MDI Coffee House - Tuesday, March 19 @ YWCA MDI
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Welcome to the March 2019
Island Connector!
We share our monthly newsletter to make the most of our connections in the community!
The purpose of the Island Connector is to share our good work and help those who can benefit from our services or who may wish to volunteer and serve our organization for our beloved community. Neighbors Helping Neighbors is what Island Connections is all about and has been for over 20 years.
If you have a family member or know of a neighbor that could benefit from our
free
transportation services, please have them call us at 288-4457.
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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 MONTHS' ISSUE
- Island Connector Message from the Executive Director
- Neighbor Ride Eligibility
- Friendly reminder to our volunteers
- Volunteers - Our heart and Soul
- Island Connections Annual Popover Event - Monday, May 13th
- 4th Annual Driving for Rides Golf Tournament - Tuesday, May 21st
- MDI Coffee House - March 19th
- Monthly Giving Program
- On-Line Volunteer Application
- Yummy recipes from our volunteers and friends
- Volunteer Driver Reward Program
- Neighbor & Volunteers of the Month
- Healthy Acadia - Neighbor 4 Neighbor Application
- Events for Seniors
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Message from the Executive Director
I've seen some very funny memes about the groundhog being arrested for fraud. It made me laugh but lord knows it's time for some much needed warmth and sunshine accompanied by longer days.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how the closing of Sonogee will impact so many people negatively. Not only will all of the caregivers be out of work but the residents are out of a home where they were cared for 24/7. The community needs to think outside of the box and consider options of multi-generational housing, the "Golden Girls" model of living and other ways of remaining in the community that supports a continued lifestyle where they can thrive. While Sonogee offered many needed services beyond housing, closing this facility has certainly created more gaps in services for the residents who may need them in the future. Housing, especially for seniors, is so limited and solutions are needed in order to help MDI senior residents age in place. The Town of Bar Harbor Age-Friendly Committee is addressing this issue to the best of their ability. Aging is different for all of us so we need to find solutions that fit
all
needs. If you have any ideas you would like to share, please reach out to me and let me know. We are in this together.
All the best,
Doreen Willett
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Who is eligible for Island Connections
Free
Transportation Services?
For over twenty two years, Island Connections has been providing free transportation for seniors and people with disabilities on Mount Desert Island and the surrounding islands. We would like to ensure that all of our island community members are aware of our ride eligibility policy. We provide rides to seniors 70+, with no questions asked, as well as to both people with temporary AND permanent disabilities. To clarify, this means that if you are temporarily restricted or temporarily disabled to drive due to a medical reason determined by a physician and are under the age of 70, you are eligible for free transportation services with Island Connections. We simply ask you to provide a doctor’s note for our records to support your medical condition. If you are determined to be permanently disabled, under the age of 70 and can provide a benefits statement from the Social Security Administration, you are eligible for free transportation as well. Please share this information with your family, friends and neighbors so that they become fully aware of our ride policy. Thank you.
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Friendly Reminder to Our Volunteers
Please know that your time and privacy are very important to us at Island Connections. We try to adhere to your time constraints and don't give out your telephone numbers to our neighbors for good reason. We want to be sure that our neighbors are respecting our process of providing rides to them. What we don't want to have happen is that the neighbors are calling you directly for rides and not going through Island Connections. This not only disrupts our scheduling process and muddles our ride counts, but it also opens you up to our neighbors calling you for any number of reasons and, as a result you may not feel comfortable doing what they ask, but may end up doing the ride/task out of guilt rather than refuse them. It’s not to say that we don’t want to encourage good relationships between our neighbors and volunteers but believe that there is a line to be drawn so that you aren’t overburdened. We don’t want to hinder the organic friendships and relationships being created, we just want to be sure that you are always comfortable with the relationship.
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VOLUNTEERS - THE HEART AND SOUL OF
ISLAND CONNECTIONS
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Island Connections Neighbors and Ride Demands
Our volunteers always amaze me and have met the ride demands to complete
401
rides in the month of February. We added 1 new neighbor 1 and 1 new volunteers as well.
Dana's Joy Riding recruitment Program proved to be an excellent recruiting method for Island Connections. Future dates will be announced. Can we ask YOU, our volunteer drivers, to help spread the word about the amazing work YOU do for our island neighbors and how they can help too by volunteering some of their time to do the same.
