Happy Wednesday!
This is the Community Caring Collaborative Weekly Communiqué where we share announcements about trainings, meetings and other events, including announcements from our collaborative partners. Look for links to meeting minutes and agendas in the Meetings section, training registration forms and flyers in the Events section, and job postings and other items of interest in the Announcements section. Subscribe here to get the Communiqué. Make sure to add Community Caring Collaborative to your contacts at claurel@cccmaine.org. Gmail users, check for the Communiqué under the Promotions tab. This mailing goes out every Wednesday, so if you have announcements, please send them to Christine by 5 pm Monday to be included. Thanks!
Announcements
Hope Fund now 6 years old: We are excited to share that the Hope Fund is entering its 6th year and opens October 11 to applications. The purpose of the Hope Fund is to help providers from CCC partner agencies resolve financial barriers to help their clients/families accomplished established goals. The program helps families safely and effectively provide for their children. This is a link to the Hope Fund page of our website where you can find instructions for applying and download the application form. If you’re a provider working with families on Hope Fund applications, please join us on October 18th from 1 – 2:30 in the large conference room at Sunrise County Economic Council for an informational session about the Hope Fund. Please bring your questions and ideas about the program. We look forward to the meeting!
Thank you! The CCC would like to extend a special thanks to Charles Rudelitch, executive director of Sunrise County Economic Council, who served on the Hope Fund committee for five years and is rotating off. Charles brought a deep understanding of the barriers families face in Washington County as they work to move out of poverty. He helped guide the program in many ways and we are so thankful for his contribution of time and expertise.
United Way Invites Feedback: Share your concerns for Washington County with staff from the United Way of Eastern Maine at their Community Forum on October 17th in Calais – see Event Section below for details & RSVP link.
Merger of 2 Partners: Child and Family Opportunities and the Washington Hancock Community Agency have merged to form Downeast Community Partners. Please see this press release for more information on this exciting announcement.
Taking Action for Health: Healthy Acadia is offering a free, six-week, interactive “Taking Action for Health” workshop series in the conference room of Downeast Community Hospital, 11 Hospital Drive, Machias. This series is open to anyone living with a chronic health condition – caregivers welcome . Classes will meet weekly on Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm beginning October 26, 2017 and continuing through December 7, 2017 (no class on November 23). See flyer and visit the Self-Management Resource Center website to learn more about “Taking Action for Health.”
Your announcement could go here: email the details to Christine by 5 pm Monday for inclusion in Wednesday’s Weekly Communiqué.
Updates
This is where we post updates on programs, initiatives and pending legislation.
Events
Now listed chronologically, so make sure to scroll down for items just added!
United Way Community Forum: Our community forums are aimed at encouraging community members to engage in conversations about the key issues impacting our community, and the solutions needed to make Eastern Maine a stronger, thriving community. Join the forum for Washington County on October 17th in Calais at the Calais Motor Inn, 663 Main Street from 4 — 7 pm. Sign up using this form.
Hope Fund Conversation: The CCC invites partner providers who submit Hope Fund applications on 
behalf of clients to an informal celebration marking the launch of the Fund’s 6th year of operation. Join us on October 18th for some dessert and conversation in the large conference room at SCEC. We will discuss changes to the application form; answer questions on eligibility and interpreting the guidelines; share suggestions for how the Fund is linked to pre-established goals within your program; and ask for feedback on evaluating the impact of the Fund. Please RSVP to Christine before October 13th. Download a flyer to circulate to colleagues at your organization.
Sharing Local Resources Brown Bag: Join the CCC Work Group & Poverty Busters on November 1st for an extended brown bag lunch on local resources. Share updated info on services your organization offers and find out what other services are now available. We’ll be meeting at the Kay Parker Building in Machias from 12:30 to 3:30. Dig deep – we have 3 hours! Please RSVP to Christine if you plan to attend and share this flyer with your colleagues.
Senior Health & Safety Expo: Saturday, October 21st from 9 am to 12 Noon at the Maine Veterans Home 
in Machias. Bring your medications and receive a free consultation with a pharmacist to look at dosage and drug interactions; browse displays of resources on health & safety with a cup of coffee or plate of fresh fruit; sample Eastern Area Agency on Aging’s 3D meals; door prize, plus a chance to share your tips to thriving in place. Download and share this flyer with your senior friends, colleagues and clients.
