April 2025 News

As a Charles Bruce Foundation newsletter subscriber, you have probably already seen in our Homeless Remembrance Blanket Project newsletter that we are taking our lovely blanket display to the Maine Mall in South Portland.

April 22 marks one year since the infamous SCOTUS hearing Johnson v Grants Pass, and we have teamed up for the National Coalition for the Homeless National Day of Action to inform the public about the tragedy of this decision. If you have been reading your local news lately, you are probably seeing your state legislators working on bills to criminalize sleeping in public spaces. This is a direct result of this court ruling that allowed states to fine or imprison the unhoused.

If, however, you are living in Maine, the State Legislature and Governor Mills lead the nation in promoting a "Housing First" model for addressing homelessness. Interestingly, this model has been proven to be a more cost-efficient way to tackle this challenge, and it does NOT heap cruelty on top of cruelty. What better place is there right now to bring the blankets of #memorialblanket than Maine?

If you are in Portland, Maine on April 22 between 11 am and 7 pm, visit our mini blanket display in the Center of the Maine Mall. If you have blankets that you have crafted for #memorialblanket, bring them along, too! We're looking forward to seeing you.

It has become the annual tradition for Charles Bruce Foundation to fill your March email inbox with announcements about Match Madness. It is only fitting, then, that the annual tradition for April be to thank each and every one of you for choosing to maximize your support by giving through this campaign.

While March came in like a lamb with early smatterings of donations, you stepped up solidly and sent it out like a lion! We are so pleased that the result of YOUR giving this year continues our work of promoting writers, artists, and musicians. Thank you all so much!

In addition to your generous donations, Charles Bruce Foundation frequently seeks funding from grants. A recent grant from Partnership for Better Health afforded Sonia Pitzi and Pat LaMarche the opportunity not only to host a Carlisle Farmers on the Square booth on March 26 to discuss homelessness, but also to distribute books free of charge to folks who stopped to chat.

Those curious to learn about hunger, homelessness, food insecurity, and how the heck kids who have no home get an education were treated to superhero knowledge about these important issues. Those that didn't have time to chat? They could just drop by and get a copy of Humble Pie or Kursid Kids Winter Turns to better facilitate understanding this very difficult topic.

Weren't able to make it in March? You have another opportunity to get your free copy of Humble Pie AND free pie when the Carlisle Farmers on the Square booth returns on April 30 from 3 - 7 pm. Yum, yum!