Local volunteers looking to help those in need

FARMINGTON - Do you need a little extra assistance fixing something around the house? A set of stairs need repair, a lamp's on the fritz or the firewood needs stacking?

Jon Bubier at Ron's Market, is among those who want to help those who need it through an all-volunteer group Neighbors Helping Neighbors of Franklin County.

If so, you're in luck because a bunch of do-gooders want to help.

Formed last spring, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, currently consists of 20 volunteer-members who "just want to help," said member Jon Bubier. The idea for the community-based service organization was started by a group who thought there are those, from time to time, who need a helping hand. "We asked, 'why don't we do something to help out ourselves?'' Bubier said of the group's start.

As a sort of on-going community service project, the group holds fund-raising events and then looks for small projects that help people who need it living in Franklin County. Fund-raising events this year included a limousine bus pub crawl round trip from Farmington to Rangeley last summer and a scavenger hunt followed by a barn dance at Jeff Harris' farm in New Sharon this fall.

"We put things together and have a great time doing it," he said of the fund raisers. Proceeds go for various small projects for area residents. Among the work completed include the delivery of firewood to a home in Industry, assisting with getting a home's propane tank filled in Chesterville and the recent donation of $200 to provide taxi rides from Franklin Memorial Hospital for those patients who arrived by ambulance but have no transportation back home.

The group is looking for more projects in Franklin County now.

Suggested project ideas need to take a few hours for a small group of volunteers to complete because of their busy work schedules.

"We're looking for that odd job like fixing a set of steps, installing a handrail or a lamp that needs repair for people who have a need, but don't have the means," Bubier said and he added, "Sometimes you just need a hand. We sincerely want to help."

If you have a small project you need help with or you know someone who could use some help, call Bubier at 778-2249 or visit the group's facebook page here.

The Neighbors Helping Neighbors group of volunteers is always open to new members. There's no membership fee and meetings are held once a month. Bubier noted it's a strictly all-volunteer effort and the group is applying for 501K nonprofit status. NHN is now exploring the possibility of organizing a winter festival with snow sculptures and other activities as a fundraiser in February.