In her Nov. 20 letter to the editor, “A More Inclusive Polar Express,” Jeanne Soucy-Powers put into words what many of us feel around the holidays — that certain magical, wondrous events come with a hefty price tag, one that sadly leaves many children out.

We at Tri-County Literacy feel fortunate that, with the help of a variety of donors, our own signature fundraising event, the Candy Cane Train, is shaping up to be more inclusive than ever this year. For the 9th year in a row, the Candy Cane Train will be running eight round-trip holiday rides between Bath and Wiscasset on Dec. 13- 14.

And, for the ninth year in a row, Davenport Trust of Bath will be generously providing tickets for some of the local families that participate in Tri-County Literacy’s Read With Me program. This year, we are also delighted to announce that a number of businesses from Brunswick to Waldoboro and a private family charitable trust are joining this effort, becoming ticket sponsors and ensuring more children served by Tri-County Literacy will be able to ride the Candy Cane Train with Santa and his elves. While we cannot run our train for free (it is how we raise money as a nonprofit), we can reach out in our communities and encourage neighborly generosity.

If you, like Ms. Soucy- Powers, like the idea of making a magical train ride a dream come true for a child, we invite you to become a ticket sponsor, too. Or, think of a child you can personally treat to a ticket and ride the Candy Cane Train together. For more information, call 443- 6384 or go to www.candycanetrain.org and share the spirit of the season.

Deb Nowak, Executive
Director
Katie Clark, Read With
Me Program
Coordinator
Jeannette Eaton, Literacy Volunteers Program
Coordinator
Tri-County Literacy,
Bath