Following nearly twenty-four hours of a snowstorm, some eighty guests, made up of Rotarians and friends, braved the cold and joined together at the third annual January Thaw, held at Mee D Thai Restaurant in Sanford, ME. Guests, coming from as far away as North Carolina and central Massachusetts, arrived with armloads of winter jackets and coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, socks, mittens, and hats to be distributed to those in need by folks from the Sanford Police Department and the Sanford Housing Authority.
Elias Thomas, president of the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club and Broker/Owner of EXIT Key Real Estate – the primary sponsor of the event – welcomed guests. “With such an outpouring of support, I am confident that we will surpass the results of the two previous years, when we raised $10,000 each year.” Thomas continued, “It is gratifying to see so many hearty souls brave the cold and the winds to support the unhoused population in our community.”
Presentations were made by Sergeant Colleen Adams, Mental Health Officer and Lacey Bailey, OPTIONS Liaison for the Police Department. They both shared stories of the tragic situations faced by some of those who are unhoused in the community. “With some 200 unhoused in Sanford, the challenges sometimes are monumental, but with assistance from groups like the Rotary Club and its supporters, we are able to manage.”
Following the event, members of the Rotary Club and Sergeant Adams and Officer David Randt, joined Heather Beaupre and Elias as they distributed literally dozens of warm coats and other items. Some of those who are served by this program were at the Sanford Warming Center and assisted in carrying the many armloads of items into the center for sorting and distribution.
A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund. Through the Spirit of EXIT Charitable Program, EXIT offices and associates can raise money for local, approved, registered charities and apply to EXIT’s head office to have those funds matched from the company’s pool of funds. Elias surpassed the $10,000 mark and raised $10,425.96, with an additional $2,000 match from EXIT’s head office, the total donation came to $12,425.96.
