Lebanon gets 2nd straight Grange of the Year award

Christine Corliss accepts a community service award from Former Community Service Directors of Maine State Grange Jim and Karen Locke of Chesterville at the recent Maine State Grange annual awards ceremony in Greene. (Courtesy photo)

LEBANON - Riverside Grange #475 located at 488 Little River Road, Lebanon from the outside doesn’t look like much but what the members do inside makes a difference.  Established in 1907 Grange members are known as the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, an organization that was founded on Agriculture in the 1800’s.  Although farming has changed, Riverside still sticks to its roots of Agriculture but has added onto that to help the community through community service projects.

Master (president) Daniel Corliss & Secretary Christine Corliss (Dan’s wife) have jumped into the Grange full force.  Dan a member of Riverside Grange since 1997 and Christine a member since 2007 as well as the rest of the 38 grange members of Riverside strive to do what they can for the community.  Chris Corliss states “There is nothing in this world that feels better than helping whenever you can.  Especially at this time of the year (as well as all year long), giving is much better than receiving.” 

Grange of the Year is awarded on four parts:  #1.  Membership, #2 Community Service, #3 Maine State Grange Contests joined by members, #4 Essay – What your grange did over the year and why? & What they plan on doing for the coming year?  This award is given by the former Officers of the Maine State Grange.  Riverside Grange #475 won for the 2^nd year in a row as well as winning 1^st place in the Community Service contest for the 2^nd year in a row.  Master Dan Corliss stated: “I could not ask for more out of our Grange.”

It proves to show even a small group of people can help make a difference.  Riverside Grange has lots of community projects throughout the year such as:  Adopt a Family working with Lebanon Elementary Schools to help a family in need have a Merry Christmas, Can Tabs for Shriners, Words for Thirds Dictionary Project (where every third grader in the Town of Lebanon) receives a dictionary of their own, and many, many more.  They have public suppers to help supplement the costs of these projects including a Breakfast with Santa coming up on Dec 8^th from 7:30 am to 10 am with all the proceeds to benefit the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, ME. 

Master Dan Corliss states “I am proud to be a member of such a great organization, who helps to benefit the community.  We are always searching for new members who wish to give back to the community.”

Anyone wishing to find out more about the projects that Riverside Grange are doing or to join a meeting to see what the grange is all about can contact Secretary Christine Corliss at Christinecorliss@ymail.com or Community Service Director Linda Corliss at 603-969-8935.