Dozens raise hundreds to aid Wiscasset students
With help from brother Simeon Gray, Lewiston's Maddie Gray, in wagon, takes part in the Feed Our Scholars benefit in May 4. Below: Jessica Gallant pins a number on son Joseph Gallant, 6, before they and Joseph's brother Isaiah, 9, set out. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
essica Gallant pins a number on son Joseph Gallant, 6, before they and Joseph's brother Isaiah, 9, set out. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
With help from brother Simeon Gray, Lewiston's Maddie Gray, in wagon, takes part in the Feed Our Scholars benefit in May 4. Below: Jessica Gallant pins a number on son Joseph Gallant, 6, before they and Joseph's brother Isaiah, 9, set out. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
essica Gallant pins a number on son Joseph Gallant, 6, before they and Joseph's brother Isaiah, 9, set out. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Maddie Gray's broken leg couldn't keep her from a May 4 benefit walk to help send weekend food home with students who attend Wiscasset schools.
The 9-year-old Lewiston girl climbed into her mother Cathy Gray's Radio Flyer wagon; Maddie's brother Simeon Gray, 18, pulled his sister along the route.
Their siblings, Ethan Gray, 12, and Bronwyn Gray, 15, were also among the 35 participants in the May 4 fundraiser for Feed Our Scholars. The group was already halfway to its goal of raising $10,000 to get food into 40 students' backpacks every weekend next school year.
About another $500 was raised Saturday, enough to cover an entire school year of weekend food supplies for two students, organizers said.
Cathy Gray said she and her family were joining in the walk as members of the new Freedom Fellowship Church in Wiscasset. “We wanted to show that our church is here to support community events and services,” she said.
Daughter Maddie added one more reason: “It's fun,” she said.
The walk was a run for those who chose to, including Wiscasset High School physical education teacher Matthew Cook of Bowdoin.
“There are a lot of kids out there who come to school hungry, and they eat at school but when they go home they have nothing. So anything that can provide them with a source to eat on a regular basis is great,” Cook said of the cause.
Volunteers welcomed the morning's blue sky and light breeze for the event that was months in the planning. Del Ketcham of Wiscasset, in charge of tallying participants' three laps as they completed each one, said he was glad it didn't turn out to be one of those spring days as hot as summer.
On the opposite side of the finish line from Ketcham, fellow Wiscasset resident Pat Maguire called out people's lap times.
“11:11. Good job,” Maguire called to one runner rounding the turn to start her second lap.
Jessica Gallant walked with sons Joseph, and Isaiah, 9. “They're learning about being healthy while they're contributing to the community,” she said.
For more on the cause, go to www.feedourscholars.wordpress.com.
Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.
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