by maineseacoast | Jun 18, 2020 | Downeast Campus, Food Pantry, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Thank You Thursday, Weald Bethel Community Center
CHERRYFIELD, ME — It’s Thank you Thursday and today’s shout out of Mission Love goes to the Vazquez family, owners/operators of Vazquez Mexican Takeout Restaurant in Milbridge.
The Vazquez family was instrumental in connecting and coordinating our Food Pantry’s recent delivery of food for the Latinx community. In partnership with Mano en Mano, together we were able to arrange a big distribution of many foods that Latinx families love to have in their pantries but that are largely unavailable in our area.
Vazquez children are EdGE alumni! And, in another happy shout out, Mission staff love ordering take-out from their wonderful restaurant!
This is what community looks like.
On the web: https://www.facebook.com/vazquezmex/
by maineseacoast | Jun 15, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, Downeast Campus, EdGE, John Zavodny
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Do you have questions about EdGE Summer Camp or want to learn more about what summer camps will look like this year?
Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 16th at 7:00 pm, EdGE Interim Director Isaac Marnik and Maine Seacoast Mission President John Zavodny, will be answering over Zoom, questions about summer camp for any interested parents.
Please email imarnik@seacoastmission.org to request the Zoom link or phone information.
If you would like to sign your child up for summer camps, please go to https://www.seacoastmission.org/what-we-do/edge/edge-camp/.
by maineseacoast | Jun 12, 2020 | Island Health, Island Outreach, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Sunbeam
BELFAST, ME — From Front Street Shipyard a photo and Tweet letting us know the Sunbeam galley is taking shape.
by maineseacoast | Jun 12, 2020 | John Zavodny, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Uncategorized
June 12, 2020
Love First
Fear and hatred are the most isolating forces in our society. Love, compassion, and hope bring us together across boundaries, ideologies, backgrounds, and disparities. Every day, the Maine Seacoast Mission lives our compassion in actions of support big and small. At times like these, though, words themselves are also acts of compassion.
Since 1905, the Maine Seacoast Mission has supported some of the most isolated communities in Maine—from the unbridged islands to rural communities Downeast. With Maine’s vast coastline and sprawling fields, woodlots, and blueberry barrens, we naturally think of isolation as a function of landscape or geography. But isolation comes in many forms and from many sources including economic, social, and educational disparity.
Along with these structural forms of isolation, there is also the isolation of listening and waiting for friends and colleagues to simply acknowledge your suffering. At this moment, and hopefully from now on, the world is shining a light on the suffering of people of color. Of course, acknowledgment only goes so far. Actions speak louder. But sometimes you also have to say the words:
Your life matters. You matter. You are loved.
Since its founding, the Mission has worked to counter isolation and to provide hope in our communities through community building, support for self-determination, and compassion. Lots and lots of love and compassion.
The Maine Seacoast Mission has always been an “Actions speak louder than words” organization. Mission founders Angus and Alexander MacDonald realized early on that love is best expressed through action as they ministered to island communities from a 15-foot Friendship sloop named Hope. One-hundred fifteen years and six boats later, the Mission continues to take action in support of Maine’s most isolated individuals and communities. No matter what kind of isolation they face. And when words are the action we will say the words:
Black lives matter. Your life matters. We love you.
Fear is isolating. Compassion, hope, and love are healing. As with all relationships that need healing, someone has to trust first. To love first. Jesus loved first. So did the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And every good leader ever.
As for the Maine Seacoast Mission, we will always love first.
Respectfully,
John Zavodny, PhD
President, Maine Seacoast Mission
by maineseacoast | Jun 11, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, Downeast Campus, Food Pantry, Maine Seacoast Mission, News, Scott Shaw
BAR HARBOR, ME — It’s Thank you Thursday and today’s shout out of Mission Love goes to Shaw’s and Walmart in the City of Ellsworth. Both stores continue increasing their donations of fresh, nutritious food to keep pace with the increase in demand at the Mission’s Food Pantry. Walmart and Shaw’s meats, dairy, and other foods are always appreciated at the Food Pantry.
“They have made a big impact on us,” said Mission Downeast Facilities Manager Scott Shaw. “We’ve seen a 100-percent increase in Food Pantry use. Walmart and Shaw’s significantly increased their donations after the coronavirus pandemic started.” So much so, said Scott, he’s had to use a bigger truck with more helpers loading boxes when picking up donations from the two Ellsworth stores.
Walmart’s Feeding America program, and Shaw’s Nourishing Neighbors program are helping many people, many families.
This is what community looks like.
