Screenshot of recent Zoom conference among Island Elder Care group. (Not part of original USDA press release).
Students and Healthcare Services on Maine’s Island Communities Stay Connected
Posted by Timothy P. Hobbs, USDA Rural Development State Director for Maine in Rural Technology
Jun 19, 2020
Maine’s island communities are scattered up and down the coastline, many of them miles out to sea – they’re rural communities carving out a life both in and on the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the distance from the mainland, the educators and healthcare workers in this remote area of the state are dedicated to providing the critical services our island residents depend on and have adapted to the necessary changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the elements of this adaptation has been through the use of telecommunications, and as State Director of USDA Rural Development in Maine, I’m happy our agency has been able to serve as a key partner in bringing this technology to our rural island communities.
Telemedicine…depends on quality broadband connections to provide support to our island communities. For example, Sharon Daley is the nurse for the Maine Seacoast Mission, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life and wellbeing for residents in Maine’s coastal and island communities. Sharon recently organized a videoconference for residents on the Cranberry Isles, hosting Barbara MacPike, an infectious disease specialist from Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor. Barbara shared current information about COVID-19 and residents were able to ask questions about coronavirus, and get answers to their concerns.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Recently, Mission Island Health Services Director Douglas Cornman announced his planned schedule for hosting Sunday services for Maine islands where Covid-19 is keeping churches closed. Douglas’s services will be available to those island residents through Zoom.
This video is a recording of the first virtual Sunday Service, June 7, 2020.
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!
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 lovefirst.
Respectfully,
John Zavodny, PhD
President, Maine Seacoast Mission
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.
