“We are happy to have a positive place for families to stop in and have a good time together,” EdGE Primary Program Director Isaac Marnik says. “We are excited to be able to offer these sessions to the whole community.”

Winter activities will continue if the weather permits, and the ice rink stays frozen, which is usually through the end of February. To find out if activities are happening that weekend, contact the Downeast campus at (207) 546-4466.  

Every year the Mission measures its programmatic work by putting a number to some of the work we do: the number of students attending a session of EdGE, the number of meals served on the Sunbeam, the number hours Davis Maine Scholars spent receiving one-on-one support. Our 2023 Impact Statement provides these output figures and more than 60 other numbers. These figures illustrate just a few of the many ways the Mission works with Downeast and coastal communities. 

Here are a few other numbers that might surprise you: 

• 276 miles. The distance between two of the Mission’s 23 partner schools, Davis Maine Scholarship partner Clark University (in Worcester, MA to the west) to EdGE partner school Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School (to the east).  
• 1 Hippo. The weight of the amount of food donated by community members to the Mission’s food pantry.  
• 330 days. How long Mission volunteers worked if we converted the number of hours to days.  
• 80 pages. The length of The Island Reader which features the work of residents of 11 unbridged islands.

From the island of Monhegan to the town of Machias in Washington County, Maine Seacoast Mission’s programs are hard-working and participating community members are invested. “Communities depend on Mission programming, and it is a privilege to be part of the lives of those we serve,” says President John Zavodny.  

The Mission is proud to have continually served Maine’s coastal and island communities for nearly than 120 years. Each year, the Impact Statement puts this work into context and highlights the unseen effect here in Maine. 

Jeff, who recently moved to the area with his spouse, says he was looking for a role that connected him to the community. With his background in nonprofit finance, the CFO position at the Mission was a natural fit. “I am looking forward to continuing the excellent work being done and learning more about the programs being offered for our community.” After consulting with multiple nonprofits over the past few years, “I am ready to focus solely on the Mission and developing partnerships in new ways.” 

The pantry stocks a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and shelf-stable products received from partner organizations like Good Shepherd Food Bank. However, there are items often not donated, or the Mission cannot source or purchase from its partners. Many of these items are requested by community members and are often common items found in most homes. However, they become highly sought-after items in the pantry. 

To help fill this gap, Megan along with Downeast Director Jenny Jones came up with a “Donation of the Month” initiative to receive some of these items. In 2024, each month will feature a new item to donate to the pantry. These items include: 

Jenny explains, “When people ask me what to donate to the food pantry, I often tell them to donate something they like or often pick up because someone else probably wants or needs the same thing.” At a grocery store, the requested items tend to be more expensive and customers pass them over for cheaper items or ones that are seen as “more essential.” 

The Mission is also working on different ways community members can make donations to the pantry. Earlier this year, boxes were set up at local stores, including Bayside Market in Cherryfield. With these new boxes shoppers can easily donate right in the store. This Donation of the Month initiative is another way for community members to think differently about what could benefit the pantry.  

Learn more about the Mission’s Food Security program which includes the food pantry. 

This summer, the Mission held a health fair on Isle au Haut where island residents could learn more about the resources that were available to them in their community. Afterward, Director of Island Services Douglas Cornman and Sunbeam Nurse Simone Babineaux knew they wanted to offer a way for more islanders to learn more about resources available to them. Together with Island Services Program Coordinator Margaret Snell, they created the Inter-Island Health Connections webinars. 

The series of talks started in October and will run for six months. Simone explains, “Islanders frequently talk about wanting to connect with other people living on other islands. We thought this would be a good place to start. The topics were chosen to introduce islanders to the Mission partner organizations who offer healthcare services and assistance.” 

The first talk highlighted the Mission’s partnership with the MDI Biological Laboratory. The Mission is collaborating with Jane E. Disney, Associate Professor of Environmental Health, and the Island Institute as part of the MDI Bio Lab’s “Healthy Water, Healthy Aging” initiative. Jane talked more about the well water testing program and how islanders could participate. She also explained more about the connection between the heavy metals found in well water and overall health. 

The next talk in January will be led by Ruth Feldman, Program Director of Coastal Enterprises, Inc (CEI) Women’s Business Center Northeast. In the session, business owners can check in with questions and Ruth will share information on CEI’s services. In February, Jaye Martin, JD, from Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE) will talk about the different types of legal problems the organization can help with. She will also provide information on how to request LSE’s help. The final workshop will be in March with Maryellen Dube from Healthy Living for ME. Maryellen will share strategies attendees can implement to improve their health. Healthy Living for ME is a Community Care Hub which coordinates and integrates healthcare with community-based organizations. Currently they are working to increase access to health and social services and reduce health disparities within Maine’s rural communities. 

Recordings of previous talks are on our YouTube channel. If you are an island resident interested in learning more about or attending the talks, contact Margaret at [email protected]. Learn more about the Mission and the Island Health program as it serves Maine’s 15 unbridged islands.