MATE's Partnerships Continue
September 2021
|
|
More Summer Volunteers Doing Important Work! |
|
Volunteers: THANK YOU Again!!!! |
Bedford Presbyterian Church team, NH |
|
Three members of Grace Community Boston's team with Dan Flint, MATE staff |
|
|
|
Members of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, PA team |
|
|
Volunteers in Action
Volunteers come from all over the Northeastern US to spend a week in Maine doing work that is physically hard and dirty and sometimes challenges new skills. They respond with commitment, dedication, and smiles, and often agree to come back year after year! (WOW!) MATE and the folks whom MATE serves are truly grateful!
|
|
Special thanks...
...go to MATE Operations Manager Dan Flint for his oversight and coordination of teams and projects. It was Dan's first season. A lot of time and hard work goes into the effort, and Dan nailed it!
Thanks also go to Nick Bennett, MATE's dedicated truck driver and a critical member of the MATE team, who got supplies where they were needed and helped in many other ways.
|
|
MHM CELEBRATES IT’S 2021 SEASON!!
COVID, COVID, COVID… And yet, we have so much to be thankful for!! Under the leadership of Dan Flint, MATE Housing Ministry (MHM) managed to keep over 40 families in their homes safe, warm and healthy.
MHM had roughly 120 volunteers from 8 groups and some individuals. They completed 6 roofs, 8 decks or porches, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, 5 sets of stairs, 4 ramps, worked on the plumbing for 3 homes, replaced windows at 3 homes and the door at 1 home, fixed ceilings at 3 homes and fixed the siding on 1 home - for a total of 42 homes repaired. All in all, a pretty productive season!!!
Some work was also done at McCleary House, including putting up drywall, digging out a crawl space, demolishing some spaces to rebuild. This was all done to get the heat in the house, do the basement waterproofing and complete the weatherization of the house.
None of this, of course, would have been possible without the support of our donors and volunteers – YOU!!! And that is what we are most thankful for. YOU gave your time, your talents and your material gifts when you came to do the hard work this summer. YOU made it happen, despite all the uncertainties and fears surrounding the pandemic.
Allow me to uplift a few groups, grantors and names:
DAN – you were a true gift from God this year. The skill and expertise you brought with you, and the comfort you gave the groups with being so well prepared did not go unnoticed. THANK YOU!!
NICK – You were always ready to help out – not just driving the truck – but being involved with the groups and clients and getting your hands dirty and having your brain work overtime finding solutions for new showers… You are a gift!
OUR GROUPS:
Presbyterian Church in Sudbury
Camp Hill Presbyterian Church
Flemington Presbyterian Church
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church
Bedford Presbyterian Church
Grace Community Church
Haddam and Higganum UCC Churches
St Joseph’s and St Rose of Lima’s parishes
You all outdid yourselves!!!
OUR GRANTORS:
Lowe’s and ReFrame association for a $1000 gift card
Anonymous Donor through Maine Community Foundation
United Way of the TriValley Area
INDIVIDUALS:
Roy Higgins – a trusted and passionate helper and friend!
ALL OF OUR DONORS!!!
You made the 3-to-1 match possible and gave above and beyond!! You heard our cries for assistance, and you answered in spades!!! You gave us the means to do the work! THANK YOU!
OUR ROOFING CREW:
George, Matt, Kat, Greg, Deb squared, Alan, Andy, Aline, Scott and Roy – we needed to get roofs done, and you did it!! You did 3 roofs in one week – you are all fabulous!
There are so many reasons for us to celebrate how all of you stepped up and followed the mission to serve the “least of these”. May you be blessed in your groups and individual lives, just as you have blessed so many folks this summer in Central Western Maine.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU!!!
Thea Kornelius, MATE Executive Director
|
|
"Sometimes the most important job is the one that wasn't scheduled... Go serve where you are needed!!"
John Zazworsky, volunteer from Camp Hill Presbyterian Church
"Our homeowner has numerous medical and mental issues. I have learned from her great resilience and adaptability. I hope that I can be as strong when I face struggles."
Richard McCoy, volunteer from Camp Hill Presbyterian Church
|
|
We Give Thanks with a Grateful (and Sad) Heart |
|
September 18, 2021
Dear MATE Family, Friends and Mission Partners,
It is with deep sadness and profound gratitude that the Board of Directors for Mission at the Eastward announces that Rev. Thea Kornelius tendered her resignation on 9/16/2021 as MATE’s Executive Director, effective 10/23/2021. In 2017, Thea accepted a joint call to be the Executive Director for MATE and to Pastor three churches and was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Northern New England. Since that time, Thea has helped to advance MATE’s work in wonderful ways, including changing the Board’s leadership style, ushering in new strategic plans for innovative projects, promoting our mission and service to our clients, obtaining MATE’s 501(c)3, growing MATE’s fundraising capabilities, hiring new staff and building many important collaborative community partnerships that have improved our operations, along with many other awesome accomplishments.
Thea leaves MATE in a very faithful and strong position for continued growth, and we sincerely thank her for sharing her faith, gifts, and stellar contributions to our life as a thriving nonprofit. We will miss her greatly and wish her many blessings and much success as she moves into a new call as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Elgin, Illinois.
Thea’s last day with us will be Sunday, October 24th. We will share in a time of celebration of her work and ministry with us in partnership with the churches of her call on that Sunday morning. The Board will be providing operational leadership and overseeing the process of filling her position, and we are confident that Thea, MATE’s staff, and the Board will make this a smooth transition for our clients, volunteers, mission partners, donors, and supporters. Our website and email newsletter, MATE Matters, will have more information about the transition and celebration in the future.
