York Town News
New clothing bins help DARE, local Angel Fund
By Melissa Wood
YORK - Clean out your closet and help two worthwhile causes.
Money generated from two new clothing bins at the St. Aspinquid Masonic Lodge parking lot on Long Sands Road will support Maine DARE programs and the Angel Fund, a Masonic charity that works to help local kids in need.
"The Maine DARE Officers Association receives X-amount per pound," said York Police Chief Doug Bracy, who explained that the clothing donated to the bins is sold by the pound. "Half the money goes back to us and the money that we receive goes to the Angel Fund" a Masonic organization that's there to help "anytime a kid in town is in need."
According to the Masonic Angel Fund website, "the fund provides modest assistance to children in need who do not fit the criteria for the usual social-service programs."
This assistance might be include a pair of glasses, a coat, shoes, fieldtrip fees, minor health services or even scholarships for music or fine arts instruction.
Bracy said Scarborough Police Officer Joe Giacomantonio is the Maine DARE coordinator and is the person in charge of the Officers' Association. His phone number, 730-4315, is painted on the bins.
The two new dumpsters say DARE on them and replace the previous Planet Aid dumpsters that had been in the parking lot before. Bracy said only clothing and shoes may be donated.
He said he didn't think the bins would take any business away from the York Community Thrift Shop since clothing bins in town seem to fill up quickly, which would indicate there's plenty of donated clothing to go around for good causes.
"You never know, it might turn out to be a couple thousand a year," he said.
