A true commitment to helping others! Virginia “Ginny” Foster just celebrated her 25th anniversary as a Meals on Wheels America volunteer with Spectrum Generations. (Photo courtesy: Spectrum Generations. Pictured, left to right: Sarah Brown, Tracy Lloyd, Virginia “Ginny” Foster, and Tricia Fickling)
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Volunteer Fare: Your Volunteer Maine monthly update
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We will keep it brief, as we have a truly loaded edition of "Volunteer Fare," but it's been quite a month for us at Volunteer Maine! Read on for top stories, dates and deadlines, news and announcements, and as always, some heartwarming stories from Maine's service and volunteerism communities. Enjoy! |
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Survey responses shed light on impact of COVID-19 on nonprofit volunteer base in Maine
The responses to the survey, conducted by the Data Innovation Project on behalf of Volunteer Maine, reveal "that COVID-19 volunteering at (the responding agencies) organization’s decreased and some opportunities were severely limited." Use the following link to access the survey and view a conversation with Data Innovation Project Director, Sarah Goan -- click here.
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Registration is open! Renowned professional development trainer T.J. Holloway tops lineup of experts presenting at Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference
We can't wait for the 2021 conference! T.J. Holloway, president of The Holloway Group, LLC, will deliver this year's keynote, topping our lineup of expert presenters. This year's event will be held virtually on Tues. Oct. 12. from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The cost of admission is $40 for individuals and $100 for a watch party. Find everything you need to know about this year's conference, including a link to the registration form, on our website -- click here.
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We've received a $20,000 grant to expand youth service initiatives in Maine!
We're thrilled to be one of the 11 state service commissions selected to receive a grant of $20,000 for 15 months to support the capacity in expanding youth service! Thank you to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and America's Service Commissions for making the funding possible. Learn more here.
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UMaine Center on Aging, Van Buren Resiliency Project new grantees among Volunteer Maine’s more than $1.5M award to 8 AmeriCorps programs
The grant monies will support 167 new AmeriCorps service members who will boost Maine’s pandemic response, elder services, conservation efforts and more throughout 2021-2022. Get all the details on our website -- click here.
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Sept. 10: Volunteer Maine Commission public comment period on remote participation in business meetings -- access info here
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Sept. 10: Volunteer Maine Commission business meeting -- access info here
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Sept. 11: 2021 Eastern Maine Emergency Preparedness Expo -- access info here
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Oct. 12: Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference -- virtual event -- access info here
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Multiple deadlines: Browse open AmeriCorps positions on Service Year!
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Sept. 1: AmeriCorps Environmental Education Energizer - Maine Energy Americorps Program (green energy education and advocacy) -- access info on Service Year
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Sept. 24: First4 AmeriCorps preschool classroom support -- 675, 900 or 1200 hour (education) -- access info on Service Year
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Sept. 30: AmeriCorps Resilience Corps -- Greater Portland Council of Governments (community resilience) -- access info on Service Year
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Oct. 1: Trekkers AmeriCorps Aspirations Program Assistant (youth mentorship) -- access info on Service Year
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Oct. 4: Main Street Fellow (Biddeford, Gardiner, Westbrook, Rockland, Ellsworth and Skowhegan) -- Main Street Fellows AmeriCorps Program (community resilience) -- access info on Service Year
- The following programs are not yet on Service Year but are recruiting for members! For more information, please contact one of the individuals listed below:
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AmeriCorps Nine to Ninety Five (Van Buren, Maine) Dave Cote, Van Buren Resiliency Project: vanburenresiliencyproject@gmail.com
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Lifelong Maine AmeriCorps Program (multiple locations) Patricia Oh, UMaine Center on Aging Director: patricia.oh@maine.edu
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Moving the Maine Climate Corps forward: We're thrilled to announce that Kate Klibansky has joined our team as our Climate Corps planner! Kate has been leading the charge behind the Climate Corps study, and she has been making connections with agencies and organizations across the state. If you would like to connect with Kate regarding the Climate Corps, please visit the staff team page of our website where you can find her email and phone number, plus some info on Kate's background -- click here.
