80 years of giving and friendship
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Club founder |
Club founder |
A small local club celebrates more than 80 years of friendship and giving back to their neighbors and extended community. The club was started in the 1930s as the J. B. F. (Just Busy Folks) Club by the ladies of the Bear Hill district in Dover.
Founding members were Inez Merrill, Fannie Hurd, Elvie Merrill, Lilla Bell, Sadie Perkins, Eva Oakes, Clarice Judkins, Cora Leathers, Calla Chase, Grace Cochran, Harriet Ladd and Betty Berry. The club was renamed the Pine Needle Christmas Club in the early 1950s to honor Maine being the Pine Tree State with the original purpose of making Christmas gifts throughout the year.
Over the years the Pine Tree Christmas Club has contributed to Kiwanis projects, Womancare’s Hannah House, hospice, the Red Cross, Heartwise and the food cupboard, along with many other worthwhile local causes. In addition, the club continues to help individual neighbors in need.
Present members include founding member Grace Cochran’s daughters, Eleanor Godreau and Priscilla Tucker, and founding member Lilla Bell’s granddaughter, Louise Dulac. Several present members are second generation participants. The club is looking forward to many more years of friendship and giving.