MRBN 2017 Conference: Building Thriving Communities: Capitalizing on Evolving Science and Circumstance – the Maine Resilience Building Network and The Bingham Program present the 2nd Biennial Conference on November 2nd and 3rd at Point Lookout Resort, Northport, Maine. See flyer for details. Register here.
TCM & BHH Provider Training: Child Behavioral Health Services invites targeted case managers and behavioral health homes providers to a free system overview of the state’s behavioral health services on December 4th, from 9-4 at the Houlton DHHS Office. See flyer for details.
Needs & Offers
Donations & Volunteers Needed for Welcome Center: Mano en Mano is organizing a Welcome and 
Resource Center the week of October 22nd and on Friday November 3rd for seasonal and migrant workers. We are looking for donations (see list) of warm winter clothing and food as well as volunteers to help staff the welcome center. We will have a volunteer meeting on October 12th from 4 — 6 pm at the office, 2 Maple Street, Milbridge, to sign up for shifts and to sort donations. Please contact Eli Redfern at (207) 598-8925 or eredfern@manomaine.org if you have any questions.
Stoves Needed for Pleasant Point Families: Our social service department is seeking a full size gas stove and an efficiency (24”) size gas stove. Two of our families are currently without stoves! Please contact Jen Doughty, Young Child Wellness Coordinator for Passamaquoddy Project LAUNCH, at 853- 2600 ext. 259 or gdoughty@wabanaki.com.
Coats for Seniors: The Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging (M4A) wants to partner with you to collect clean, gently used winter coats for seniors. For each coat donated, Goodwill will provide a voucher to Maine’s area agencies on aging to give to older adults in need. This way, seniors can choose their own coat. And, donated coats have an extra warming benefit! LL Bean will donate $5 per coat (up to $5000) to M4A’s low-income fuel assistance program that helps older adults access needed fuel after all other sources have been exhausted. If you would like to start up a collection, see this flyer for details and this template flyer to help your outreach.
Legislation Survey: Maine Equal Justice Partners invites you to fill out a policy survey to help them assess how effective the legislative changes that did pass will be when it comes to reducing child poverty in Maine and to help them focus their energy in the years ahead on changes that will make the biggest difference in families’ lives.
Downeast Feast: Share in this free, community, potluck, moveable feast held on the fourth Thursday of each month beginning at 5 pm. See flyer for details and schedule.
Volunteer Drivers Needed: WHCA is looking for volunteer drivers. Benefits include flexible hours, reimbursement at 44 cents a mile, AAA Plus at no coast to you. Volunteers must be at least 25 years old, have a valid, clean Maine driver’s license for 3 years, have a reliable, clean vehicle, and live in Hancock or Washington County. Call or email Joceyln Storey, WHCA’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 207-610-5940 or jstorey@whcacap.org, M-F, 8-5 pm.
Commodity Box giveaways: Eastern Area Agency on Aging (EAAA) receives 40 pound boxes of food to 
give away as part of the Maine Commodity Supplemental Food Program through channels and sites, such as food pantries. There are a lot of boxes unclaimed at some of these sites, and EAAA is asking your help. The program has some eligibility requirements (see application), and is offering $100 grocery gift cards in a contest for help identifying box recipients. Please circulate this flyer to colleagues and staff to spread the word.
Need for Diapers: Family Futures Downeast is delighted to welcome 28 new families to our program this 
fall. Families are enrolled in classes at both the University of Maine at Machias and Washington County Community College. We have many new students with children under 2 years old, and are looking for donations of diapers: newborn size for the Family Center at UMM and sizes 2-4 at WCCC. Donations can be dropped off with Marsha Sloan at the Sunrise County Economic Council office at 7 Ames Way in Machias, or with Jessie McPhail at the Family Futures Downeast office at WCCC. For more information, call Marsha Sloan at 255-0983.
Send us your agency/community needs or offers, such as job recruiting or housing needs.
Favorite Resources
This is a new section of the Communique where we post links to helpful websites and videos.
Send us your favorite links to share with other Communique readers.
Meetings
Work Group & Poverty Busters: Next month we have an exciting change to our monthly meeting – join us for an extended brown bag lunch focusing on local resources. Read this flyer for details and please share with your colleagues. We’ll be meeting from 12:30 to 3:30 pm on November 1st at a different location than usual – the Kay Parker Building in Machias. RSVP if you can join us.
St Croix Community Connections: This is Poverty Buster’s sister group in Calais, organized by Christine Morris. This group meets monthly – new members welcome!
Photo courtesy of Susan Bennett