MAY 2020
Birthplace: Sweetser’s Ricker Farm


The Experiential Learning Program at the Eslie J. Parquette School has yielded a spring crop including triplets born to Mocha: Pepper, Salt and Ferdinand are doing well! And Maple and her baby Lambo are also doing well. Students in the Art/Multimedia class made this video to give a progress report.


Working in partnership with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Sweetser is airing two statewide ads on NEWS CENTER Maine (Ch. 2 in Bangor and Channel 6 in Portland) promoting: the Maine Crisis Line along with Suicide Safer Care and the Maine Crisis Line along with the Intentional Warm Line. The ads will run through Mental Health Month in May.
Sweetser and Domino’s Deliver a Special Message

During Mental Health Month in May , Sweetser is building awareness of ways that everyone can achieve better mental health. Again this year, we have partnered with Lee and Amanda Prior of Domino’s Pizza to distribute 10,000 flyers statewide through pizza deliveries from their stores. We hope that you will register for myStrength, the confidential online wellness tool that Sweetser is offering for free. Learn more about myStrength and COVID-19 resources for support.
Checking in on Community Partners

Mobile Crisis Services team member Heath Seeley made the rounds in April with local partners including the Kennebunk Police Department. This time in addition to bringing crisis services handouts, he made the visit sweeter with donuts! In the photo, left to right, Heath, K-9 Officer Kaitlyn Sawyer with K-9 Otto, and Sergeant Anthony Clukey.
We ❤️ our volunteers

Sweetser is fortunate to have wonderful volunteers. We are so appreciative of those who have made face coverings for our staff and clients in Residential and Crisis Services. Our volunteers include the grandmother of Nick Blunier, the art teacher at Sweetser’s Eslie J. Parquette School. Judy Blunier (in the photo with her husband Marvin), lives in Illinois, but supported the effort from afar! Contact Volunteer Manager Susan Hawthorne at shawthorne@sweetser.org if you would like to be involved.

Thanks to everyone for supporting this ongoing effort: OOB365, Fiddlehead Artisan Supply/Sewing Masks for Maine, Seacoast Mask Makers, Sarah Del Tergo, Christine Washington, Jeanne Bard, Rebecca Ryan, Vonla Murdock, Muriel Quinn, Diane Johnson, Dorothy David, Rebecca Ryan, Judy Blunier, Susan Hawthorne Pat Beaudoin Briana LaPointe Sewing Masks for Maine Brunswick Leslie Fetzer, The Chaplin Family, Susan Stanley, Jo-Ann Bertrand Joanne Pineau, Nana Cronin Candace Remillard and Maine Department of Corrections.
SHELTER FROM THE STORM

Learn about the  CARES Act , which offers incentives to give.

Our services are needed more than ever ...
1,765-plus


NUMBER OF FACE COVERINGS

28 and growing


NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN
SWEET SPOTS


  • Sweetser Crisis Intervention Specialist Priscille Dixon was recognized by Bridgton Hospital for making hospital staff aware of someone in the parking lot who was in need of medical attention. While leaving the hospital, Priscille noticed someone sitting in a car and went up to the window. She noticed the woman was very confused so she spoke to her and got assistance.


  • School vacation week activitiesin our Residential Services in Saco students participated in a Talent Show, and those in the Belfast Residential Services went fishing with some newly donated poles!

  • Developmental Services is keeping their clients happy and healthy with a virtual book club through the Bangor Public Library, and providing stay-at-home fitness activities and videos through Special Olympics.

  • Staff and clients in the Crisis Stabilization Unit in Lewiston repurposed two end tables to create wonderful games of Parcheesi and Checkers!
Students sprout good deed


Paying forward a donation of seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds and an anonymous donor, students at the Eslie J. Parquette School are growing flowers, herbs and vegetables for an annual plant sale hosted by the Saco Grange #53 on North Street in Saco. The sale will be held on Saturday, May 23 from 9 a.m. – Noon, and benefits adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who grow produce for local restaurants through Cultivation Works’ Teenie Greenies program.
Sweetser Events Rescheduled

The Sweetser/KeyBank Sold On Kids Auction & Dinner will now be held on Friday, October 9 th

Sweetser/Prime Motor Group Golf Classic will now be held on September 21


50 Moody Street, Saco, Maine

We’re here to help
Access services by calling The PromiseLine at 1-800-434-3000
Visit  sweetser.org  to learn more.


800.434.3000