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4th Quarter 2023
Island Connector
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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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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Message from the Board President
- Message from the new Executive Director
- Annual Meeting October 5th
- Running for Rides Mary Parker Memorial 5k
- Match Campaign Success -Thank you for your support!
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Our Office will be closed:
- October 9 - Indigenous Peoples' Day
- November 11 - Veteran's Day
- November 23rd and 24th - Thanksgiving
- December 25th - Christmas
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A message from Board President Stephanie Clement |
Carissa Takes the Helm!
Transitions in executive leadership can be challenging, but Island Connections donors, volunteers, and Neighbors can be confident that our organization will be sailing smoothly thanks to Carissa Tinker’s promotion to Executive Director. Many of you probably worked with Carissa in her former roles as Transportation Coordinator and Program Administrator. She has been an invaluable asset to Island Connections and is devoted to our mission.
Carissa holds a Masters degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management from the School for International Training Graduate Institute and a Bachelors degree in Spanish and Political Science from St. Michael’s College. She is a graduate of Mount Desert Island High School and has traveled the world, with professional experience as a guide in Malaysia, as a sales representative for a solar company in Australia, and as a grassroots organizer in Maine. It has been a delight getting to know her better, and I hope that you all take the time to stop by the Island Connections offices to say hello.
Carissa has jumped right into her work, writing grant proposals, planning events, and thinking strategically about how to manage Island Connections’ operations. We’re thrilled to have her on board and look forward to good things ahead.
-Stephanie
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A Note from Executive Director Carissa Tinker
The last month and a half sure have flown by since I began this new position as the Executive Director. It has been an immense pleasure to have had the opportunity to get to know so many of our Neighbors, volunteers, and donors since my start here, and I am looking forward to continuing to deepen those relationships in this new position. The support that I've received from the community at large since the announcement has been immeasurable.
Having grown up on MDI, Island Connections is close to my heart - and I need it to be here when I need it, too! I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at the Annual Meeting and putting more faces to names and voices. Our office is always open for a visit - if you're lucky, my furry friend Toby will be here, too. I love sharing the story of reconnecting with a close friend of my grandmother's through Island Connections, and how that led to the blessing of having Mr. Toby in my life.
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Join us at the Annual Meeting October 5 th
Island Connections Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, October 5 th at the Wendell Gilley Museum, 4 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor. A reception will be held from 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m.
Bar Harbor Food Pantry Executive Director Tom Reeve will be the keynote speaker. Join Neighbors and friends as we celebrate the accomplishments of the last year.
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Running for Rides Mary Parker Memorial Race on
October 14th
Bring your walking buddy, jogging partner, or leashed furry friend and celebrate fall while supporting Island Connections! The Mary Parker Memorial Race is a 5K course through Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The race starts at 9:00 a.m. at the MDI YMCA, 21 Park Street in Bar Harbor. You can
Registration costs $25 or $15 for anyone under the age of 15. Registration fees help support Island Connections’ programs. Mary Parker was Island Connections’ Transportation Coordinator seven years before her battle with cancer.
The Mary Parker Memorial Race on October 14th is sponsored by Bar Harbor Savings and Loan, Bark Harbor, Swallowfield, Spruce & Gussy, Window Panes, FIORE Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars, Carroll Drug Store, and the MDI YMCA.
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"RIDE WISE" at Island Connections
In the third quarter of 2023:
- We completed 1,329 one-way rides, which includes
- 152 food delivery routes and
- 305 grocery shopping trips
- Added 13 new Neighbors
- Added 3 new Volunteer Drivers
- 78 Volunteer Drivers gave approximately 510 hours of their time and drove approximately 13,050 miles
Consistently now, one-third of our rides help address food insecurity in our region. We deliver food for Meals on Wheels, the Food Access Project and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry. We also have our own shopping program for our Neighbors. Sometimes we take them to the store, but mostly our volunteers shop for them or pickup their to go orders in Ellsworth.
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Thank you for your support!
Island Connections would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Summer Match Campaign. We reached our target and raised more than $30K to support Island Connections’ mission to provide free transportation services to older adults and people with disabilities in the Mount Desert Island region. In particular, we would like to thank our seed donors to the campaign Bar Harbor Campground, Liz Cutler, Glenn Tucker, The Witham Family Foundation, and Mary Morgan. But our work is never done! As we enter the holiday season, we hope you will consider an end-of-year gift in thanks for our community of volunteers and Neighbors.
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Contact Island Connections:
(207)288-4457
www.islconnections.org
93 Cottage Street, Suite 101
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Carissa Tinker, Executive Director
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Island Connections * 93 Cottage Street, Suite 101, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
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