As many know, it's actually very easy to help us and rewarding. We have 720 living hours in a month and by donating 1 hour of time, a neighbor can be transported to and from an in town medical appointment. Please share this newsletter with your friends or family members who who want to volunteer for Island Connections . They can merely click on the I wish to apply to Volunteer link below or have them call us at 288-4457 and speak to Dana Mastroianni. Thank you.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING
A VOLUNTEER DRIVER?
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WHY VOLUNTEER?
- It brings people together. You get to meet new people and make new friends.
- It promotes self-growth. You can use your skills and learn new skills.
- You make a difference. Volunteering makes you feel appreciated and needed. It provides an opportunity to give back what has been given to you.
- It strengthens our community and breaks down barriers of fear and misunderstanding.
Thank you for your consideration
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ISLAND CONNECTIONS
2019 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SAVE THE DATES!
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Annual Popover Event
Jordan Pond House
Monday, May 13
Neighbor Seating 11:30 a.m.
Volunteer Seating 1:30 p.m.
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4th Annual Driving for Rides Golf Tournament
Tuesday, May 21 (rain date May 28)
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Thank you to First National Bank and First National Wealth Management for being our Title Sponsors. There are varied levels of sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Dana or Doreen to get more information at 288-4457.
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Annual Dine-Around Day - Saturday, July 20 at participating local restaurants
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4th Annual Running for Rides Mary Parker Memorial 5K - Saturday in October - date to be determined
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THE MDI COFFEE HOUSE IS ON!!!
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Join us for the 2019 season of the MDI Coffee House at the YWCA MDI located at 36 Mount Desert Street
in Bar Harbor from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
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The MDI Coffee House will running through April on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Bring a friend, meet new friends and enjoy some social time!
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Champion Connectors Circle Monthly Giving Program
As part of our annual appeal, we are able to offer an online giving option that offers you the ability to support Island Connections 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 a credit card or bank account of your choosing.
You can set it up to debit your account automatically each month, and not have to think about it again. And it helps Island Connections by providing a consistent and steady cash flow stream throughout the year. All you need to do is click on the link below and simply follow the instructions for the monthly giving program. It’s that easy! Please note that one time gifts can be made on this giving link as well.
If you require any additional assistance or have any questions, please call Doreen at 207-288-4457.
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Monthly recipes from our friends, neighbors & volunteers
of Island Connections
This month, our recipe comes from the All-Recipe Dinners on line site. Please send us your recipes to be featured here and shared for all to enjoy! Email to doreen@islconnections.org!
Ingredients
35 m
4 large potatoes, peeled
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 (10 ounce) cans asparagus
1 tablespoon fennel seed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon fennel greens for garnish
Add all ingredients to list
Directions
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Ready In 35 mins
Boil and mash potatoes. Puree in a blender, and set aside.
In large pot, dissolve bouillon in water following the directions on the package.
Add asparagus spears, and stir until spears are dissolved. Stir in the potatoes. Season with fennel seeds and pepper to taste. Garnish with fennel greenery if desired. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving: 168 calories; 0.5 g fat; 36.8 g carbohydrates; 6.3 g protein; < 1 mg cholesterol; 313 mg sodium.
Full nutrition
Bon Apetit!
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DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR VOLUNTEER DRIVER REWARDS PROGRAM?
Back in 2011, when gas prices were climbing higher than we had seen, Island Connections started a Driver Rewards Program to help our volunteer drivers who were working hard for our neighbors each day.
The way it works is that points are accumulated for every ride given by a volunteer to a neighbor. The point system is based on the number of rides given and destination of the rides. Each month Amy Manring, our Transportation Coordinator, reviews all of the data to create a list of those volunteers who have accumulated 30 points at which time we mail each of them a $ 25.00 gift card from Irving/Circle K. Their points revert back to 0 and they begin accumulating all over again. It's our way of giving back to those who give of themselves, their time and their resources. All of our active volunteers are eligible to accumulate points by driving for Island Connections.
Island Connections Driver Rewards Program is made possible through grant funding provided by the Hattie A. and Fred C. Lynam Trust Fund through Bar Harbor Bank and Trust Services.
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We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful neighbors be served by our outstanding volunteers who give of their time and resources. I wish to lend a reminder that YOU, as an Island Connections volunteer, may be the only person that a neighbor may come in contact with that day, that week or otherwise. Not only is the ride they are receiving important but the social aspect of the time spent together goes quite a long way.
