If you have recently driven by Phinney Lumber on a weekday around lunch time, you may have noticed some colorful characters milling around, including The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and other children’s book characters. Before the program “Operation Feed Gorham Kids” moved its pickup locations back to Gorham school campuses, every day at lunch time the Phinney Lumber parking lot welcomed hungry school kids to pick up their lunch in a safe and healthy drive through station.  Phinney Lumber donated 100 rolls of “highly refined wood product” (a.k.a. toilet paper) to be given away with the lunches in hopes it would evoke more than a few smiles.

Joking aside, after hearing that many customers and employees were having trouble finding toilet paper, president Michael Phinney ordered 600 rolls of the essential stuff for Phinney Lumber to hand out for free to customers stopping in to pick up their orders. “It’s just the right thing to do,” said Phinney.

In an additional effort to support the many families who are sheltering in place, Phinney Lumber recently launched a “Weekend Quarantine Boredom Buster” series on their Facebook page to inspire customers to complete a home improvement project over the weekend while offering them the convenience of pre-selected items. These items, along with their prices, are posted right on Phinney Lumber’s Facebook page so customers can choose which ones they want and call in their order for either curbside pickup or grab-and-go ready at the counter; no lines, no waiting.

In addition to offering grab and go packages and curbside pickup, Phinney Lumber started offering virtual conferencing and kitchen and bathroom design appointments in real time over Zoom, so customers can take advantage of current sale prices, stay safe and well, and not wait to begin their dream remodeling projects. “This is a great time for Phinney Lumber to showcase doing what we do best—treating our customers like family and letting them know we care,” says marketing and outreach manager Francine Morin.

Caring for the community is nothing new; Phinney Lumber has been doing it for decades, and has supported many groups and organizations including: the Baxter Memorial Library summer reading program, 9/11 memorial 5k to benefit the Stephen Gordon Ward memorial scholarship fund, Gorham Women’s Club, American Legion, Keep Kids Safe Maine, Stop Trafficking Us, New Year’s Gorham, Sebago Days, Gorham High School Alumni Association, Maine Gay Men’s Chorus, First Parish Church, Gorham Lions Club, Young Farmers Club, Scouting USA, Hoyt Therapy Dog Program, Gorham Cooperative Preschool, Schoolhouse Arts Center, Gorham Community Chorus, Gorham High School Girls’ Basketball, Gorham Fire Department, Portland Eagles Club, Casco Bay Concert Band, Casco Bay Wind Symphony, and Gorham Middle School Drama; and will continue to do so for decades to come. From our family to yours–stay safe and be well.