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CELEBRATING 6 MONTH PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL AROOSTOOK ASSOCIATION

Individuals from the Central Aroostook Association Day Program have been providing very valuable assistance for ACAP’s Community Closet since December 2022. Over 150 hours have been devoted to sorting and hanging gently used clothing to be placed in our exterior Community Clothing Closet at ACAP's Presque Isle 771 Main Street Customer Service Center. 

We celebrated the six-month milestone and showed the Agency's appreciation by providing a gift bag to those individuals who have been volunteering their time so others will have resources available for their families. Pictured are: Casey, Tabatha and Jon along with Sally from Central Aroostook Association and Kim Guerette Michaud from Team ACAP.

Pictured above with ACAP's Community Educator Kim Guerrette Michaud (center) are Liam Hughes and Angel Kearly from F.A. Peabody Insurance.

Our team was thrilled last week to receive two large donations of diapers from our friends at F.A. Peabody and Grant Memorial Methodist Church as we closed out Community Action Month and our 1st ever diaper drive. We appreciate the partnerships and knowing that together we are helping keep babies healthy, countywide. Diapers will be available for families in our WIC program and at our upcoming baby shower at our Houlton center.

Above the generous donation from Grant Memorial Methodist Church.

ACAP Executive Director/CEO Jason Parent, Director of Programs Heidi Rackliffe, and Manager of Coaching Nick Weeks joined with CAP Colleagues from across New England on Monday, June 5, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts for the New England Community Action Partnership Conference. In addition to attending the conference, Heidi Rackliffe served on a panel of experts working on innovative solutions to combat homelessness in New England. The panel discussion was moderated by Jason Parent. ACAP's CEO also presented on ACAP's Whole Family Transformation efforts in a breakout session at the conference on Monday.

ACAP's Tobacco Prevention team wrapped up a season of social-emotional learning with Presque Isle Pathways students, Easton 2nd graders and Mill Pond School 6th graders in Hodgdon. The students enjoyed the sunshine and some fun team building activities that helped to enforce the teaching they have received over the past months. 

Come hangout, collaborate, and build community in a space made by teens for teens. We have free WIFI, TV, games, a full kitchen and laundry facilities, study spaces, and more! Anyone who is 14-19 is welcome.​

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Hours for the North Street Teen Center are as follows:

Monday-Thursday   3 pm – 8pm​

Friday              3 pm – 9 pm​

Saturday           12 pm – 9 pm​

A new format has been launched with the release of the newest edition of ACAP Today. Rather than producing a new program each week, new editions will be released twice monthly - once in the early part of the month - on or around the first of the month, and then again for the latter half of the month - on or around the 15th. This first edition under the new format is all about employment in Aroostook County. Roger Pelletier, ACAP Recruiter/Trainer, and ACAP coaches Jess Atkinson and Amanda Keegan join CEO Jason Parent to discuss the hiring market and about efforts and services to connect individuals in Aroostook County, including youth, to employment opportunities.

On Saturday, June 3rd the ACAP team partnered with community volunteers and donors to provide thousands of pieces of free clothing to individuals and families at our Presque Isle 771 Main Street Community Service Center. The Clothing Explosion was wildly successful and only possible because of the generous donation of gently used clothing and the volunteers that gave their time to this community driven project.

Pictured here are: Alice Corey, Elizabeth Corey, Melinda Duchardt Corey, and ACAP Community Educator, Kim Guerrette Michaud. Absent from the photos are community volunteers Elaine Sipe and Lisa Clark.

Head Start provides full day comprehensive developmental programing for 3 and 4-year-olds, with transportation being provided at most locations! FMI or to fill out an online application, visit: https://acap-me.org/programs/earlycareeducation/

Although the Home Energy Assistance Program has closed for the season, our team is still available to help households with emergency energy and utility costs. For more information, or to see if you qualify, please contact our team at 207-768-3053.

Income qualification guidelines for the remaining slots available for the Winter Energy Relief Program appear in the adjacent chart.

Are you struggling to keep up with your mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships? The Maine Homeowner Assistance Fund may be able to help.

The Maine Homeowner Assistance Fund is a federally funded assistance program that can pay up to $50,000 in assistance to eligible homeowners in Maine. The program was created to help homeowners who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be at risk of losing their home. The program can pay back and future mortgage payments, property tax and utility bills, including sewer, water and heating fuel costs. 

MaineHousing has expanded eligibility for the HAF program in Maine and will reconsider applicants who may have been previously denied or were unable to complete an application under the former program rules. 

To be eligible, you must earn less than 150 percent of local area median income and have sustained financial hardship related to COVID-19 that occurred after January of 2020.

Proof of income and an attestation of a financial burden or loss related to COV/0-19 are requirements for program eligibility. Funding is limited so don't wait. To see if you are eligible and to begin the application proces, ,go to MaineHomeownerHelp.org 

The Affordable Connectivity Program offers eligible households $30/month toward home internet service, making some plans free.

 To find out if you qualify and to sign up for the ACP benefit, follow these 4 steps:

Step 1: See if you qualify at www.GetACP.org/Maine

Step 2: Apply

Step 3: Receive confirmation

Step 4: Select your internet plan

For help applying or for more information contact an ACAP Navigator at 207-764-3721 or help@acap-me.org.

On November 27, 2022, Versant Power announced Power Match, a charitable matching program to provide electricity bill assistance to customers in need. Through Versant’s partnership with Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), Penquis, and Downeast Community Partners (DCP), over $50,000 in electricity bill credits have been provided to customers in need as of April 2023.

The Team at ACAP is so appreciative of the partnership with Versant Power allowing us to meet a growing community need. This has been a challenging time for so many households in our community and through this partnership we are able to assist those who are need of support. To hear the relief in someone’s voice when you tell them that we are able to assist is so rewarding. This partnership has provided us the ability to lift that weight for households of all shapes and sizes in our community Read More...

Members of ACAP's reception team recently came together in person and virtually to celebrate and thank Executive Assistant Gloria Duncan for her leadership of the team over the past few years. The reception team will be transitioning to the new Comprehensive Intake Team leadership in the coming days. Pictured left to right: Jennifer Patrick, Receptionist Houlton Center; Pat Good, Receptionist at Presque Isle 771 Main Street Customer Service Center; Gloria Duncan, Executive Assistant; and Erika Baker, Receptionist Presque Isle 771 Main Street Customer Service Center. Attending virtually was Sylvie St. Onge, ACAP Madawaska Center Receptionist and Jessica Puig, Receptionist at the Gouldville Early Care and Education Center.

JOIN THE ACAP TEAM

ACAP has a dedicated team who work to help keep people warm, safe and dry in their homes with a variety of programs that offer education or assistance in areas of heating and energy efficiency, home purchase, repair and assistance for people facing foreclosure or eviction. We assist job seekers with going back to school, or developing skills and help people overcome common barriers that might stand in their way in areas such as transportation and childcare. ACAP is helping to build a stronger, healthier community by collaborating with local and statewide organizations to offer prevention services that focus on nutrition, oral health, substance use, tobacco, obesity and youth engagement. Join the ACAP team and help to make life better in Aroostook County!

SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK

Not quite ready yet - but getting there with its recent delivery into Aroostook County... Our mobile service unit has made its way to the region. The unit is now at Autotronics in Frenchville awaiting customization. Once the work on the unit is completed there, it will get a new look with a customized wrap. Our goal is to have the unit providing services by the end of 2023.

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