2nd Quarter 2022
Island Connector
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Message from the Executive Director
- COVID Precautions
- Welcome Carissa
- Our 25th Anniversary!
- 1st Quarter "Ride Wise" by the numbers
- A Heartfelt Story
- AARP's Latest Scam Alerts
- Plan Your Monthly Giving
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PLEASE NOTE: OUR OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
MONDAY, APRIL 18, FOR PATRIOTS DAY AND MONDAY, MAY 30, FOR MEMORIAL DAY
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Our Mission
Island Connections provides free transportation and other services to seniors and people with disabilities from Mount Desert Island and the surrounding islands to enhance their independence and quality of life by utilizing our core group of dedicated volunteers.
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A message from Sharon Linscott,
Executive Director of Island Connections
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Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe I have been with Island Connections three months now. What an amazing three months of learning it has been! It was great to have Doreen as my mentor for so long but we had to officially say farewell to her on March 18. We are very happy to be back up to full staff with Carissa who came on board March 29th (read more about Carissa below!)
We will celebrate 25 years of Neighbors helping Neighbors in May! Island Connections is currently working on a new 3-year Strategic Plan with a goal of completing the plan in late May or early June. Then on to implementation. We want to continue doing what we do well, and dream about what else we might be able to do, for another 25 years.
We are so grateful to all our Neighbors, Volunteer Drivers and Donors. You are all integral pieces of the Island Connections puzzle. Please don’t hesitate to share all about us and what we do with your friends and family. Tell them to sign up for our newsletter and like us on Facebook. You never know who might become our next new neighbor, volunteer or donor!
We are at the beginning of spring and in the next 3 months we will see new colors and blooms, longer daylight and leaves on all the trees. We will also welcome back our snowbirds. May you enjoy all the transitions that come this time of year!
Blessings & Peace,
Sharon
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WE REMAIN DILIGENT IN ADHERING TO COVID PRECAUTIONS
While many locations in and around town no longer require mask wearing, Island Connections still requires that both the driver and the neighbor wear a mask at all times from pickup to drop off.
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Please call 288-4457 or stop by our Cottage Street office if you need any of the following PPE: Masks*Hand Sanitizer*Sanitizing Wipes*Gloves*and Tissues.
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Carissa is the new Transportation/ Office Administrator at Island Connections. Drop in and say HI if you get the chance. If you can't make it into the office, Carissa will be calling you soon!
Carissa grew up on MDI and is happy to have settled back home after some time living away. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Burlington, VT, she decided to stay in the Green Mountain State to study for a master’s degree in Intercultural, Service, Leadership, and Management. Carissa returned to Maine to work as a grassroots organizer and then traveled overseas in order to gain more experience working internationally. She worked as a divemaster in Malaysia, sold solar panels Perth, and painted murals in Mexico. As exciting as those adventures were, she is enjoying staying put. She loves to spend time with her cats, practice graphic design, and watch her garden grow.
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Happy 25th Anniversary to Island Connections!
In May we will celebrate
25 years of Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Stay tuned for information about
a special match campaign and a celebration event!
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"RIDE WISE" at
ISLAND CONNECTIONS
During the first three months of 2022 we:
- Completed 1,341 rides
- Added 16 new Neighbors
- Added 5 new Volunteer Drivers
Island Connections Volunteers are truly AMAZING!!
As the need rises for transportation services on and around MDI, Island Connections is driven to meet that need. But we can't do it without the help of the people in our community...our most valuable assets...volunteers! If you or someone you know would like to find out what it means to become a volunteer driver for Island Connections, please call Jeannie Anderson, our Volunteer Coordinator, at 207-288-4457.
It is so easy to volunteer with us! Consider this; there are 720 hours in a month. In just one of those hours, one hour a month, you could transport a neighbor to and from an in-town medical appointment or even provide a one-way ride to the dialysis center. There are so many ways to help! And it is incredibly rewarding!
Please share this newsletter with any friends and family members who you think would be interested in volunteering at Island Connections. It's easy to apply...just CLICK HERE to submit your application online or call Jeannie at 207-288-4457. She is happy to help!
Thank you to all who have dedicated time and commitment to Island Connections. We truly appreciate it! Please consider becoming a volunteer, we would love to welcome you to our family!
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A "HEARTFELT" STORY FOR VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH |
Monday is the day of our weekly staff meeting in the office, and we always start out by sharing our "Mission Moments"... something that has happened in our work week that grounds us in the Island Connections mission and reminds us of why we are here.
A couple of weeks ago, I got a call late in the afternoon from one of our long-time Neighbors who desperately needed to have his prescription delivered. It was a medication that he had been taking for a long time, and he was very worried that he wouldn't be able to get it before the end of the day. Knowing that it would be just as easy for me to grab it rather than try to find a volunteer at that late hour, I told him not to worry. I finished up my work, locked up the office, picked up the script at Hannaford, and drove to his house - just outside of town.
When he answered the door and I handed him the bag, he couldn't stop saying how thankful he was...he even started to reach into his pocket, saying that he had something for me. I thought he was wanting to try and give me money, as some Neighbors do, as a donation to Island Connections. I, of course, was telling him that it wasn't necessary, and that the trip was not an inconvenience to me in any way. Well, out of his pocket, instead of money, he pulled a heart-shaped stone, smooth and polished, colored with a beautiful mix of brown and cream. He said he was so thankful for the heartfelt deed and the service we provide at Island Connections, and he wanted me to have this heart-shaped stone as a way to express his gratitude. Tears came to my eyes, and it really hit me in that moment that what Island Connections provides to the MDI community is so important, necessary, and wonderful. What was such a simple task for me meant everything to him because he didn't have to worry.
To all of our current Volunteers--I'm sure you hear thank-yous on a regular basis from the Neighbors you drive. I would also like to say a heartfelt thank you. Please realize the impact you have on our Neighbors on a daily basis, how your simple acts of kindness help the members of our community and their families.
By the way, I looked up the name of the stone. It is called Carmelian and its properties are courage, endurance, energy, leadership, and motivation -- all characteristics of our awesome volunteers whose hearts are as beautiful as this heartfelt stone.
Jeannie
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CHAMPION CIRCLE MONTHLY GIVING PROGRAM
Island Connections makes giving easy by offering an online option so you can support us on a monthly basis. We invite you to seriously consider our Champion Connector’s Circle Program for the following reasons:
- Monthly giving makes it easier for you to plan ahead for your annual giving, and alleviates the potential challenge of a large outlay of funds at the end of the year.
- Your donation can be easily and securely debited from your credit card or bank account automatically.
- It helps Island Connections by providing a consistent and steady cash flow stream throughout the year.
Just click here and follow the instructions for the monthly giving program. It’s that easy! Please note that one time gifts can also be made on this giving link.
If you require any additional assistance or have any questions, please call Sharon at 207-288-4457.
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If you need a ride, would like to volunteer, or would like any information about Island Connections please contact us at:
(207)288-4457
www.islconnections.org
93 Cottage Street, Suite 101
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Office hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sharon Linscott
Executive Director
BE SURE TO LIKE US ON
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Island Connections * 93 Cottage Street, Suite 101, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
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