Scrabblicious team members from Lisbon sport tie-dyed T-shirts while they play a word Sunday afternoon as their opponents work on their next move at the High Street Congregational Church in Auburn. They are taking part in the Letters for Literacy Scrabble Fest, an annual fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers — Androscoggin. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
AUBURN — High Street Congregational Church in Auburn was the setting for verbal jousting Sunday as wordsmiths participated in the 22nd annual Letters for Literacy Scrabble Fest, sponsored by Literacy Volunteers — Androscoggin.
The hum of voices carried through the Trofton Room on Pleasant Street as players huddled over their boards.
Fans of the game were invited to raise money for Literacy Volunteers, while competing in teams of two or four players. The event marked the first time Scrabble Fest was held at High Street Congregational Church, having been held previously at the Carriage House Plus on Lisbon Street in Lewiston.
“Literacy Volunteers was part of my work life when I was early college age,” said Karen Choate, a volunteer at High Street Congregational Church, helped organize the event with Literacy Volunteers. “It’s a good movement for everybody.”
Hands and letters move quickly Sunday afternoon at the High Street Congregational Church in Auburn during the Letters for Literacy Scrabble Fest, an annual fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers — Androscoggin. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
The event, which returned after a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is the brainchild of Tahlia Chamberlain, executive director of Literacy Volunteers, an organization that recruits and trains adults within the community to work with others on developing or strengthening their skills in reading, writing, English conversation and mathematics.
Scrabble is often used as a learning tool by instructors who sometimes do not use the board to demonstrate the manipulation of letters and construction of words.
“Hasbro (maker of Scrabble) decided that they were going to support literacy volunteers throughout the country by giving them permission to use Scrabble as a fundraiser, and they donated a bunch of games to us, and I talked to other affiliates around the country that were already doing this with Team Play, and then I modified it for the Lewiston-Auburn area,” Chamberlain said.
Lisa Ward of Lisbon Falls made up one-quarter of Scrabblicious, a Scrabble team distinguished by its bright purple tie-dyed T-shirts. The team has played annually for about a decade. Aside from Ward and another member, team members are rotated in and out to raise money for different organizations.
Team Wood & Words prepares to play a word Sunday afternoon at the High Street Congregational Church in Auburn. They are taking part in the Letters for Literacy Scrabble Fest, an annual fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers — Androscoggin. From left: Elaine Stone, Sherry Bowman, Cindy Poulin and Nanette Olehowski. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
Teams raised money for literacy volunteers by moving up in the tournament, with the prize in each level being donations from individuals in the community and businesses across Androscoggin County, although the winner of the tournament receives a plaque.
Scrabblicious raised $500 while playing Sunday.
“We made it up years ago. One year, the color I dyed the T-shirts was pink and yellow and it looked like Bubblicious gum, and so we said, ‘Scrabblicious!’ We’ve had it ever since, and every year we tie-dye new shirts,” said Ward, a Literacy Volunteers board member who began playing Scrabble with her mother while moving around with a military family.
“People just love it,” Chamberlain said. “We have people that come back every year, and it fits so well with what we do. Scrabble is a wonderful learning tool. These people are fabulous Scrabble players. I feel humbled when I watch them.”
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