Page 16 - APRIL2023

Page 16 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM April 2023 First Star Tonight’s Annual Dinner Gala is Back!
By Donna RhoDes
PLYMOUTH – First Star Tonight, a nonprofit group whose mission is to “put a smile on a child’s face” by assisting those facing chronic or terminal pediatric illnesses, is pleased to announce that their organization will be hosting its first annual dinner gala since 2019.
“We’ve never stopped help- ing those children; we just didn’t hold this, our major fundraiser, over the last three years due to COVID,” said Moe Lafreniere of FST.
It was nearly 40 years ago when Plymouth State University professor Dr. Michael Fischler’s young daughter was hospitalized
at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Med- ical Center in Hanover. Driving home from a day with her at the hospital, he was praying for her recovery. Along the ride, he looked up to see the first star of the evening shining brightly in the sky. Inspired by the sight, he promised God that if his own child recovered, he would spend the rest of his life paying it for- ward by helping other children who were caught up in similar situations. With the support of the Pemi-Baker community, First Star Tonight was soon conceived.
Since its inception in 1986, FST has assisted hundreds of local families in a number of ways. They have provided pre- scription medications, glasses,
and gas cards to help parents get a child to medical appoint- ments. Some of the children have received laptops or I-Pads so they could keep up with schoolwork during lengthy hos- pital stays. FST has made home and vehicle modifications when necessary, even providing some much-needed rest and relaxation through summer camps and fam- ily vacations at Disney World and other fun destinations. The non- profit group also supports siblings who may feel a bit slighted when a family’s attention may be fo- cused on the child who is ill.
“We obtained an electric wheelchair for one young boy, then bought gift cards for his siblings so they could buy toys
or anything else they wanted and didn’t feel left out,” said FST board member Moe Lafre- niere, one of the longest standing members of the organization.
At times they have even pro- vided assistance to parents for household bills that fell behind due to lost work time while car- ing for their sick child.
“We are a grassroots volun- teer organization. We have no expenses and no government funding. All the money we raise goes to helping children,” said Lafreniere said.
One of their most recent projects was to assist a child with a rare disease, where the only medical facility that had the knowledge to help him was in the
Netherlands.
“His parents couldn’t even
consider going over there to be with him,” said Lafreniere, “but we partnered up with people who made that happen.”
Communities helping chil- dren is what First Star Tonight is ultimately about, and as long as children are ill, Lafreniere added, they are committed to being there for them.
This year’s return of the First Star Tonight Gala will be held on April 14th at the Barn on the Pemi, located beside the Italian Farmhouse on Rte. 3, just south of Plymouth.
The evening begins with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. while a full dinner buffet will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Included in the buffet will be salmon, steak tips, macaroni and cheese, vege- table selections, salad, rolls, and a variety of delicious desserts. Beverages and a cash bar will be available as well. Entertainment for the night will be provided by East Coast Soul, a Boston-based band that received rave reviews for their performance in the past.
“They were a huge hit the last time they were here. We’re so pleased they’re coming back,” said Brian Chalmers of the Board of Directors.
Tickets for the event are $75 each and are selling out fast, Chalmers and Lafreniere said. They may still be available, however, at Noyes Insurance in Plymouth, by contacting board members or on their Web Site, www.firststartonight.org. Those who cannot attend the gala but wish to support the First Star To- night mission can make a tax-de- ductible donation at any time through their Web site, Facebook page, Venmo, or PayPal.