It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to the Pleasant River Garden Club for their support in Cherryfield of the Downeast Table of Plenty (DETOP), and the Mission food pantry.
When the Garden Club started in 2009, its by-laws included a commitment to support the Mission’s programs. Its more than 50 members live from Machias to Prospect. Their objective is to learn from one another, visit gardens in seasons, invite speakers on agriculture, to better cultivate their own gardens, and to have fun.
Today club members support the Mission by hosting DETOPs and donating their garden produce to our food pantry. Also, Club members Karen and Jim Majewski are regular food pantry volunteers.
At Garden Club hosted DETOPs the Weald Bethel Community Center looks like a garden party. The buffet table is filled with delicious entrees. Dining tables are decorated with bouquets of colorful flowers freshly cut from members’ gardens.
Original member Ora Aselton invites all who are interested in gardening to join the Pleasant River Garden Club. No gardening skills required,
For more information call Carol Darbyshire at 207-546-5004.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Applications are now being accepted for the Journey program! Journey is a youth mentoring program beginning in 7th grade for students at Narraguagus Jr/Sr High School.
Journey provides outdoor recreation, college and career readiness, leadership development, exposure to environmental and cultural awareness, and community engagement.
One of many new signs helping patrons find available foods.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — In July 2021 we changed the Mission Family Food Center into a place where our patrons could choose their foods. Our choice pantry offers patrons dignity and cuts down on food wasted. The pantry now has the feel and look of a grocery store complete with signs to showcase available foods.
The feedback is all positive. People tell us, “This is wonderful.” “Thank you for doing this, it is amazing.” “I feel better about coming to the food pantry.” “I don’t have to feel bad about throwing food away because now I can get only what I am going to use.” “Thank you for having an organic section.”
Mission Food Security and Sustainability Programs Coordinator Megan Smith said, “I look forward to coming to work each day knowing this change has made a huge difference in how our patrons view coming to the food pantry. Also, it gives me an opportunity to engage with patrons and get to know them better.”
Pictured is the 17th Annual Tournament winning team, Wyman’s, also a lead sponsor of the event.
It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to the sponsors and organizers of our 17th EdGE Tennis Tournament.
The EdGE Tennis Tournament, held Saturday, October 2 at the Causeway Club in Southwest Harbor, raised funds for Ed Greaves Education (EdGE), the Mission’s youth development program. Local businesses sponsor four-person teams for morning and afternoon matches of exciting, competitive tennis. Mission President John Zavodny said, “EdGE kids are better off because of your work and support.”
The Downeast Campus in Cherryfield has a rich history of supporting youth and families through the EdGE, EdGE Journey, and Downeast Services Programs. When thinking about how to deepen our collaborations across the Downeast Campus, and to expand our whole family engagement supports, it was important to find a passionate, energetic, professional individual with a great sense of humor who could work alongside youth and their families.
We found that person in our new Family and Community Resource Coordinator, Stephanie Moores. Being an EdGE parent with an EdGE family, Stephanie understands how to engage youth and how to support families.
Downeast Director Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D.
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CHERRYFIELD, ME — I am excited about my new Mission role. I have had a connection with the Mission for many years, starting with the Christmas Program when my children were in Pre-K. All my children were involved in EdGE and the Journey programs.
The Mission really focuses on supporting the family as a whole. Family engagement is so important. With a large family of my own, we always look for opportunities to do things together. Not only does the Mission provide quality after-school programming through the EdGE program, it also provides opportunities for quality family experiences.
In my former role as Mission Food Security Programs Coordinator, I built connections with individuals in the community. And I look forward in my new role to building connections with students and their families; to become a resource for those who may have a need.
Family and Community Resource Coordinator Stephanie Moores
