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Guilford Pink Community Garden

Guilford, Maine

The little town of Guilford, which edges the Piscataquis River in Maine's remote midsection, has, according to the last census, only 1531 residents.

And Dodie Curtis, local gardener and proud Guilford citizen, likes to point out that her local Pink Tulip project managed to plant a bulb for every denizen in town, plus some. Last summer, when she launched the fund-raising initiative, she and her gardening friends hoped to raise $1,000 and plant 300 bulbs.

Instead, they received $2,382 and planted 1,600 bulbs.

"I think there are so many families touched by cancer," Curtis said. She said she was inspired to take on the project last year after seeing the Pink Tulip Project display at the Bangor flower show. Her cousin and friend are both struggling to beat cancer.

In July, she set up a Pink Tulip table at the town's summertime river festival, which attracted a lot of attention and donations. And over the next weeks, more donations flowed in. By October, she and 28 volunteers were able to plant hundreds of tulips all across town: at the library, in a couple of parks, by the local school, in front of the local hardware store, next to the historical society. Some homeowners also bought bulbs to plant in their private gardens. "They are sprinkled throughout," Curtis said.

She said she was touched and surprised by how willing people were to help. "I think sometimes by taking action and doing something, you feel like you are helping in some way or form," she said.

Give hope by supporting the project.