MILLINOCKET, Maine — A group of volunteers is rallying to help four teens who suffered significant injuries when the SUV they were riding in rolled over several times on Baxter State Park Road just outside Millinocket last month.
Members of American Legion Post 80 are holding a spaghetti supper on Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Legion hall at 970 Central St. The event’s features will include a silent auction, live cake and pie auction and a 50/50 raffle, said Jessica Pelkey, one of the event’s organizers.
Proceeds from the event will be given to the four boys and their families to defray medical expenses or other costs associated with the accident, Pelkey said. He added that the supper had been blessed by great generosity from Katahdin region businesses and residents, who have donated more than 30 gifts to the raffle.
“They may need counseling in the future or funds to get to appointments and that’s where we come in to help out,” Pelkey said. “Future medical costs, current medical costs — it is really up to their parents’ discretion.”
“We have everything from gift cards to actual crafts, products that people make from around town. Everybody wants to help,” Pelkey said.
The SUV was headed south on the road near Painted Rock at about 2 p.m. on Oct. 20 when it came over a rise and the driver, a 17-year-old boy, apparently lost control of the vehicle, which rolled possibly four times, Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Wilson has said.
The three ejected victims were not wearing seat belts, but the fourth was, Wilson has said. The four were able to walk to the ambulances and were taken to Millinocket Regional Hospital, but one of them was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center of Bangor, Wilson said. Another was then taken to EMMC by ambulance.
Anyone interested in assisting with the dinner or donating gifts to the raffles can call Pelkey at 447-0551 or the Legion at 723-8088. Volunteers will deliver the dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday to people who place requests, she said.
One of the boys’ parents, Michele DiBona, said the families are grateful for the support.
“It’s what our community does, but when you are the recipient of it, it makes you realize and appreciate how lucky you are to live in a community like ours,” she said.
“That’s what we do at the American Legion. We help people in need,” Pelkey said. “Millinocket is such a small town that a lot of people have watched these boys grow up. It could have been any one of our kids.”