182 volunteers + 6,142 hours of service = patched roofs, new stairs and ramps, reinforced windows, and 14 happy homeowners. Between Memorial Day and the end of August, the Mission welcomed 182 volunteers from across the country to take part in our housing rehabilitation program. Together those volunteers helped fix up 14 homes in the Downeast area as well as two buildings of community partner organizations. Because of the work done by the volunteers, ten of those houses can now be weatherized by Downeast Community Partners, helping the homeowners weather the brutal Maine winters for years to come.
“The partnership between Downeast Community Partners and Maine Seacoast Mission represents the mutual commitment to serve and enable homeowners in Washington County to receive critical home repairs and weatherization and to safely remain in their homes. It also demonstrates the strength of partnerships and the ability to braid funding sources to achieve these outcomes by leveraging Department of Energy funds and private donor funds; supporting dedicated staff and volunteers – all of which yields households that are now safe and warm,” Downeast Community Partners’ Executive Director Rebecca Palmer noted.
Crews from Cumberland, ME, Gales Ferry, CT, and Acton, MA work on a house
The housing rehab process starts in February when people can apply for the program. 50 to 100 people apply every year and Scott Shaw, Housing Rehabilitation Manager, along with a staff member of DCP, visits every house. Because so many of the volunteers have been coming for years, Scott has much of his house visits down to a science. “When deciding what homes could benefit from housing rehab, we identify the problems and then match those to volunteers that we know. Then we can have the biggest impact possible,” Scott says, “We first started doing Band-Aid projects but now we are able to look at the whole house.”
Crews from Ohio work on the roof of a house
Because of the strong partnerships Scott has built with both volunteers and community organizations, the program has grown tremendously in the twenty years since it started in 2003. Many volunteer groups have been coming for years and they have deep connections within the community. During their time in Cherryfield, the volunteers stay the Mission’s Weald Bethel Community center as well as at the local American Legion Hall, and the Cherryfield Academy Community Center and sometimes shower at the local fire station.
Crews from Laconia, NH work on adding stairs and painting a house
For the past two years, the program has run on a “friends and family” model, meaning recipients’ friends and family helped do the repairs or in other cases, the Mission helped cover the cost of materials if the person could afford a contractor to do the work. Now that volunteers could come back this year, Scott hopes that the number of volunteers will rebound to pre-pandemic levels.
A group from Ohio paints the exterior of a house
A crew from Boxford and Topsfield MA work on a cellar doors
On a rainy day in September, the sound of laughter, cheers, and music coming from the Town Hall could be heard walking up from the mostly quiet harbor on Isle au Haut. The noise of 26 students (six times as many as there are usually on island), meant only one thing, the Inter-Island Event (IIE) was underway. The IIE brings together students, teachers, and parents from Cliff Island, Isle au Haut, Islesford, Great Cranberry Island, Frenchboro, and Monhegan, and heavy rain was not dampening anyone’s spirits.
During breaks between sessions, younger kids blew bubbles, built structures with Legos, and played tag. The middle schoolers grouped together outside talking and laughing with each other.
While this seems like a normal day in most places, for kids and their families living on unbridged islands this is a big event. The IIE is one of the few times each year students from island schools get to see friends their own age. Because each of the schools has only a handful of students enrolled in grades K-8, kids ranging from 5 to 13 learn side by side in one-room schoolhouses.
“IIE is vital to the life of island schools,” says Douglas Cornman, the Mission’s Director of Island Outreach. “Not only does it kick off a new school year, but it also gives kids a chance to socialize with their peers. It’s not uncommon for an island kid to be the only kid their age, especially during the Fall, Winter, and Spring when summer families are off island. It’s also great to watch the entire island community come together to support the event. It really takes the entire island to pull it off. I am so grateful to each island for welcoming me to join the fun. IIE takes a lot of planning, coordination, and energy, but the fun outweighs all the effort.”
The first IIE happened in 1988. Its primary goal was to bring the students and teachers from small remote and isolated islands together. Students, teachers, parents, and IIE volunteers have been gathering annually since and after a two-year absence because of COVID, everyone was happy to be together again.
