Ogunquit News
Xtramart goes the extra mile for a worthwhile cause
By C. Ayn Douglass
Greg Chaplin of Xtramart of Ogunquit is making an extra effort to help a worthy cause: supporting children with cancer and their families.
Photo by C. Ayn Douglass
OGUNQUIT - Xtramart of Ogunquit is one of 142 stores from New England to Maryland bearing the Xtramart logo that are participating in a fundraiser for the Jennifer Creed Fund that helps the families of children afflicted with cancer to pay expenses not covered by insurance.
Ogunquit Xtramart Manager Greg Chaplin has added an incentive for those donating to the fund by holding a raffle consisting of items provided by his vendors to be held on Dec. 22.
Chaplin encouraged Pepsi, Nappi Distributors, Coca Cola and others to donate items such as a gas grill, hats, t-shirts, backpacks, coolers and glasses to the fundraiser and, while the collection can for the Jennifer Creed Fund occupies a spot on the check-out counter all year, Chaplin said the store steps up its effort at Christmas time.
"It's amazing that from this store, alone, we've raised over $500. One individual has contributed $125 alone and it's amazing because this community is so small," Chaplin said. "One of the things I like about this fund is that the board of directors is all-volunteer and takes no salary, so the donations go directly to the cause."
The Jennifer Creed Fund honors Jennifer Creed of Massachusetts, whose life was cut short at four years old in January of 1974.
In her two-year battle with the disease, friends and family got together to alleviate the financial burden placed on her family from expenses not covered by insurance such as transportation, babysitting, homemaker services, lodging expenses, wigs, braces and shoes.
The board of directors of the fund takes pride in providing these things with little red tape.
Contributions to the fund are tax deductible and may be sent to The Jennifer Creed Fund, P.O. Box 469, South Boston, MA 02127 or may be dropped off at Xtramart of Ogunquit where Chaplin will happily enter donors' names into the raffle box.
Winners will be drawn on Dec. 22.
