Love comes in all forms. This Valentines Day week, I celebrate each and every one of you and our collective love of our community, our children and families, our natural surroundings and the incredible accomplishments that we see everyday, when we work together to do the right thing for all human beings.
KCHC is in the business of love in the most pure sense of our work. We see evidence of love healing entire families and multiple generations—every single day. We believe that everyone deserves a safe, warm home, enough to eat so kids can focus in school, and hope for a positive future. We work towards this everyday with our collaborative partners like Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, Penobscot Bay YMCA, AIO Food & Energy, Maine State Housing Authority, Finding our Voices, The Genesis Fund, incredibly generous private donors like you, and our many agency partners.
During this week of love, I challenge us all to reach out to another human being and simply slow down for a moment and be kind. Offer support or listening, or help someone put a box of groceries into their car. I challenge us to stop and realize how fortunate most of us are and to reach out to someone who may need an extra bit of encouragement.
The brave and resilient youth at The Landing Place always astound me. Despite their own struggles, they find hope and strength in giving back to our community. You can find them delivering wood to older residents in Rockland, helping with community chores, or creating a special mobile unit together that now delivers critical supplies to over 80 families a week. As the staff at The Landing Place goes about their outreach deliveries to children and families in need, their kindness lifts hearts and spirits that are often heavy while providing the most basic supplies for nutrition, hygiene, and school engagement.
A dear friend who I deeply respect always reminds us……
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
This week, let’s all make someone feel loved and important. Let’s all be a little more respectful, helpful, and aware of those around us, maintaining empathy and grace even while driving in our Maine winter!!
All of us at KCHC send our love and deep gratitude out to each and every person in this community. Thank you all for the support you have shown us at KCHC as we turn 8!
Stephanie Primm
Executive Director, Knox County Homeless Coalition
Chair, Statewide Homeless Council
It's our Birthday!
This winter, Knox County Homeless Coalition is celebrating its 8th year serving the Midcoast.
As a birthday gift to our community, one generous donor is matching the first $500,000in donations received by KCHC in 2022.
The housing crisis in the Midcoast didn't happen overnight; for a decade now, home sales have been outstripping median income. Today, 75% of renter households in Rockland cannot afford the median rent. That's why KCHC is collaborating with partners to create affordable housing opportunities in the Midcoast. The Talbot Avenue project in Rockland is a public-private partnership with KCHC, Midcoast Habitat for Humanity, and Maine State Housing Authority to create an innovative model of affordable housing in rural Maine—a model that could be replicated in other rural communities across the country.
Using a small footprint design and sweat equity model, the Talbot Avenue neighborhood will provide community members with a pathway to long-term stability. Rental and home ownership options will be bundled with KCHC's compassionate services and support. The project aims to foster community and connection, as well as an appreciation for nature with green space and walking trails. Talbot Avenue will bring a total 18 new housing units to the area, providing as many as 35 people—single adults, families, children, and the elderly—with a place to call home.
Watch for the Talbot Avenue project in an upcoming special report by Joy Hollowell on WABI5 TV this March.
A huge thank you to Micki Colquhoun for her years of service on the KCHC Board. As a well-connected community member and a skilled realtor with a big heart, Micki brought light to the issues around housing insecurity in the Midcoast. She was instrumental in helping KCHC become the strong and compassionate organization it is today. Micki's grace and dedication were truly a gift. Thank you, Micki!
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Sarah Welch is a writer, teacher, and community organizer. She brings a wealth of experience as an educator, having taught high school English for nearly 20 years including at Casco Bay High School, an expeditionary learning community in Portland, ME. Sarah is currently mentoring five Oceanside High School students as part of the Olympia Snow Women's Leadership Institute. She lives in Camden with her husband and two stepchildren, and she enjoys reading, walking, yoga, cooking, skiing, and backgammon. Welcome, Sarah!
Tom Amory is an entrepreneur, sailor, and traveler with deep roots in the Midcoast. In the 1970s, Tom worked for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, where he met his wife. He went on to join the Great Eastern Mussel Farms start-up, where he oversaw construction of the harvesting boat, St. George. Later, Tom bought and ran the HVAC business TempControl for 20 years, while raising a family. He was deeply involved in the Friends of CSD that helped construct the Camden Hills Regional High School and has served on the boards of the Ragged Mountain Ski Club and the Lincolnville Boat Club. Welcome, Tom!
It Takes a Village:
SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Cast your vote! Community Matters to KCHC
This month, Knox County Homeless Coalition is on the ballot for the Bangor Savings Bank Community Matters More program. A grant from Bangor Savings would help KCHC continue to provide safe shelter, emergency supplies, compassionate support, and hope for the future. We invite you to take a moment and cast a vote in support of KCHC. Together, we can help our neighbors in need. Thank you!
Due to continued COVID concerns, we are happy to receive donations by appointment. Follow our Facebook page for Wish List Wednesday to find out what items are needed most. If you have one of the items listed, give us a call at 207-593-8151 to schedule a drop off time with Natascia. Or visit our donation page and select Wish List Wednesday from the dropdown menu to make a donation. Thank you!
Pictured here, the TLP Mobile delivers winter gear, clothing, toiletries, hygiene products, and snacks to students at a local school. The distinctive pop-up trailer doubles as a rolling art-cart, as well as a free shop with items donated through Wish List Wednesday. Follow our TLP Facebook page for info on where you can spot the TLP Mobile next.
We are hiring! Knox County Homeless Coalition seeks caring, dedicated, and flexible team members to join our mission-driven organization as we serve the most vulnerable members of our community. Benefits include employer-supported health insurance plans, optional dental and vision plans, life insurance, short term disability insurance, paid time off, and paid holidays, including your very own birthday as a paid day off (because you deserve it!). Click here for more info.
KCHC is in the business of love in the most pure sense of our work. We believe that by honoring our collective individualism, seeing people from the inside out, we foster an environment of diversity and inclusion at all levels: physical, emotional, psychological, and economic that together makes us stronger. We choose to look at the world through a lens of kindness, focusing on strengths, and opening our doors to all regardless of past, present or future. Thank you for joining us as we offer love and support when people need it most.
We wish you a happy, healthy February and beyond!
As always, if you or someone you know and love needs assistance and is experiencing homelessness—please reach out to KCHC at 207-593-8151 or email us atinfo@homehelphope.org.