Ocean, a 7th grader from Isle au Haut, says that the IIE gives them “a chance to see my friends.” Gianna and Brownel, also both island middle schoolers, agreed. During a lively discussion, the trio talked about the many events that they attended in the past and wondered which students would be in their book group which was meeting soon.
It could have been any other Tuesday, but for the families and teachers at IIE, the event holds special meaning. Lindsay, a teacher from Islesford, explained that “for kids this is a time where they have enough friends to play games with which makes it exciting for them. It also steels us against the long winter to come.”
Inter-Island Event Activities
During the three-day event, there is a mix of fun and games and educational opportunities as well. Wednesday started with a whole island party and potluck, which shut down the island’s road so everyone could dance in the street. On Thursday morning, kids joined Planet Pan, a steel drum band from Blue Hill, and learned how to play notes and chords. They met in-person with their book groups who routinely meet over Zoom, did crafts, and learned about otters. After lunch, they split into three groups to play theater improvisation games with Douglas, learn about animals in the inter-tidal zone, and screen-print their own t-shirts. When rain canceled a game of capture the flag, the group made do by dancing and playing games in the Town Hall. Friday wrapped up with a visit by children’s book author Chris Van Dusen and games of kick ball.
Yvonne Thomas, Senior Community Development Officer from the Island Institute which provides logistical support for IIE, echoed how important this event was not just for the kids but for the whole island community, “The viability of a year-round island community is young families. This event helps families connect with one another and that is part of the glue that makes islands thrive.” Thomas stressed that the success of the event comes from the strong partnerships formed between island communities and schools and organizations like the Institute, the Mission, and Island Readers & Writers who helped bring Van Dusen to Isle au Haut.
Walk into any EdGE afterschool session and you would see the Mission’s Youth Development Coordinator, Suzie James, tinkering with Legos alongside one of her students or engaged in a raucous, laughter-filled card game. During play, she would look on at a group of students involved in discussion to ensure they were getting along, being fair to one another, and perhaps most importantly, having fun. Her patience and nurturing demeanor allowed her students to flourish.
On Saturday, September 3, Suzie passed away in the loving company of her family. Dedicated, loving, consistent, caring, and kind were just a few of the words used to describe Suzie, and she shared those gifts with those around her.
Charlie Harrington, the founding EdGE Director for the Mission, first met Suzie when she was an Ed Tech at a local school. He knew she would be perfect for the Mission’s new program, and when EdGE started in schools the following year, he hired her. When Charlie was looking for someone to be the coordinator for Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School in Machias, which served almost 200 students and oversaw 20 staff, he knew that Suzie was the right fit and she became an integral part of the school. “They loved her. If Suzie was ever absent, they would be asking when she would be back,” Charlie said. “She knew all the students. She was great with the parents. They could count on her, and she knew how to communicate with all of them.” Suzie spent the next 17 years working for the Mission.
Suzie was known for creating engaging programs around what the students attending EdGE wanted to do. When she needed more space to store her equipment, she worked with the principal to turn the back of the stage at the school into a storage space with bins for crafts, equipment, and more.
Wendy Harrington, the Mission’s retired Downeast Services Program Director and current Scholarship Coordinator, observed Suzie’s tireless energy for her work for children. “She was the first one to say yes,” Wendy said. “She knew the families and went way beyond the mere hours she spent with afterschool students to develop relationships. She had a tremendous heart.”
For those who knew her, her commitment to the children and families of Downeast Maine as well as her own family was evident. EdGE Program Director Isaac Marnik observed that Suzie wanted to help the families she worked with, and she took special interest in grandparents raising their grandchildren since she herself took in her own grandkids. “Suzie had such a positive influence on hundreds and hundreds of children and families in Downeast Maine. This legacy will be felt by both current and future generations,” Isaac said. “Her children and grandchildren have also worked for the Mission over that time. Suzie told me in one of our last phone conversations that working for the Mission was one of the biggest impacts she was able to make.”
Suzie joined the Mission in 2005 as a part-time tutor working in the afterschool program and at EdGE summer camps. Two years later, she became a full-time site coordinator and in 2018, she became a senior site coordinator in recognition of her contribution to the EdGE program.