If you have any questions regarding the transition, do not hesitate to reach out to the Board of Directors by contacting our Board Chair, Karen Hagy, at karen.j.hagy@gmail.com or call her at 603-714-5628. We know you will join the MATE Board in wishing Thea the very best as she embarks on the next leg of her professional journey in her new call.
Sincerely,
Karen Hagy, MATE Board Chair and
The Board of Directors for Mission at the Eastward
|
|
MATE Thanks Lowe's and ReFrame
MATE’s Housing Ministry serves people who cannot afford or are unable to complete repairs on their own homes. Renovations allow MATE clients to stay in their homes, safe, warm and healthy. With COVID, getting work done has been a challenge, both due to a decrease in the number of volunteers who could come to Maine, and because of the rising costs of building materials over last year.
MATE had a lot of roofs to fix this year to make sure that winter in Maine is tolerable. ReFrame and Lowe’s provided us with a $1000.00 gift card to help with some of the costs of our projects. With this generous gift, we were able to fix a flat and leaking mobile home roof for a client in Skowhegan, which was draped with tarps to try and keep the house dry.
The client now boasts a sheet metal roof with a slight grade which will help the snow slide off the roof, and there are no more leaks. She is ecstatic about going through this winter dry and warm. THANK YOU, ReFrame and Lowe’s for making all of this possible.
|
|
 |
Before picture of the project |
|
|
|
After picture of the project |
|
|
|
MATE Youth Connection (MYC) |
|
Attention All Youth 12 and up!! Check out the New England Glow - Middle and High School Youth Group. This is group committed to providing fun and engaging opportunities for our older youth in New England. They have events that will allow you all over the region to connect with other teens.
Other news from GLOW (from the PNNE website):
Fall Retreat Postponed: We have decided to postpone the fall retreat until the spring. There is increased concern over the rapidly spreading delta variant of the coronavirus and also concern over what will happen when youth start back at schools. We will share more information about a spring retreat next month!
Joint Confirmation Class: Joint confirmation class will begin via Zoom the week of September 26. This class is open to any youth who would like to participate. Leadership will be shared across participating church communities. We will meet once a week on Zoom for one hour for 24 weeks and will be using the "Big God Big Questions" curriculum. You can find the participant registration form here. We are also looking for more leaders. If you are interested in leading one or more sessions please sign up here.
Youth Leaders' Cafe: We will also be hosting a monthly (to start!) Youth Leaders' cafe via Zoom starting in early fall. This will be an opportunity for youth leaders across the region to grab a cup of coffee or tea, discuss plans for youth ministry in their congregations, share resources, youth ministry stories, and experiences. Zoom link and more information to follow.
|
|
An Update on Jikani in South Africa |
|
August was Women's Month
From MATE's annual report: In 2000, MATE’s programming become international in scope with the creation of the South-African Partnership (SAP) with a relationship established with the Amathole Presbytery in South Africa. The focus of this project morphed into a home gardening ministry in the Tyhume valley. SAP was closed by MATE in 2019 but now exists under the Presbytery of Northern New England (PCUSA).
This month (August) Jikani will aim to help a promising female student who has specific needs in achieving her goal or completing her tertiary studies.
Our choice fell on a young girl, Bathandwa Siyo. She is at the faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, doing a Bachelor of Arts degree. She enrolled for Criminology, Sociology, Xhosa and History and has managed to pass all her modules with distinction. She is in her 2nd year and aiming to work hard to pass her degree cum laude. She is keen to continue to enroll for Honors Degree in Criminology. Her overall aim is: helping people, especially the youth, as they are often the stirrers in the community, due to frustration and feelings of helplessness and unworthiness.
Bathandwa has been part of awareness programs in the past. She has been a Junior Commisioner at the SAPS ( South African Police Service). Her aim is to help young people to reach their dreams. She is from Hogsback and has shown great potential over the last couple of years. I have been following her growing into early adulthood, and have been impressed at the level of maturity which she has shown.
Jikani has helped her obtain a laptop in order to assist in her study program.
Norma Fivaz Chair Jikani Board
|
|
Jikani Contact Information
|
Main road, Hogsback 5721.
Tel: 045 962 1001.
126-277NPO . PBO No. 930056685
|
|
MATE's Giving Partners - 2021 |
|
For all of your support and contributions, we are blessed! Thank you, All, for your generous gifts!
Mission Partner Grantors
Anonymous donors through the Maine Community Foundation
United Way of the Tri-Valley Area/Leap Explosion Fund, ME
The Ruth Carnwith Trust
Synod of the Northeast, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Reisert Foundation
Mission Partner Churches
First Presbyterian Church of Springfield NJ
The Dover Church, UCC, MA
First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, NJ
New Portland Community Church, ME
Fairbanks Union Church, ME
Church of the Covenant, Boston MA
First Congregational Church of North Anson, ME
Hildale Park Presbyterian Church, NJ
Marturia Presbyterian Church, NH
Leeds Community Church, ME
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, PA
Topsham United Presbyterian Church, VT
Bedford Presbyterian Church, NH
First Presbyterian Church of Ramsey, NJ
Hartford Community Presbyterian Church, ME
Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, MA
First Presbyterian Church of Antrim, NH
Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, PA
Flemington Presbyterian Church, NJ
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, PA
St Josephs and St Rose of Lima parishes in Farmington and Jay, ME
Grace Community Boston, MA
Higganum and Haddam UCC Churches, CT
Mission Partner Community Members
David Mackey
The Olsen Family
Julie Palmason
Tucker Library Interiors
United Way of the Tri-Valley Area community partner
Tina Besser, Image Control Inc.
Frank and Marion Hauck
The Hagy/Dobbins/Pease/Brachle Families
Rev. Blair Moffett
Lowe's
ReFrame
To all who contributed a donation in honor of Dan Flint’s retirement, MATE says, Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
