August 2025

Happy August! This month’s newsletter is all about connection — from the blueberry fields to the workplace, and from community partners to life-saving awareness efforts. You’ll meet one of our local agricultural leaders, learn how joining the RFW Network benefits your business, and find out how our partners at OPTIONS can help your workplace take meaningful action for National Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.

It’s blueberry season in Washington County, and the perfect time to celebrate one of the region’s agricultural leaders: Maine Wild Blueberry Company, a proud member of the Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Network.

From the fields to the freezer, their team knows that strong harvests happen when people feel safe, supported, and respected at work. By joining the RFW Network, they’ve strengthened their workplace culture, increased access to resources, and demonstrated that wellness and productivity go hand-in-hand.

A division of Oxford Frozen Foods, Maine Wild Blueberry Company is part of the largest wild blueberry processing operation in the world, handling individually quick frozen (IQF) processing, cold storage, and the production of infused dried wild blueberries and single-strength puree, bringing Maine’s most iconic fruit to markets across the globe.

As a Recovery Friendly Workplace, Maine Wild Blueberry Company is helping build a healthier, more resilient workforce by:

• Providing opportunities for individuals in recovery or reentry
• Participating in RFW trainings to support staff well-being and reduce stigma
• Fostering a culture rooted in respect and second chances
• Supporting community partnerships that strengthen recovery and wellness

By valuing both people and product, Maine Wild Blueberry Company shows that a strong harvest starts with a strong community. Whether in the fields, the processing plant, or the community, they are proving that supporting recovery is part of growing something strong and lasting.

Thank you, Maine Wild Blueberry Company, for nourishing both the land and the lives of those who help it thrive.

Network Q & A

Your Recovery Friendly Workplace Questions Answered

Q: How does joining the Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) Network actually benefit my workplace?

A: Businesses in the RFW Network often see healthier employees, stronger teamwork, and improved retention. When people feel supported, they are more likely to stay, show up, and perform at their best. Being part of the Network also gives you direct access to free training, expert advising, and connections to local resources. All of these supports are tailored to your workplace and can help you reduce turnover costs, improve morale, and attract skilled talent in a competitive job market.

💡 Did you know?

Employees who say their workplace has a positive culture are nearly four times more likely to stay with their current employer, compared to those who rate it poorly. Only 15 percent of employees in positive cultures are actively looking for a new job, versus 57 percent in negative cultures (SHRM).

Have a question you'd like us to feature next?

Email Dodie at demerson@sunrisecounty.org or send it to info@recoveryfriendlydowneast.org

The Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach, Naloxone, and Safety (OPTIONS) Initiative is a statewide effort to improve the health and safety of Mainers by increasing access to harm-reduction services, treatment, and recovery supports.

OPTIONS liaisons work in every Maine county, partnering with first responders, service providers, and community groups to:



• Connect people to treatment and recovery services
• Distribute naloxone and provide overdose prevention education
• Offer and promote naloxone training and kits
• Reduce the harms associated with substance use
• Support families and communities affected by substance use and overdose

In Washington County, OPTIONS has been a strong partner in the RFW Network — collaborating on training, providing workplace resources, and helping employers create supportive, stigma-free environments.

Learn more: KnowYourOptions.me

On August 31, join millions around the world in honoring lives lost to overdose, supporting those in grief, and raising awareness for prevention.

Here are 5 meaningful ways your workplace can participate (with resources and expertise available from OPTIONS to support you):

• Go Purple – Encourage staff to wear purple or display purple ribbons.
• Host a Huddle – Take 10 minutes for a staff meeting to share overdose response info.
• Spread the Word – Place posters or fact sheets in common areas.
• Be Prepared – Offer naloxone training and keep kits on hand.
• Know the Law – Share Maine’s Good Samaritan Law with employees.

Workplace actions make a difference — and so do community ones. In addition to what you can do at work, you are invited to join the community for an evening of remembrance and awareness.

On Sunday, August 31, at 6:30 pm, community members are invited to gather at the DownEast Recovery Support Center in Calais to raise awareness about overdose, honor those who have been lost, and support families and friends who grieve.

Naloxone and recovery resources will be available. Attendees are invited to bring a photo of a loved one to add to the memorial.

All are welcome. Please see the graphic for details.

Grief touches many in our community, especially for families and workplaces impacted by substance use and overdose. Support is available for anyone navigating loss.

Washington County Resources

• Down East Hospice Volunteers - Free support for those facing end-of-life, grief, and bereavement. 📞207-904-9855 
• Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) - Grief support groups in Machias and Calais. 📧 sroussel@chcs-me.org
• Adult Grief Group – Sunrise Opportunities - 6-week group in Machias | Thursdays, 6–7:30 pm, starting October 16. 📞207-255-4701
• Facing Grief Together – Down East Support Group - Weekly group at Calais Community Hospital, Tuesdays 4-5 pm. 📞207-610-5152 

Statewide & National Resources

• The Family Restored – Grief Support Services - Peer-led groups for those grieving a loved one lost to substance use. 
• GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) - Maine-based meetings for families and friends grieving a substance use loss.
• SADOD (Support After a Death by Overdose) - Peer support, resources, and education for those grieving a loss to overdose.
• National Alliance for Children’s Grief - Resources for children and teens coping with loss.
• Partnership to End Addiction – Get Support - Free, personalized support for families navigating grief and substance use challenges, including live chat and peer connections.

Consider sharing these resources in your workplace bulletin, staff newsletter, or breakroom so employees know where to turn when they need support.

UMaine Cooperative Extension has launched a new Business Resilience Planning Training to help small businesses prepare for the unexpected.

This fast-paced, interactive online course was created in collaboration with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and is:

• Self-paced - complete it anytime, in under 2 hours
• Free - offered at no cost to Maine businesses
• Practical - designed for busy entrepreneurs who want to build resilience into the core of their business

A resilient business is a stronger business, and investing in resilience is another way to support your employees and community.

Learn more and register!

Thank you for all you do to make your workplace — and our community — a safe, supportive place where people can thrive. We look forward to sharing more stories, resources, and successes with you next month.