Sweetser News & Events

Sweetser Holiday Toy Drive Kicks Off at Downeast Energy Offices

Posted on 11/14/2006 at 12:00 am

Downeast Energy will host a Holiday Toy Drive in all 13 of its offices throughout central and southern Maine to benefit children served by Sweetser.

“Downeast Energy and its customers wish every Sweetser child warm holiday wishes and blessings,” says Betsy Morrell, vice president. “This toy drive brings smiles to many kids who are not expecting the best of holidays this year.”

The Holiday Toy Drive provides youth, ages six through 18, with gifts from good friends who care very much that each one of them has a special holiday, whether they are celebrating at home assisted by Sweetser services or in a Sweetser facility with or without family members.

The Toy Drive kicks off at Portland Downtown District’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony November 24 at 5:30 p.m. in Monument Square. The public is invited to drop new, unwrapped toys in the bright red barrels set up around the square. Captain Puffin is also scheduled to arrive with Santa on a Portland Fire Department truck at approximately 6 p.m.

From November 24 through December 13, presents are welcome at any Toy Drive box in all Downeast Energy offices. The Wish List for teens includes: gift cards, CDs, DVDs, sports team hats, shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, winter hats, gloves, coats, Discman, handheld electronics and games, arts and crafts supplies, board games and pre-paid calling cards.

Other companies participating in the Sweetser holiday toy drive include BOC Gases, Franklin Printing, Great Works Internet, IDEXX, Maine Energy Recovery, Norway Savings Bank’s Congress St. location, One & Two Portland Square, Orthopaedic Associates of Portland, Pepperell Bank & Trust, Securitas, St. Joseph’s Church Religious Education, Systems Engineering and The Holden Agency. These companies will be hosting gift trees at their locations from November 13 through December 8.

For more information on Downeast Energy Holiday Toy Drive gift box drop locations, please call Troy Pattison at 1-888-665-2727. Downeast Energy is a third generation, family-owned enterprise with 13 offices in southern and central Maine and Dover, NH.

Sweetser is Maine’s most comprehensive behavioral healthcare organization with offices from Kittery to Calais serving more than 20,000 Maine children, adults and families. For more information about participating in Sweetser’s Toy Drive, please contact Leah Adams at ladams@sweetser.org or 207-294-4485.

Media contact: Celeste Viger, Director of Government & Public Relations, cviger@sweetser.org, 294-4454 or 604-0610