Speaking on Suzie’s accomplishments and her impact, Mission President John Zavodny shares, “Suzie was a tireless advocate for the families she served, and their love for her was palpable. You could not go into a school without kids running up to her to give her a hug. Her enthusiasm for the work that she did was contagious and everyone from the students to coworkers learned so much from her.”
Suzie will be deeply missed by Maine Seacoast Mission and the Downeast community, especially by the many children who grew with her during her 17-year tenure with EdGE. However, her legacy of dedication to the students she worked with will live on through the work of the Mission, EdGE programming, and the many people she touched.
Furiously paddling through white water, completing service projects in Acadia National Park, trying out watercolors, exploring Civil War-era forts, and learning more about options after high school. Students in the Journey program did all these things this summer as they ventured across the state of Maine and throughout New England on overnight trips.
Each year, 15 students in the 7th grade at Narraguagus Jr./Sr. High School and Cherryfield Elementary School are chosen to be part of a Journey cohort and they continue with the program until they graduate from high school.
The Journey program is designed to help students develop the skills needed to successfully transition to high school and through higher education and career pathways. The program provides individual support, outdoor excursions, immersive experiences, access to professionals, college exploration opportunities, preparation workshops, and help applying for scholarships. Program Manager, Dakin Hewlett spoke on the impact of summer excursions for the teens, “The overnight trips are the culmination of a year’s worth of programming and challenge the students to step outside their comfort zones in a safe, supportive way alongside staff and peers. Trips provide students with an opportunity to explore new places outside of their own communities, learn about other cultures and natural spaces, strengthen bonds with their peers, build leadership skills, and most importantly, have fun.”
Camping in Acadia
The group of students going into 8th grade spent a weekend in Acadia National Park where they camped at Sewall Campground. There they camped and cooked hotdogs, mountain pies and smores around the campfire. During the weekend, they learned more about the Park, hiking Ship Harbor Trail with a Park Ranger and helping with a community service project with Friends of Acadia and Acadia National Park. They also toured College of the Atlantic, seeing the grounds, dorms, and classrooms, and learning more about college.
On the Sunbeam to Swan’s Island
In mid-July, Cohort 4’s 8th grade students joined Mission staff on Swan’s Island for three nights. They kicked off the trip with a ride to the island aboard the Sunbeam, during which they learned about the boat and what its staff do on Maine’s outer islands.
While on Swan’s, students hiked, swam at Fine Sand Beach and toured Burnt Cove Harbor Lighthouse. They learned to paint with watercolors at Ivers Studio and received sailing lessons at Swan’s Island Yacht Club. They also participated in community service and met with Swan’s Island Historical Society. These activities teach the teens about topics and interests they may not be familiar with in their own community.
Rafting Through Millinocket
Another group of students going into high school visited Millinocket where they toured Eastern Maine Community College and Northeast Technical Institute. This part of the trip gave the students a look into two possible paths after they finish high school. They also went white water rafting and on a nature tour and learned wilderness skills.
Finding History in Boston and Maine
Cohort 2, who are going into 11th grade, has spent the year learning about history and they traveled to both Portland and Boston. They took the Amtrak Downeaster train between both cities and explored landmarks including Boston Commons and traversed the Freedom Trail.
Back in Maine, they learned the history and ecological impacts of the Desert of Maine, explored a three-mile loop that featured Civil War forts, a lighthouse and more and spent a night in Old Orchard Beach.
“It was so rewarding to see and hear the students’ excitement as they explored the campground and immediately grabbed their swimsuits, or when they stepped onto the train to Boston, some for the first time, and watched the landscape go by,” Dakin says. “From the little bursts of laughter inside the tents at night to concentration etched into their faces while journaling, the trips are as much a joy for staff as they are for students. The challenging moments are just as important as the easy ones. Journey aims to provide spaces for growth, whatever that looks like for a student, and support their goals. The fact that we can reach those goals together on an adventure makes the experience even more memorable.”
Exploring Options After High School
Another group of three students in Cohort 1 who will be graduating next spring spent their trip exploring options after high school visited Southern Maine University as well as the University of New England. They capped their trip with a visit to Six Flags.
