Children grow up surrounded by heroes. They encounter them in storybooks, movies, television shows, video games and on the screens they carry with them every day. Some wear capes and possess extraordinary powers. Yet the heroes who often leave the greatest imprint on a child's life are ordinary people who choose to invest in their success. They are parents who volunteer their evenings, educators who stay a little later, community members who quietly lend their support and other caring adults who invest their time, talents and resources to help children succeed. Their contributions may never make headlines, but they help create the experiences, opportunities, confidence and sense of belonging that children carry with them into their adult lives.

In the neighboring communities of Old Town, Alton and Bradley, Maine, those everyday heroes are everywhere. Although only Old Town and Alton currently house elementary schools, families throughout all three communities play an important role in supporting the district's children. As principal of both Old Town Elementary School and Alton Elementary School, Maggie Mitchell sees firsthand how that collective commitment shapes the lives of children and families throughout the community. While Alton Elementary serves the district's youngest learners in pre-kindergarten and Old Town Elementary serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade, the two schools are linked by something larger than grade levels: a community that believes investing in children is one of its highest priorities.

"We have two separate identities, but the same administration," Mitchell explained. "We meet all together for staff meetings. We have one elementary Parent Teacher Committee (PTC). In many respects, we function as one."

That sense of unity helps create a seamless educational journey for students while shaping the way both schools approach community engagement, resource stewardship and service to others. At its core is a belief that healthy communities are sustained not only by caring for children today, but by teaching them the importance of caring for others tomorrow.

Much of the program's success is rooted in something that can't be measured in fundraising totals: trust.

Mitchell believes the strong participation in Hannaford Helps Schools reflects the confidence families place in both their schools and Hannaford, two organizations that have long been woven into the fabric of the community.

In Old Town, the relationship is especially close. Hannaford is literally located next door to Old Town Elementary School.

"Hannaford is a big part of our community, and we're a big part of the community," Mitchell said. "The partnership just makes sense for people. They trust both groups, and so it's a program they're willing to contribute to."

To help keep families informed and engaged, school leaders promote the program through social media, weekly electronic newsletters and a short instructional video showing just how easy participation can be.

Each year, school leaders create a simple "how-to" video showing families how to enter their School Dollars and support their schools.

"I really think that hits home the point of how easy it is," Mitchell said. "When we show people how quickly those amounts can add up, I think it helps them see how much of a difference such a simple action can make."

By making participation straightforward and accessible, the schools have helped turn Hannaford Helps Schools into a familiar and trusted part of the school year.

That trust extends beyond participation in the program to the way resources are managed once the funds are received.

Through Hannaford Helps Schools, the Old Town, Alton and Bradley communities have found an easy and meaningful way to put those values into action through thoughtful stewardship of community-generated funds.

Recognizing that many of the same children and families move between both schools, separate budget lines are maintained for each community. The approach honors the efforts of families who support their schools through fundraising initiatives while ensuring funds remain available to benefit students in each building.

"We're there to support each other," Mitchell said. "If the money doesn't get spent and that child moves on to kindergarten, the child is here anyway. That family has helped raise that money."

While the funds are tracked separately, the schools maintain the flexibility to support one another when an unexpected need arises. Rather than focusing solely on budgets, conversations center on what will best support students and create meaningful opportunities for them. That philosophy reflects the strong sense of trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility that exists across, Old Town, Alton and Bradley.

In 2026, that foundation of trust was clearly reflected through participation in the Hannaford Helps Schools program. Old Town Elementary School earned $8,419, up from $4,702 the previous year, while Alton Elementary School earned $2,992, a significant increase from $414 in 2025. To Mitchell, those numbers tell the story of a community that cares deeply about its children. They reflect the pride people take in their schools, the connections they feel to the community and a shared belief that every child deserves opportunities to learn, grow and succeed. Whether they are parents, grandparents, former students, local business owners or supporters from afar, community members continue to invest in the future they see in their children.

Once funds are received, whether through Hannaford Helps Schools or other Parent Teacher Committee fundraising efforts, the focus shifts from raising money to creating opportunities for students.

The funds are placed in the Parent Teacher Committee accounts, where teachers, staff, and families work together to identify ways to enrich the student experience. Family members are welcome to attend meetings, discuss proposals, and vote on how the funds should be used.

"I like the fact that our families can hear about how we're spending that money that they've worked towards earning," Mitchell said.

That collaborative process has helped fund a wide range of opportunities over the years, including annual author visits, a student regulation library stocked with sensory tools, sewing machines for the art classroom and hands-on learning experiences tied directly to classroom instruction.

One fourth-grade initiative partners with a Maine company called Box of Maine, which delivers monthly themed learning packages connected to Maine history, culture and industry. Students explore topics such as wild blueberries and maple production through books, products and interactive materials.

What makes the program especially valuable is its ability to support the moments that students remember most. Sometimes those experiences are carefully planned. Other times, they emerge unexpectedly from the energy and enthusiasm of a classroom. "We're able to just say yes to those things," Mitchell said.

She recalled a third-grade class that had just completed a unit on Alice in Wonderland. Wanting to celebrate the students' hard work, the teacher proposed hosting a tea party to bring the experience full circle. "The teacher's like, 'I just want to do a little tea party at the end to celebrate,'" Mitchell said. While the learning had already taken place, the celebration created something more. "The teaching and learning has happened," Mitchell explained, "but that memorable experience is really going to cement it and make that learning meaningful and celebrate the hard work they've done."

Whether it's ingredients for a Spanish lesson, materials for an art project or a classroom celebration that brings students together, Hannaford Helps Schools helps transform everyday learning into experiences students will remember long after the lesson itself is over.

For Mitchell, one of the most meaningful aspects of Hannaford Helps Schools is seeing what can happen when an entire community comes together on behalf of its children. From families participating in the program, to Parent Teacher Committee volunteers coordinating efforts, to community members choosing to support their schools through everyday shopping, each contribution helps wrap an entire community's arms around the children of Old Town and Alton.

But perhaps the program's greatest impact is what those children learn from the example being set around them.

Because the schools are not constantly focused on fundraising for their own needs, they have more opportunities to teach students the importance of helping others.

"It's just an awesome thing to be able to facilitate that giving back," Mitchell said. "Because we're not always struggling to raise our own funds, we can teach kids to turn around and help others."

Those are the moments that stay with children.

Years from now, most students won't remember how a program was funded or where the resources came from. They will remember the author who inspired them, the project that sparked a new interest, the celebration that made them feel special and the people who believed in them. In communities like Old Town and Alton, those memories become part of a child's story, and part of the community's legacy.

Published October 19, 2026