Stop by the Isle au Haut Town Hall on Thursday, July 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to chat with healthcare providers and social service organizations during a community health fair with the Mission. Participating organizations work directly on Isle au Haut or provide services nearby, which allows island residents to continue to live and receive care.
Residents of Isle au Haut had expressed an interest to the Mission in finding out what locally available resources were available to them over the past year. “We are glad to share the resources available to island residents and bring so many providers to the island at one time,” says Sunbeam Nurse Simone Babineaux.
During this drop-in event, attendees can engage with vendors in a variety of ways, including meeting representatives from various healthcare and social service organizations, receiving a free blood pressure, and having a blood sugar reading.
In 1911, Sigma Kappa Sorority sisters at Colby College sent the Mission Christmas gifts to deliver to island children. Seven years later, the Sorority chose the Mission as one of the philanthropic organizations to lend their support. Now more than a century later, there are 119 Sigma Kappa chapters and the Sorority still actively supports the Mission through not only gifts but also through service.
During 2018, Sigma Kappa Foundation wanted to create an opportunity for sisters to participate in a concept already deeply embedded in the Sorority’s values: service. A global pandemic later, this year marks the Sorority’s inaugural immersion trip with Mission programming. Last year, when the Foundation announced a June 2023 trip, more than 100 sisters applied for 15 available spots. Each applicant had to explain why service is important to them as an individual and how they contribute to their community.
Flash forward to last week, when the Sigma Kappas from across the country made the trek to Cherryfield to spend time volunteering for the Housing Improvement, Food Security, Family & Community Engagement, and Island Outreach programs. On their first day on the Downeast campus, they helped unpack, sort, and stock food in the food pantry, which serves hundreds of families in an average week. They also completed grounds work at a community member’s home prior to planned home repair as a part of the Housing Improvement program.
The next day, they learned more about the Christmas Program. The group created seven trees out of wood pallets for each of the Washington County schools participating in the EdGE program. Later, students in each EdGE program will be able to decorate the trees which will be displayed at their school. The sisters also set up two on-campus Story Walks for families and community members to use this summer.
On their last day of the trip, they boarded Sunbeamto assist Great Cranberry Island with a beach clean-up at Whistle and Preble Coves. Sigma Kappa got right to work, splitting into three groups. Within two hours, they had combed every inch of the beach for plastic wrapping, bottles, discarded ropes, and more. Maine islands often suffer from ocean trash carried to their beaches by the tides. Many islands conduct one, two, or even three beach clean-ups annually to fight pollution. Not only did they clean up a lot of the debris that had accumulated on the beaches, but the sisters also unearthed a few ghost traps from the beach. Ghost traps refer to lobster traps that have been pushed to coastlines and are unclaimed. If identified, salvageable traps are returned to their owners.
Following a satisfying lunch with the crew, the sisters piled onto the Sunbeam’s bow to repeat history. The group of 15 collegiates and alumnae recreated a photo of Sigma Kappas on Sunbeam III more than 70 years ago. This snap on the SunbeamV capped off the sisters’ week-long trip to Maine to volunteer with the Mission, and further cemented a great partnership between two organizations dedicated to service.
Four high school students from Washington and Hancock Counties have been awarded the Davis Maine Scholarship from the Mission. Through a partnership with Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, the Davis Maine Scholarship ensures first-generation, college-bound students living in the Downeast region of Maine can complete a four-year undergraduate degree without financial burden.
The Scholars receive consistent mentoring and support from Mission staff throughout their last year of high school and all four years of college as well as a fully funded, four-year scholarship at one of three Davis Maine partner colleges: Clark University (MA), University of New England (ME), and Wheaton College (MA). These colleges were selected based on their commitment to supporting first-generation students including those from rural communities.
Davis Maine Scholarship founder Mr. Andrew Davis says, “The selection of a new cohort of scholars is one of the most compelling and hopeful moments in the annual scholarship cycle. Through experience, we know that this model of financial and personal support has a transformative effect on the lives of young people, and I look forward to following the progress of these impressive scholars.”
The Mission’s President John Zavodny shares, “As the first of my own family to complete college, I know the Davis Maine Scholarship will make an enormous difference in the lives of these college-bound students. We are thrilled to partner with Andrew Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund to welcome a new cohort to the program.”
This is the third cohort of students selected for the Scholarship. The first cohort finished their first year of college this spring. The second cohort graduated high school this June and will start their college career in the fall. Learn more about the Davis Maine Scholarship.
In 2018, these 11 seventh graders joined Journey. As a new education initiative of the Mission at the time, the program promised students would receive six years of mentoring with professional staff, community members, and their peers. Journey would get them outdoors, let them explore their communities, and help them develop the tools needed to successfully transition from high school to college and careers.
Taking a leap of faith, these students jumped into building skills, visiting colleges and technical schools, adventuring as a group, and developing lasting friendships. Fast forward six years to 2023 and they are wrapping up their time with Journey and preparing to graduate high school. The group, which laid the foundation for the more than 60 students who have joined the program since it started, is now reflecting on their experiences.
Almost all of the students believe that two things made the program an integral part of their lives: the support they received and the friends they made. “I bonded with people I otherwise would not have been friends with and created lasting relationships with all sorts of people” Kaycee says. While some of the students had known each other for years, others came from different elementary schools, towns, and backgrounds. Journey brought them together. Kaycee adds that the group became an extra support system, which allowed her to be fully herself. Lydia agrees, saying she remembers noticing the positive change Journey had on her: while playing games on Swan’s Island, she realized she was no longer the same shy student when she started the program. She found her place and her voice.
The students have also received mentorship from community members and Mission staff, including Journey Coordinator Briana West who has worked with the students since the start of the program. This one-on-one mentorship is a large part of the Journey, and something they say has been an important part of their experience. Skylar and Ashlyn share that the Mission and mentors they have connected with have been present to provide guidance when they needed it. Matthew also says mentoring was one of the parts that helped him the most. “Journey gives you a mentor you can rely on.”
As they reflect on their high school careers, they all believe their time in Journey positively impacted their lives. Many point to these opportunities as an important part of their growth as individuals. Laney says, “I’ve had so many new experiences that I generally wouldn’t have because of Journey. Journey opened the door to so many great opportunities especially in terms of my future after high school.” DaVae adds, “Journey is like no other program out there.”
The Journey program is always looking for mentors to work with students. If you are interested in mentoring, apply here.
The Spring 2023 issue of The Bulletin is making its way to mailboxes across the country. Based around the theme of belonging, President John Zavodny notes in his opening letter the recent community feedback about the organization. Community members share that the Mission “meets you where you are,” “helps however you need help,” and offers a “place to belong.”
Belonging looks like different things to different people and The Bulletin features stories that highlight what that can look like: an iPad for a fisherman on Isle au Haut, a place for families to socialize on a winter weekend, and a program that gave students in Washington County the chance to push their boundaries and explore their passions while feeling accepted.
The Bulletin also looks at Mission’s impact in 2022 with information on the reach of its programs. This includes everything from the number of vaccines administered by Sunbeam crew to the number of students receiving food from the Mission’s backpack program.
The Bulletin also introduces two new staff members,Sunbeam nurse Simone Babineaux and Davis Maine Scholarship Program Director Ace Barrera. Peek inside the digital issue to watch videos of both share their experiences. There are also updates on our Scholarships and Island Outreach programs with video components as well.
Finally, included at the end of The Bulletin are the names of the donors for the past fiscal year. Without their continued support the Mission would not have been able to accomplish this important work.
To view the digital version of The Bulletin spring 2023 issue, please visit our Publications page.