Students from Cohort 1 at Six Flags
Journey’s Impact
During such trips, students not only see new places and partake in fun activities with one another. They spend quality time in a new environment and engage with their peers in a variety of circumstances. “We make students aware that –wherever they are—they are representatives for themselves, their families, their schools, and our program. It requires practicing leadership, accountability, open-mindedness, curiosity, respect, and kindness, which they do,” shared Dakin.
For instance, in nature, like Acadia National Park and on Swan’s Island, Journey students follow Leave No Trace guidelines to protect the outdoors that everyone enjoys. Journey’s summer series of overnight trips allow students to practice communication, treat others fairly, and ensure their individual and group needs are met. Of course, they are also encouraged to have fun and challenge themselves when they feel comfortable doing so!
To learn more about Journey, explore the program and consider volunteering as an adult mentor.
Mount Desert Island Hospital has recognized the Mission as a 2022 Healthcare Partner of the Year. The award recognizes our Covid-19 vaccination clinics and telemedicine programs during the pandemic. In 2021, we administered 928 COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters on seven unbridged islands in addition to its traditional Island Health work done via the Sunbeam, the nonprofit’s 74-foot-long vessel. John Zavodny, Mission President, and Sharon Daley, RN, Director of Island Health, who spearheaded the Mission’s vaccination program with Director of Island Outreach Douglas Cornman, were on hand to accept the award for the Mission.
Zavodny (left) and Daley (right) with Christina Maguire, President/CEO of Mount Desert Island Hospital
Christina Maguire, President/CEO of Mount Desert Island Hospital, says, “The Maine Seacoast Mission has been a dedicated, committed partner in providing healthcare to our outer island populations through telehealth and in-person visits. Their unique service model brings care to island residents who would otherwise not have access to care, and this is vital to their health and wellbeing. Throughout the pandemic, the Maine Seacoast Mission was a faithful partner to MDI Hospital, and we thank them for their dedication, commitment, and service.”
FRENCHBORO, ME – RN Maureen Giffin prepares vaccines as RN and Seacoast Mission’s Director of Island Health Services Sharon Daley administers a vaccine to a Frenchboro resident Rick Turner in the office of the community hall on Friday afternoon. Photo Credit: Erin Clark, The Boston Globe
The Mission started working on a plan to vaccinate the island residents in early 2021. “When vaccinations first became available in January, people on the islands started calling and emailing, asking me if I could vaccinate them,” Sharon recalls. Soon after, Daley and the Mission began working with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to become an official vaccine provider. A little over a month later, on February 25, the Mission started vaccinating people during a clinic on Swan’s Island. Over the next three months, the Mission fully vaccinated 343 people and conducted 20 clinics, traveling by ferry, airplane, mailboat, lobster boat and on the Sunbeam.
Sharon says that that MDI Hospital was invaluable in the Mission’s vaccination efforts, “MDI Hospital made it possible for us to do Covid vaccines on seven islands. It was a huge undertaking and we could never have managed it without the support of MDI Hospital. The pharmacists were busy but always paused to answer my questions and give us support.” She continued, “One islander recently told us how their island felt so cared for during the pandemic. Both the vaccine recipients and the Mission thank MDI Hospital for its contributions to our work.” (Photo Credit: Erin Clark, The Boston Globe)
Families can register their students for EdGE afterschool programs for the 2022-2023 school year. EdGE programs are offered for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at seven schools in Washington County. During the 2021-2022 school year, 399 students attended at least one EdGE afterschool program.
The afterschool programs offer educational, social, and outdoor experiences for students. The students can participate in experiential, creative, thought-provoking activities, and receive homework support. The EdGE program also supports food security and healthy eating habits by providing nutritious snacks.
EdGE Program Director Isaac Marnik says, “Staff are currently preparing for afterschool programming and are excited to start working with students at each of the schools. We look forward to offering a variety of activities and opportunities for students to enjoy.”
Programs are managed by the Mission’s EdGE Site Coordinators and are staffed by school district teachers, outdoor coordinators, artists, college, and high school students.
Registration is open and parents or caregivers of students at these seven schools can register at seacoastmission.org/downeast/edge. For help with registration, please call (207) 546-4466.
