Page 16 - APR2023

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