By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Elaine Fournier wants to reach out and help people.

Fournier, who lives in Saco and drives a school bus, said she sees the needs of people in the community every day through her job and volunteer work. While she recognizes the needs are great, she has devised a plan to help area families by establishing a recycling program for children’s clothing. Her program, “Open Hands, Open Hearts,” aims to provide clothing to babies, toddlers and elementary school-aged children.

But first she needs help from the community.

Fournier said she needs volunteers to sit on a committee that will help run the program, which is currently operating under the umbrella of the Saco Food Pantry. Fournier has been passing out donated clothes to pantry patrons during the time she volunteers there and has helped arrange other needed items for several families. She said the clothes she piles on a table are always gone within minutes. Talking with local teachers about the needs they see in the classroom affirmed her decision to focus on providing clothing to families.

“I come from a very large family – a family of 14 – and I know what it’s like not to have money for things. I see these kids, I feel that’s a good place to start,” she said. “I always said someday I’ll have a nice home and enough money to pay my bills and money to help people. That’s where I’m at. I’m grateful and thankful for what I have and I think I can be a help to other people.”

While looking for ways to help the community, Fournier said she quickly ruled out some options because she doesn’t want to duplicate services provided by other agencies and programs. But when it comes to children’s clothing, she feels there can never be enough help. She sees children daily who climb onto the bus while their shoes slip off, or who don’t have proper clothing to keep them warm in the winter.

“Every day I hear of someone else who has lost their job,” she said. “There are a lot of people here in Saco who are hurting.”

Fournier said she recognizes that many people are living paycheck to paycheck and might not be able to help in big ways. But, she said, many families have used clothing sitting at home that would be welcomed by families who can’t afford to buy new clothes.

“I think what I’m trying to do is very realistic. It’s a recycling program,” she said. “How many things do we throw away?”

Fournier said she imagines the program – which for now will be housed at the Saco Food Pantry – will grow over time and continually provide clothing. She said families will be asked to bring back used clothing once they are done with it so another family can use it.

Fournier’s dream is to expand the program into a dedicated space that will allow her to also provide other items, such as backpacks filled with school supplies. When that happens, she said she will name the building in memory of her sister, Deeclose, who loved children. 

While working and volunteering, Fournier networks with area residents in hopes of gathering support for her cause. The program, she said, will need the help of volunteers to get the big jumpstart it needs.

“I need the help of the community,” she said. “It’s not about me, it’s what we need to do for the community, for the kids.”

Fournier can be contacted at 286-9939. Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to 2 Sheila Circle, Saco ME 04072.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.