GREENE — Members of Androscoggin Grange No. 8 are making strides in restoring their aging hall after beginning an ambitious fundraising campaign last year.

The list of renovations is long, but members are slowly checking things off. They repainted the exterior and restored the sign and eaves in May. Soon, fans will be installed in the second floor to improve ventilation.

Throughout this work, the Grange has continued to host variety shows, breakfasts and Halloween-related events for the community.

Since their campaign began last March, the group has raised about $11,000, according to Treasurer Becca Brooke. A pay-what-it’s-worth yard sale and bake sale this past weekend brought in another $3,300.

After reading a Sun Journal article about the effort last year, one resident donated $5,000 in honor of her brother who loved the Grange, according to Grange Master Patty Lehoux, adding that the woman did not wish to be named. Others, too, reached out to Lehoux to offer assistance.

The group is aiming to tackle the hall’s most pressing issue: replacing the roof. Brooke said the project would cost roughly $30,000 for the three-story building.

“We’ve gotten three different quotes,” she said. “That’s with helping us out.”

After the yard sale last weekend, the Grange has nearly a third of the money to replace the roof. But other maintenance costs, such as their annual $3,000 insurance bill and utilities, must be paid in the meantime.

“Right now we’ve been breaking even,” Brooke said.

Members are continuing to seek donations of money, building supplies and time.

Brooke said many of the yard sale attendees last weekend were generous with their purchase price. One woman grabbed a stack of dishes and gave $20, she said.

The items for the yard sale stretched from the front lawn to first two floors of the building. Brooke said she helped pick up donations from more than a dozen people. Among the items was a pellet stove donated by a resident. Another resident donated fresh chicken and quail eggs.

In the first three hours Saturday, members raised about $1,000, according to member Julia Coady.

“We so appreciate everyone who comes out and supports (us),” member Sharon Pond said.

At the core of the group’s effort is strengthening community connections in Greene.

“It really is just trying to bring community back,” Brooke said.

The Grange plans to host a pancake breakfast again this year on Greene Village Day, Sept. 9. Members are also organizing another variety show, this one Christmas themed, in October, before heating costs become too expensive.

The variety show in May was 1960s themed and had comedy acts, singing, dancing, skits and more.

“We all looked like fools, but we had a great time,” Lehoux said.

The group will also create a haunted house and host a trunk-or-treat event in October.

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