CHERRYFIELD, ME — On Saturday, February 29th, Maine Seacoast Mission and other groups held a Winter Family Carnival at the Mission’s Downeast Campus. These photos from the Family Carnival are courtesy the Mission Director of Service Programs Wendy Harrington and Community Resource Coordinator Megan Smith.
Here’s Wendy Harrington’s recap of the event.
Thank you for creating a wonderful day for families at the Winter Carnival. I was smiling the entire day watching children and parents playing, laughing, skating, building, listening to a story in English and Spanish, walking blindfolded through the woods, taking funny family portraits, eating tacos and chili and drinking the best hot chocolate in the world.
Our Winter Carnival, like the Downeast Roots Festival, is a snapshot of what Downeast Roots can create when we work together.
Thank you for sharing your Saturday, your wonderful activities, your enthusiasm and positive energy with us yesterday. Together we made a special day for more than 70 people.
With gratitude, Wendy Harrington Director of Service Programs
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Join us for a screening of the new documentary Six Primrose, which tells the story of how food brought a Canadian community together, while providing insight into how something similar can happen at Maine Seacoast Mission’s Downeast Campus.
For years, the neighborhood of Dartmouth North has struggled with high rates of food insecurity and isolation. In 2014, the community rallied to build a vibrant Community Food Centre where people come together to grow, cook, share, and advocate for good food for all.
Filmmakers John Hills and Hannah Minzloff of Truefaux Films were there to capture the changes that ensued: a parking lot transforms into a community garden, an empty building fills with the smells and sounds of people making food together, strangers turn into friends, and together, residents start to push for change.
Through the powerful stories of Amanda, Jessica, Charlie, Oras, and Ken, community members who are all struggling in different ways when they walk through the doors of the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre, we see how vibrant spaces and programs can change people’s lives, and contribute to healthier communities.
Join us at the Weald Bethel Community Center, Cherryfield, ME, after the screening for a discussion on how issues of food insecurity, poverty, and isolation are affecting our community, ideas to address those issues, and how you can get involved.
Six Primrose was created by Truefaux Films. This screening is presented by Maine Seacoast Mission. For more information contact Wendy Harrington by email [email protected] or by phone: 207-546-5867
A few of the many talented, creative, and hardworking volunteers with our Housing Rehabilitation Program.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — We asked Mission Director of Service Programs Wendy Harrington for her short list of 2019 highlights among the Downeast Campus programs and activities, as well as, what we can look for at the Downeast Campus in year 2020. A key 2019 accomplishment was the completion of the Downeast Campus Strategic Plan which you’ll be hearing more about in the coming months.
Launched the Good Neighbor Fund – a financial assistance program for EdGE Families – and began working with families to advance their goals.
Continued to advance our programs combating childhood hunger through EdGE schools, Farm Share, weekend backpack program, and summer meals.
2020 Vision
Continue Housing Rehabilitation and weatherization work with Downeast Community Partners and explore new opportunities with them to further address housing issues.
Complete initial Downeast Maine Tiny House project within the first quarter of 2020.
Build on the strengths of established programs to offer more integrated support for EdGE families and others, using a multi-generational approach and a Family Food Center model of coordinating resources to advance positive change.
Convene Community Circles, advisory groups of community members and program participants, to help develop our family engagement programming and the Family Food Center model.
Stay up-to-date on our Downeast Community Campus work on the Mission blog and our social media pages.
CHERRYFIELD, ME. Mission Director of Service Programs Wendy Harrington sends this photo and a thank you note.
“The holidays are a busy time at the Food Pantry. Thanks to many generous donations from individuals and local grocery stores we are able to provide food for a holiday dinner and more,” said Director Harrington.
Learn more about the Food Pantry and all the Mission’s food security work.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Director of Service Programs Wendy Harrington recently announced the Mission’s collaboration with a new group called Downeast Roots; “a group of local organizations who promote each other’s work, share resources, and work together on projects for the benefit of our community,” according to the group web site.
The purpose of Downeast Roots is to promote collaboration among Downeast area organizations in order to strengthen our overall impact. We are committed to fostering a strong sense of belonging while ensuring that our community is a place where people, their cultural identities, and the environment thrive. We draw on the strengths of our relationships within our communities to strive towards a deeper understanding of adversity and practices that build resilient and dynamic solutions to complex, modern challenges.
