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Dear Friends, As we near the close of another year, I find myself reflecting not just on what Homeworthy has accomplished, but on how we’ve accomplished it. The answer, time and time again, is you. This year, generosity showed up in many forms. It came through monetary gifts large and small, through an outpouring of in-kind donations, and through the steady presence of volunteers asking, “How can I help?”. It showed up in the extraordinary gift of two buildings – 618 West St and 77 Park St – that will allow our work to grow and support more individuals. It also showed up in the quiet, consistent acts of care that often happen behind the scenes. Together, these contributions have strengthened the village we are building. We also saw generosity take shape through advocacy. Our state partners and community allies stood with us to elevate the urgent need for reliable funding for shelters statewide, and last legislative session we were able to secure one-time funding. This work continues, and we are excited to return to the next legislative session to fight for more funding and consistent support. Because of this collective effort, Homeworthy is part of conversations that not just respond to crises, but help shape systems. One of this year’s most meaningful milestones was welcoming ten families home at Firefly Field. These families now have a place to put down roots and plan for the future. This moment was made possible through strong partnerships with housing developers who share our commitment to prioritizing affordability for Midcoast families, and through a community that believes stable housing should be within reach for everyone. We are deeply aware that the gifts we receive carry responsibility. We promise to always honor them by showing up every day and doing the gritty, boots-on-the-ground work that makes change happen. As we look ahead, I am filled with gratitude. We can’t wait to continue building a future where neighbors support neighbors and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Lastly, and importantly, we want to extend thanks to our brave neighbors who hold the courage to ask for help, who maintain hope in the face of uncertainty, and who humbly forge forward in often patient processes — we are continuously inspired by you and thankful for your trust. Thank you for being part of this community and for believing in what’s possible when we build the village together.
With gratitude, |
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| Molly Feeney Executive Director, Homeworthy |
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| | Adopt-A-Family: Neighbors Helping Neighbors |
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| | This year, our community came together in an extraordinary way through Adopt-A-Family. Because of your generosity, 140 Homeworthy families were supported, reaching 289 individuals, who were given wrapped gifts or gift cards to shop for their family. Through this program, community members provided 188 gift cards, helping Homeworthy clients and families meet real needs while also offering flexibility and choice during the holiday season. To everyone who participated by giving monetarily, shopping for gifts, or wrapping present: thank you! Your kindness turned compassion into action and helped make the season brighter for hundreds of our neighbors. |
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Thriftworthy was on the news! NewsCenter Maine journalist Drew Peters visited Homeworthy’s new thrift store, Thriftworthy, on the first donation drop-off day earlier this December. We’re grateful to see this community-powered project gaining momentum and recognition! |
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We’re grateful to West Bay Rotary for their generous support of Homeworthy and The Landing Place through their recent Community Grant awards. The Landing Place Director Joseph Hufnagel and Homeworthy Director of Development Chrys deLorimier attended the Rotary’s recent meeting to accept the grant. Their investment helps ensure that individuals and families across the Midcoast have access to shelter and supportive services when they need it most.
We’re honored to be included alongside so many local organizations doing important work. Thank you, West Bay Rotarians! |
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| Warm Hearts Gala: Coming Up January 16! |
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New date, new location, same warm hearts! We're excited to share that our Warm Hearts Gala is officially set for Friday, January 16 at Pascal Hall in Rockport (86 Pascal Ave). We're so grateful for the community support behind our decision to change the date, and it's been so exciting to see how quickly everyone rallied behind this event. We cannot wait to gather together and make this night something special! |
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What draws people to do this work, day after day? Earlier this year, we invited Homeworthy staff to share why they choose to be here. Their reflections are woven together in a short video that captures the values behind our mission. Watch below to hear directly from our team. |
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| Next Thriftworthy Donation Dates |
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| Mark your calendars: we’ve scheduled the next drop-off dates for Thriftworthy! Find the full list of items we’re accepting at this link. |
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| A Meaningful Way to Give: Gifts of Stock |
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Did you know that donating appreciated stock can be one of the most impactful and tax-smart ways to support Homeworthy? When you donate stock directly to charity instead of selling it first, you may eliminate capital gains taxes and take an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the shares you give. That means more of your gift goes directly to the causes you care about.
Note: Tax benefits vary by individual circumstance, please consult your financial advisor for personalized guidance. |
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| | The Landing Place Thanksgiving Gathering |
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| | