To the editor:
HARDWICK – The Hardwick Academy/Hazen Union Alumni Association hosted a coin drop in front of the Hardwick fire station, Saturday, Sept. 20, and received many donations from motorists.
The Association took to the Wolcott St. location at around 9 a.m. and collected donations throughout the morning, finally calling it a day shortly after noon. Two groups collected money in two different directions, Association members Mike Clark and Dave LeCours collecting donations coming from town and Pat Hussey and Brenda Eastman collecting donations from the opposite side.
Meanwhile, a crew that included Gail Luther O’Brien, Lorrie Curtis, Greg Curtis and David Shepard set up a table in front of the firehouse and tabulated all the donations.
Traffic was heavy at certain times and drivers were generous and patient. The group saw license plates from all over the country, the most distant being a driver from Hawaii.
“My gosh,” said association President Mike Clark. “We, as a group, were just blown away by the overwhelming financial support we got from our very generous local folks, all the out-of-towners coming through as well, we are just so thankful to all of them, we literally got donations from people from all over the country. Some gave huge amounts, some gave very generous amounts and a ton of people gave us what they could. We even got seven guitar picks, mostly from people dumping out the spare change in their ash trays.”
The association held a meeting in the fire station after the coin drop. One of the benefits of the fundraiser is a plan to increase their donations to the graduating senior students at Hazen Union.
Submitted by Hardwick Academy/Hazen Union Alumni Association
