Downeast Table of Plenty – Come One, Come All

Downeast Table of Plenty – Come One, Come All

Come Sunday in Cherryfield, the Maine Seacoast Mission’s Weald Bethel Community Center is alive with area residents conversing and enjoying together the afternoon meal served buffet-style. Hosts from the Downeast community take turns preparing and serving the weekly dinner. ELLSWORTH AMERICAN PHOTOS BY JOHANNA S. BILLINGS

 

ellsworthamerican.com
Come one, come all
October 18, 2019 by Johanna S. Billings on Arts & living, Lifestyle

CHERRYFIELD — On Sunday afternoons, the Weald Bethel Community Center has the feel of an old-fashioned family dinner.

People gather in the Maine Seacoast Mission’s community center off Route 1 to socialize, taking in the aromas coming from the kitchen. Some sit on upholstered furniture in a setting that resembles a cozy living room. Others gather around one of the round tables where they will eat. Many stand and chat.

In a large kitchen around the corner from the common area, cooks are busy preparing the meal, whose menu is not set ahead of time. No disposable dishes or utensils are used here — only everyday china and real flatware. After the Sunday buffet-style dinner, the dishes are done by hand.

The meal is a community effort known as Down East Table of Plenty, a weekly event, designed to feed both the body and the soul. There is no charge.

“It’s not a soup kitchen,” said Bonnie Johnson of Cherryfield, who came up with the idea for the community meal. “Need is as much about emotions as it is about food.”

The meal has been served every week without fail for nearly nine years.

Full story

‘Moonbeam’ Carries Crew to Work During ‘Sunbeam V’s Absence

‘Moonbeam’ Carries Crew to Work During ‘Sunbeam V’s Absence

Moonbeam returns from work. Steward Jillian is standing on the boat. Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley is standing on the dock.

NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Moonbeam is the Mission’s interim boat while the Sunbeam V undergoes its routine major refit. To carry on their work on Maine unbridged islands, the Sunbeam crew relies on Moonbeam and Captain Storey King to carry them to the islands and back. Sometimes Sunbeam crew members go to work using other means of transportation such as island mail boats and airplanes.

In this photo, taken just days ago at Northeast Harbor, ME, Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley, RN (purple coat), and Steward Jillian (standing on Moonbeam), are returning from a island telemedicine trip.

Learn more about our Island Services crew’s work here.

Lessons in Love: Assabet Valley Tech Students Build Tiny House for Homeless Veteran

Lessons in Love: Assabet Valley Tech Students Build Tiny House for Homeless Veteran

metrowestdailynews.com

Lessons in love: Assabet Valley Tech students build tiny house for homeless veteran

By Zane Razzaq
Daily News staff
Posted Oct 7, 2019 at 5:48 PM

Since May, carpentry students at Assabet have been hard at work constructing the home under the instruction of lead carpentry teacher Bill Italiano. The project is a collaboration between Assabet, Downeast Community Partners, the Maine Seacoast Mission, and the C.F. Adams Foundation, which is funding the project.

Full story and photos

Visit the Downeast Maine Tiny House Project Blog

‘Sunbeam V’ Update: The Varnish Crew Who Make the Boat’s Wood Shine

‘Sunbeam V’ Update: The Varnish Crew Who Make the Boat’s Wood Shine

L-R: Dan Tibert, Aaron Harvey, Frantzdy Simon, Brice Campbell

BELFAST, ME — Sunbeam V Captain Mike Johnson, while overseeing the Sunbeam‘s routine major refit at Front Street Shipyard in Belfast, ME, has been sending us photos and praise for the Front Street boat builders for their stellar work in repairing all aspects of the Sunbeam.
“These gentlemen,” writes Capt. Mike in his latest update, “are responsible for varnishing the interior panels and mahogany trim. I love the composition they suggested!”

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