ARC to sponsor auction Nov. 15; Recreation, family support programs benefit from item bids.

Byline: Paula J. Owen

FITCHBURG - ARC Community Services Inc. is holding its largest special-events fundraiser Nov. 15, with auction items including a week in Costa Rica complete with a housekeeper and cook, and a baseball autographed by Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon.

All proceeds from the 19th Annual Charity Auction go to the organization's recreation and family support programs.

The event is at 7:30 p.m. in the Four Points Sheraton in Leominster.

A preview, social and silent auction bidding will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There is a $5 paddle charge for bidders.

"This couldn't happen without the generosity of people in this area," said Rosemary Wuoti, vice president for development at ARC.

"Every year I think we won't have anything and every year we come up with enough. I am amazed."

Recreation and family support programs at ARC provide people with special needs in the area with opportunities for socialization at events including the community dances, bowling leagues, Special Olympic teams, chaperoned vacations, summer camps and drop-in clubs, she said.

Bridgette Maillet, 22, from Fitchburg is a client at ARC and participates in some of the recreational programs.

She has worked for ARC since graduating from Fitchburg High Schooldoing subcontracting work at the organization on Main Street and also at area employers including at Hannaford Supermarket and Wal-Mart, through ARC's summer enrichment program.

Without ARC, she would have had to stay in high school until she was 22, her mother Julie M. Maillet said, while others she graduated with went off to college.

"Work is hard for anyone to find, but it is more difficult to find for someone with special needs," she said.

Her daughter said she participates in ARC's Christmas parties and in skiing with the Special Olympics.

Last year she won two gold medals, she said.

"I do love it," Bridgette Maillet said. "I have a lot of friends at ARC."

She is also on ARC's auction committee.

She spent $50 of her own money putting together a movie night basket - an idea of her own.

Julie Maillet said ARC's programs get her daughter out in the community and help her develop new skills.

Though she said she has never held her daughter back from anything, she did tell her she has a disability.

"She is aware she does and has asked a few times why God made her special," she said. "I just told her we are blessed that way and that God knew we could handle it. It has made us better people and stronger."

Ms. Wuoti said the recreation and family support programs cost $125,000 yearly to run.

The auction in 2006 raised $45,000, and $42,000 was raised last year.

The rest of the funding for the programs comes from private donations, small grants and other smaller fundraisers.

The first auction, started by Bernie and Ann Louise Stephens of Fitchburg, whose daughter was an ARC client, raised $2,600.

The money went to repairing the organization's roof,

Ms. Wuoti said.

Since, year after year, people call with donations, she said.

"We don't have to seek people out," Ms. Wuoti said. "We are always fortunate to have people call us to help and donate. People obviously have a soft spot in their heart for the work that we do."

Without the donations, she said, some of the recreational programs would have to be cut, leaving some people with special needs without night or weekend activities.

She said the programs also give the person who is providing the person with care a break.

"If you're an 80-year-old mother and cannot go on vacations or to sporting events with your adult special needs child," Ms. Wuoti explained, "these programs give you an outlet to send them to those activities in a good environment."

She said staff helping with the events are skilled in taking care of the people with special medical needs.

The week in Costa Rica was donated by an anonymous man who adopted five special-needs children.

The children, the youngest a toddler and oldest in his 40's, also donated jewelry they made from natural items they found on the beach in Costa Rica, Ms. Wuoti said.

Other items up for bid include a trip to Zulu Nyala, South Africa, Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics tickets, original paintings, quilts, afghans, vacation packages and theater tickets.

ARC was established in 1952 to create lifetime opportunities for people with disabilities to reach their fullest potential by providing advocacy, education, employment, and residential and recreational services.

For more information call [phone].

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Bridgette M. Maillet works at her job at ARC Community Services in Fitchburg.

PHOTOG: T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON