Hopeful, hardworking, humble, helpful, handy, and a heart of gold, with a heart for mission all describe this January’s Golden Hammer award recipient: Paula Olsen

Paula’s beautiful spirit and unique set of gifts and talents are what make her so special. Her family would tell you how loving, compassionate and supportive she is. Her colleagues would describe her as smart, creative, dedicated, and she works to the highest standard.

We are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming back our Operations Manager from 2024, Lucas Fitch, for another year at the helm of our home repair program!

A Farmington native, Lucas helped to expand our program reach by 15.6% in 2023 while also reducing operational expenses significantly, thanks to the implementation of various efficiency enhancing protocols and procedures.

We can't wait to see what Lucas is capable of this year as we seek to further expand our program to bring more help, hope, and connection to our neighbors battling housing insecurity in Central Western Maine!

We are thrilled to welcome three new members to our board who we're sure will help to strengthen the organization in many ways!

Doug Novitch

Dee Robinson

Millard Rackliffe

We were incredibly grateful to be honored by our friends at Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry during their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Service!

MATE was blessed to be the recipient of their offering during this annual event. This is a great example of different denominations coming together to work towards a shared goal: to improve the lives of our neighbors.

Also had the privilege of meeting with the new Bishop of Portland, Reverend James Ruggieri, and talk about our important work to alleviate housing insecurity in Central Western Maine through volunteer home repairs and transitional housing!

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with MaineHousing! 

Thanks to their generous $50,000 grant, we can further our mission to prevent homelessness and improve housing for low-income individuals and families.

This grant is a crucial step in enhancing the lives of many of our neighbors, and we’re honored to be part of this statewide effort!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the 47 generous donors who contributed to our 2024 Holiday Appeal, enabling us to raise an incredible $19,935.44 and to all those who gave throughout 2024!

Your kindness and support are not just numbers; they represent a beacon of hope and connection for our neighbors in Central Western Maine who are facing the daunting challenges of housing insecurity. With your contributions, we are empowered to provide essential resources and support that restore dignity and strengthen the bonds within our community.

Each dollar will help us create tangible change in the lives of vulnerable individuals and families, fostering a sense of belonging and security. As we look to the future, we invite you to envision the lasting impact of your generosity and to remain an integral part of the MATE community, as we continue our mission to uplift and inspire positive change for all.

Together, let us keep the spirit of compassion alive and work towards a brighter tomorrow!

We are extremely grateful and very excited for the future!

Mission Partner Grantors and Donors

• Maine Housing Authority
• Skowhegan Savings Bank

Mission Partner Churches

• Davidson College Presbyterian Church (NC)
• Congregational Church of Middlebury (VT)
• Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry

Individual & Family Donors

• Thank you to our many individual and family donors who make up the bulk of our donor base. We are so blessed to have you all behind the work we're doing in rural Central Western Maine!

*for the purpose of confidentiality, we will no longer reveal the names of our individual and family donors*