Please keep in mind that they look forward to their time with you and by nurturing the relationship it can make all the difference to build trust and a real sense of security while in your care. We always want our neighbors to feel safe, secure and confident in your ability to get them where they they need to go while building a lasting friendship.
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To all of our volunteers -
Thank you for supporting our neighbors in every way that you do.
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Neighbor of the Month
The March Neighbor of the Month is
Lucy Triplett! Lucy has been a neighbor of Island Connections for a few years but recently started to use our transportation services with more consistency. We are so happy to help Lucy with her transportation needs and our volunteers really enjoy driving wit her. Congrats Lucy on being our Neighbor of the Month!
Volunteers of the Month
The March Volunteer of the Month is
Sandra Wilcomb who has been with us for a short time BUT has been a rock solid volunteer and great company for our neighbors. We so appreciate you stepping up and helping us meet our neighbors' ride requests. You're a doll!
The Urgent Driver of the Month
is David Parker who was able to pick up 10 rides with most of them going to Ellsworth whether to the dialysis center or the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital with a spattering of grocery and bank runs. David, we really appreciate your dedication to our neighbors and their transportation needs. It all happens because of volunteers like you!
Our Special Mention Drivers
are
Mary-Lee Bayne, Ellen Brawley, Ken Collins; Deb Fisher, Carol Johnston, Jim Grover, Sarah Nevells & Paul Woodfin.
Thank YOU ALL for ALL you do to help ensure that our neighbors are getting to their needed appointments, etc.
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The neighbor4neighbor Fund Now Accepting Applications
What: neighbor4neighbor Fund, a program of Healthy Acadia, is now accepting applications from seniors for grants up to $500 for unexpected expenses
Where: Hancock and Washington counties
Dates and Time: Applications accepted year round. Apply online:
The neighbor4neighbor Fund, a program of Healthy Acadia, is now accepting applications from seniors who are facing any one of many life crises which arise unexpectedly and for which a senior may not have adequate funds. The neighbor4neighbor Fund’s mini-grants, capped at $500.00, cover such things as new eyeglasses, dentures, medical equipment, household repairs, or other one-time challenges which can arise and undermine a senior’s ability to live independently and have a high quality of life.
The philosophy of the neighbor4neighbor Fund is that small grants can make a big difference in a senior’s life and the fund works to provide this kind of financial assistance. The goal is to help people to be healthy, stay in their homes and be able to function independently. Many seniors are struggling just to meet their most basic needs, so unexpected expenses are not part of their budget.
The neighbor4neighbor Fund is open to seniors in both Hancock and Washington Counties and is administered by Healthy Acadia.
Please contact Nina Zeldin at 667-7171 or
nina@heathlyacadia.org to receive an application or learn more about neighbor4neighbor. Applications can also be downloaded by clicking the link below:
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Senior Expo vendor registration information coming soon, stay tuned!
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HELPFUL INFORMATION:
FROM THE BAR HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Representatives of the Fire Department share the following advice: we should all have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on each level of our homes; all detectors have expiration dates-so check and replace if needed; and of course replace batteries routinely. If a senior is having difficulty installing a detector or changing a detector battery, the Fire Department graciously offers to come and do that for you. They request you call them on the non urgent line to request this and they will plan a time to come and assist you.
FROM
THE BAR HARBOR POLICE DEPARTMENT
Members of the Police Dept spoke at a gathering last year to advise all citizens to report any suspicious or unsafe items to them. They ask if you accidentally dial 911 that you stay on the line—this negates the need for them to follow up on a hang up call. The Police note that if you have a problem they might assist with –such as needing sand for icy steps that you are not able to go obtain yourself---please call them on the non urgent line and they will make plans to help you.
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Local Transportation for Seniors
BAR HARBOR SHUTTLE
(year round service operated by Downeast Transportation)
This bus operates on Tuesdays
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We would love your feedback on how we're doing in our community. Please feel free to call or e-mail with your comments.
If you are in need of information about Island Connections or in need of a ride, please contact our Transportation Coordinator, Amy Manring.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
9:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone: 207-288-4457
Doreen Willett
Executive Director
Island Connections
www.islconnections.org
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
director@islconnections.org
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Have you given any thought to
Planned Giving?
Perhaps you would like to speak to us about leaving a bequest to Island Connections but didn't know how to get started.
Contact Doreen Willett to start the conversation about creating a sustainable giving plan. We thank you for your consideration.
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Island Connections * 93 Cottage Street, Suite 101, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone 207-288-4457 * info@islconnections.org www.islconnections.org
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