NORWAY — The Christmas fundraising season has begun for Rightstart, the all-volunteer nonprofit that organizes the annual Christmas for Kids and Christmas for Teens.

Both programs provide new toys, books, clothing and other items through wish lists to area youths. Donors can contribute money to the program or contact Rightstart to obtain specific wish list items that need to be purchased.

“We begin each year with the faith that we, as a community, can do it,” said Connie Allen, chairwoman of Rightstart, the nonprofit that organizes Christmas for Kids. “Our community has always come through.”

Christmas for Kids assists low-income children from infancy to the sixth grade. The program serves the Oxford Hills towns of Norway, South Paris, Harrison, Waterford, West Paris, Hebron, Oxford and Otisfield.

Christmas for Teens provides Christmas for teenagers who meet economic guidelines and are full-time students at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School or the Oxford Hills Technical School,  both in Paris. Homeless teens, meeting the same requirements, are also assisted under the program, Allen said.

Both programs utilize volunteers who take the lists and purchase gifts for the children. Because of the time necessary to do this, the deadline for applications for both programs is Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Donations come in annually from local businesses and Community Concepts. Additionally, the Christmas for Teens Benefit Concert will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the high school auditorium on Route 26.

Applications for both programs are available at Community Concepts in Paris. Applications for Christmas for Teens are also available at the guidance department at the high school.

Further information on Christmas for Teens is available by calling Jean Delamater, secretary of Rightstart and organizer of Christmas for Teens, at 207-539-4587.

For more information about Christmas for Kids, call Connie Allen at 207-743-5728.

Donations and applications for both programs can be sent to Christmas for Teens or Christmas for Kids at Rightstart Inc., P.O. Box 726, Norway, ME 04268.

Rightstart Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so contributions are tax deductible.

ldixon@sunjournal.com