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Special message for those in Biddeford! Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program (MEAP) is offering up to 10 free window inserts per household for eligible households. Use the following link to learn more -- click here.
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Leading the way in Maine! A recently updated report authored by AmeriCorps, America’s Service Commissions (ASC), and Service Year highlights the AmeriCorps Resilience Corps, Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program (MEAP) and the new Lifelong Maine AmeriCorps Program as part of a set of programs that are “an inspiration and guide for state and local leaders” across the country. Access more info here.
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What is the state of volunteerism in Maine? How are we helping volunteer leaders be better prepared for emergencies? Those are some of the topics covered when Maryalice Crofton, executive director, and Kelsey Preecs, program officer for volunteer initiatives, appeared as guests on "A Local Affair," a weekly public affairs radio program that airs in the Bangor area -- access a replay here.
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We're thrilled to have Aroostook Area Agency on Aging as one of the host sites of the new Lifelong Maine AmeriCorps Program, sponsored by UMaine Center on Aging! Learn about the new program and, for those interested, find out how to apply to serve. Use the link following link to learn more -- access here.
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If you or a family member are living with a mental health condition and you feel ready to be a support person to others with similar experiences, consider becoming a NAMI Maine support group facilitator. This training will give you skills in co-facilitating a group using the NAMI peer support group model. Use the following link to learn more -- click here.
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How can the approach of service learning help to improve civic engagement among Maine's youth? Tracy Harkins, founder of Harkins Consulting, and Kelsey Preecs, program officer for volunteer initiatives at Volunteer Maine, share their thoughts in the second episode of "Issues." Access the episode on our website -- click here.
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Apply - Heart & Soul Seed Grant program: "The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides $10,000 in startup funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Grant funding requires a $10,000 cash match from the participating municipality or a partnering organization." (courtesy, Heart & Soul Website). Access the application here.
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We are passionate about the importance of staying civically engaged. If you are, too, check out, "The bucket list for involved citizens: 76 things you can do to boost civic engagement," by the Brookings Institution. Access the toolkit here.
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Simply put, the next installment in our Serve in Maine blog series details the true power of AmeriCorps service. Watch a replay of the recent Main Street Fellows AmeriCorps Program Showcase and hear from program members about their year of service -- access here.
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A wonderful piece on Lewiston’s Barbara Hughes, who was honored on this year’s Maine Volunteer Roll Of Honor. At 82, Hughes volunteers as a knitter for Catholic Charities Maine’s SEARCH program, and volunteered 1,550 hours between March 1, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021. Thank you, Barbara! Read the piece on the Sun Journal website -- access here.
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We caught up with Colleen Hendricks, an AmeriCorps member who not only serves with the Maine Energy AmeriCorps Program, but also volunteered with the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to help the agency bring pandemic-related medical supplies into the state. Access the story here.
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Volunteer shoutout! Join us in thanking Virginia “Ginny” Foster, who recently celebrated her 25th anniversary as a Meals on Wheels America volunteer with Spectrum Generations. Watch a story on the News Center Maine website to learn more -- access here.
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"I feel proud to be an Oasis volunteer and Brunswick resident. After this summer, I am inspired to continue to learn and grow in this compassionate community." We came across a fantastic reflection piece in The Times Record by Bowdoin College student Isabella Quintana on the power of volunteerism and thought you might enjoy it, too -- access the story here.
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Earlier in the newsletter, we mentioned an opportunity to apply for the Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program. The Town of Bucksport is one of more than 100 Heart & Soul towns across the country, and Our Towns Civic Foundation published a wonderful piece on its transformation. Access the piece here.
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Volunteer Maine, the Maine Commission for Community Service -- visit our website
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Follow Volunteer Maine on Social Media:
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