Will’s Shop ‘n Save celebrates its second anniversary

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Will’s Shop ‘n Save associates and owner Will Wedge held a 10-day celebration to thank customers for their support of the local Shop ‘n Save since Will and his wife Melissa assumed ownership two years ago. 

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    FUNNY MONEY GIFT — Will’s Shop ‘n Save owners Will and Melissa Wedge presented the Anah Shrine Clowns with a $300 donation for their work with hospitalized children during the store’s two-year anniversary celebration on April 20. The check was presented to clowns, from left, Fou, Scooter, Fuz and Pooch. The clowns entertained during the day on April 20 and Foxcroft Academy seniors raised over $900 through the hot dog cart to benefit the Project Graduation whitewater rafting trip.

    April 20 was the day selected to draw 75 winners for over $4,000 in local prizes. Will invited members of the Anah Shrine Clowns to entertain customers of all ages, along with Foxcroft Academy seniors to serve lunch to raise funds for their senior trip. Thanks to the generosity of local citizens, the seniors raised $900 for their whitewater rafting trip.
    Will and Melissa presented Center Theatre a check for $500 to help purchase a digital projector. Why such a generous donation to Center Theatre? Will stated, “We believe the theatre is the focal point of the community when it comes to providing entertainment and culture to all ages.” 
    Additional recipients of donations from Will’s included $300 to the Anah Shrine Clowns for their great work with hospitalized children and a $150 donation to the Dover-Foxcroft Fire Department to purchase equipment.
    Will’s Shop ‘n Save also built a huge display of pasta and sauce weighing over 2,000 pounds (one ton of food) and offered customers the opportunity to purchase one unit of each for $1.89 to donate to the Living Word Food Cupboard in Dover-Foxcroft to feed families in need. Pastor Tom Bruce said, “This is the third time Will’s team has coordinated this customer focused food drive donating over 6,000 pounds of pasta.  Pastor Tom also shared, “Over the past two years, Will’s Shop ‘n Save has given the Living Word Food Cupboard a daily product donation of day old deli and bakery product which equates to a value of over $20,000.”
    Why local prizes and not gift cards to Will’s Shop ‘n Save? Will said, “We feel it is important for all small local businesses in communities like ours to support one another. This type of local promotion encourages local residents to shop in another small local business and helps our community prosper. In order to express their appreciation for being part of this local promotion, many small local businesses gave us a discount when we purchased the prizes from them. We greatly value their support and friendship.”
    What do you think of your first two years as a small business owner in Dover-Foxcroft? He said, “The store associates, customers and the community are all great and they make my job enjoyable. I have the opportunity to work with a dedicated team of professionals each day in the store, interact with thousands of great customers each week, and work side by side with many dedicated community minded people on such events as Maine Maple Sunday, Kiwanis Canoe Race, Whoopie Pie Festival, Kiwanis Auction, alumni parade and the upcoming Hot Air Balloon Festival, among many other cool events offered to the good people of Piscataquis county and beyond.”
    Why do you continue to give back to the community with your donations, scholarships, prizes and personal time? Wills said, “As owners of a small business in Dover-Foxcroft, we believe it is our responsibility to give back to non-profits to strengthen our community. Without customers, the store would not exist; hence the stronger the community, the better chance we have to provide jobs to the 30 people in our small local store. It’s the right thing to do.”

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    A TON OF PASTA AND SAUCE FOR THOSE IN NEED — Will’s Shop ‘n Save in Dover-Foxcroft and store customers once again provided over a ton of pasta and sauce to help feed the hungry through the Living Word Food Cupboard. The third such endeavor has enabled the food cupboard to receive over 6,000 combined pounds of pasta and sauce from the store. Pictured are owners Will and Melissa Wedge and, center, Pastor Tom Bruce of the Living Word Food Cupboard.