Sue and Mike Faulkner and dog Sasha. Submitted photo

Mike and Sue Faulkner and their dog Sasha, are familiar faces in many Maine businesses. They regularly call on and visit these businesses regarding the Wayne Community Church Auction. In fact many business owners have befriended this committed couple who want to help their churches. The Faulkners have been soliciting donations in Maine for more than 15 years now. Retired after 45 years operating their own competitive dance and gymnastics studio in Hillsborough, North Carolina, they now split their time between homes in Aruba and Wayne, Maine, according to a news release the Wayne church.

Mike starts calling businesses in January for an auction that begins in July. He has been known to wait outside television studios to catch celebrities, or sports venues to catch professional athlete autographs. Mike comments, “we like telling people about the Wayne Community Church and all the activities and programs they are doing. We want Wayne to be on a map.”

This year the Wayne church, as part of their outreach, has made a connection with the Capital Area New Mainers Project in Augusta, making special monetary donations to that program, including them in the church’s “Community Conversations on Immigration” and helping to welcome a couple from the Ukraine who recently moved to Wayne. Beginning in July, the church will also be providing meeting and office space, free of charge, to the town’s Aging at Home Program.

This year the Faulkners are also coordinating an auction at their Methodist church in Aruba. Sue explains, “We have been blessed and in turn want to help others. The Lord has made a new path in our lives of serving and helping others. We love meeting new people and making new contacts and friends.” The 2022 Wayne Community Church online auction begins on Friday, July 1 and runs until 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 9 at waynechurchauction.com.