CANTON – When six-year-old Dakota White decided he wanted to set up a lemonade stand in front of his home, he was following a long-time summer tradition. It’s what he wanted to do with the money that made it a little unusual.
According to White’s mother, Kristi White, Dakota wanted to donate the proceeds to charity. She suggested “five or six things” before Dakota White decided the money should go to the new “children’s museum,” referring to the ongoing Western Maine Play Museum project in Wilton
“[Dakota] enlisted his aunt and I to help him with the signs and setup,” Kristi White said,” but the ideas were his own. [We’re] pretty proud of him.”
The organizers of the museum, including fundraising campaign co-chairs Lori Lewis and Michael Cormier, are hoping Dakota White’s $14 will inspire similar generosity among others in western Maine.
Originally conceived by Wilton resident Angela McLeod, WMPM now has a board of 13 directors, on which Lewis currently serves. As a registered non-profit, WMPM has set the goal of raising $750,000 in order to renovate a 4,500 square foot property donated to the museum and to furnish it with interactive and educational exhibits designed to give local kids an opportunity to play and learn at the same time.
The nonprofit is looking raise $500,000 for the building’s complete renovation, $200,000 for furnishings and exhibits, and $50,000 for green space. The complete interior and exterior renovation, includes new electric, plumbing, insulation, roofing, windows, plus items to meet ADA and commercial building codes like a sprinkler system, wheelchair lift, ramps, etc.
The museum’s interior design plans call for several themed rooms, such as a nature room for rotating exhibits on biology, agriculture and more; a room with a central idea of building; a smart room that features a permanent exhibit using interactive technology; a gathering room for special events like birthday parties next to a kitchen, which will also be used for food labs. Also in the plans is a play village, a two-story play space with a grocery store, doctor’s office, diner, and other Main Street attractions. A magnet room, infant and toddler room, a dark room, a trains room and invention room are also all part of the plans.
For more information about how to donate, consult the WMPM website at www.westernmaineplay.org or by calling 576-8543.
Nice job Dakota! What a generous twist to some summer fun.
Your pretty cool Dakota. You should be very proud of yourself.
Love this story! Thanks, Dakota, for your generosity!
I am pleased to learn that our youngsters want to support this valuable project!
Great job Dakota. You can be very proud of yourself.