Stories from MATE: Keep a family safe
June 2021
McCleary House - Building Lives by Renovating a Building!
 
MATE’s newest outreach project, renovating and outfitting McCleary House for transitional housing for people in need of a safe warm home, is on the horizon!
 
We are beginning the renovation this month, with our
Operations Manager, Dan Flint, obtaining quotes for major system upgrades, waterproofing the basement and working on a new ADA bathroom. This work has been made possible
because MATE has received grants from United Way, Synod of the Northeast (PCUSA), and an anonymous donor through Maine Community Foundation that provides a firm foundation for the some of the necessary fundraising needed to get this project underway!
 
So be on the lookout for more information inviting YOU, and people from the surrounding communities to join in the reno and outfitting of the house to make it comfortable for our guest clients.
 
There are so many creative ways YOU can help the housing insecure by partnering with us on this project in the future! Watch for MATE Matters in July and your snail mail at the end June! Make a difference! Keep a family safe.

Thank you!
Take a look at how one of our new friends, Julie, helped us by creatively painting some gently-used furniture for McCleary to help welcome folks into a homey, lovely space!
New Board Member: Ann Marie Simone
I am so excited to join the board of MATE. I was involved with MATE for 12 years from 2002 to 2014, first as a board member, then as associate coordinator, camp coordinator, and then pastor of affiliate churches (Church of Christ Starks for 1 year and North Turner Union Presbyterian Church for 6 years), as well as an active participant in our minister’s group and finally pulpit supply in Starks. MATE holds a special place in my heart.
I moved to Maine in 2000, after spending 20 years working in the domestic violence field. I was part of the grant team acquiring first-ever HUD funding for Transitional Housing for battered women, created the first child witness to violence program in Massachusetts and the first court advocacy program with an office in the courthouse. Later I served as Executive Director of DOVE, the leading agency for the Quincy Model of Domestic Violence Intervention, a national model of community agency collaboration to end family violence. I taught undergraduate psychology and philosophy as an adjunct for 22 years, most recently at Thomas College for 13 years.
 
I am retired now and learning to live with Parkinson’s Disease, a new and challenging experience. Blessing, my cat, and I live in Farmington. I recently became wheelchair bound and can leave the house only because the MATE Housing Ministry provided me with a ramp last summer. I am extremely grateful for this, and for all the joy my affiliations with MATE have brought into my life over the years. I am looking forward to being of service to the Lord through this new affiliation.
MATE Housing Ministry






For where two or three are gathered in My name...
(Matthew 18:20)

Especially in Farmington, Maine
(Reese 06/2021)
Ahhh, Mission Trips.

Travel, fellowship, hard work, rewarding and meaningful results, spiritual fulfillment…

Well, maybe next year.

Nooooo!!!!!!

Nowwww!!!!

George Reese here, Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford, New Hampshire.

Many of us who are veteran Missiontrippers are used to annual trips and sharing them with 30, 40, 50 or even 100 of our closest friends.

Last year, and for some of us this year, COVID changed that. Well, maybe.

This year, due to COVID related issues, there has been a drop off in the number and size of groups volunteering with the Housing Ministry. There has not been a drop off in the number of families that need our help.

So, if there are two or three, or even one of us who can make it to MATE’s Housing Ministry for two or three, or even one day, “Just Do It”.

Affordable lodging is available at U MAINE dormitories or the Mount Blue Motel or the Colonial Valley Motel. Plenty of good places to eat and an assortment of evening entertainment venues. However, you should be tired after a hard day's work.

Yes, you can make a difference, even if it’s just you.
 
If you think you can help, OR for tips/questions on getting started as a MATE volunteer, contact MATE Executive Director Rev. Thea Kornelius, rev.thea.mate@gmail.com.

For the volunteer application and more information, click on the button below.

Up-to-date COVID-19 guidelines are at this link: Maine state covid-19 guidelines; more information is at Newscenter Maine
From Thea Kornelius, MATE's Executive Director

It is with strong faith that we enter this season of the housing ministry. COVID still got in a few hits, and did hurt us some with the number of volunteers that will come this year to help us. We have been blessed with grants and donations, and financially we are able to do a lot of our projects. But we need your help!!! We still need people to do the work – hands to help break down, put together, paint and fix.
We don’t need a week of your time… even if you could get some people together for 2 or 3 days to help us out, we would so much appreciate it!! COVID restrictions in Maine are limited, and we only require a mask if you were not vaccinated. So what do you say? Give me a call at (207)491-8404 or send me an email at rev.thea.mate@gmail.com

Hope to see you soon!!!
Thea Kornelius and Dan Flint, MATE Operations Manager.
Two volunteers work together on a MHM project.
MATE's 3:1 Super Spring Challenge Update: YOU exceeded our goal!

A generous donor challenged MATE with a 3:1 matching grant: If we raised $9000, MATE would receive $27,000. Thanks to all of you, we did it. You helped us raise $15,525, as of June 8. With your contributions and the match, we will buy needed building supplies to support MATE’s Housing Ministry’s (MHM’s) home repair program again this hear!
Thanks to our community partner United Way of the Tri-Valley Area for their ongoing support for MATE's work!

MATE has been officially designated as a Community Partner of United Way.

In addition, MATE received a basic grant from United Way of $5000 this spring for MHM.
Community news : Fairbanks Yard Sale
You are invited...
If you are working with MATE or in the Farmington area on July 9-10, the Deacons of Fairbanks Union Church invite you to come check out their yard sale that weekend. 
MATE Youth Connection (MYC)

An update on Camp at The Eastward (CATE)...

Update on Camp at the Eastward (CATE): The Leadership Commission (LC) of the Presbytery of Northern New England is sending a small group of the LC to visit CATE. There will also be an upcoming presbytery town hall to discuss the possibilities for the property. Please check presbytery communications and www.pnne.org for updates regarding CATE.
Camp Wilmot Summer Registration

Camp Wilmot is excited to announce that registration is open for Summer of 2021! As much fun as we had with Camp on the Road last summer, we're overjoyed to be able to offer our classic residential youth camps again this July! If you're craving some joy, connection, and time in God's beautiful creation, there are so many opportunities to get up to Camp Wilmot this year, whether it's renting a cabin to enjoy our 200+ acres on your own, or signing up to be part of one of our camps! If you're interested in our camp programming, this year we have a camp for everyone: We'll be running Family Camp from July 2-5 open to all ages and families, Adventure Camp for campers 13 and up from July 5-10, and two Youth Camps for campers ages 8 to 16, July 11-17 and 17-24. More information and registration links can be found on our website.

For more information, visit Camp Wilmot's website. And please do not hesitate to reach out to this summer's Director Team: Robin Loewald, Caleb Petersen, and Kayla McKinsey at CampWilmotDirector@gmail.com.

CATE campers who want to attend Camp Wilmot can also contact Thea Kornelius to connect with Camp Wilmot. If financial assistance or transportation is needed for previous CATE campers to attend, please email Thea Kornelius, rev.thea.mate@gmail.com. Assistance is confidential.
Annual plant sale and raffles benefit MATE youth programs and camp scholarships...

Our annual plant sale to support MYC programs raised $1409! Congrats and thanks to the team for their hard work and long-standing commitment to MYC!
A Little GLOW
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. Check out the website http://www.newenglandglow.org/ and the public New England GLOW Facebook page.
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 donor 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)

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

Mission Partner Community Members
David Mackey, NH
Bruce and Paula Olsen, NH
Julie Palmason, NH
Tucker Library Interiors, NH
United Way of the Tri-Valley Area community partner

To all who contributed a donation in honor of Dan Flint’s retirement, MATE says, Thank you!
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