that organizing the community baby shower for Jada and Ryan was not totally altruistic.
When the world outside seems to be fraught with negativity, hatred and fear, I take solace in helping out those in need in our community. Planning an event like this reminds me that we have amazingly generous people here in Midcoast. We are blessed to be amongst incredibly kind business owners and townspeople, who genuinely care about the well-being of others. In the shadow of national and international tragedies, I find peace in what everyday citizens do for each other.
The Grimes family at Duck Puddle Campground offered us a wonderful space for the baby shower, at no charge, plus their staff and various residents at the campground volunteered for cooking, set-up and clean-up. We had dozens of people bring food, and over 25 exceptional raffle items from local businesses, many of whom contacted me with an offer to help.
The Lincoln County News ran three stories on this event plus an ad, which in current newspapers, I find very unusual.
There was no drama here, no sensationalism- just a human interest story about an incredibly nice family going through some very tough times. It just makes one feel good about living here, where there is still so much joy amidst so much turmoil.
When Jada, the mother-to-be, walked in to the party at Duck Puddle, her smile lit up the room. That was worth every second of planning for me. That’s why we do what we do. It is an honor, a privilege and a gift to live here, to have a business here, and to raise a family here. It is, indeed, the way life should be, and I wish it were, for everybody.
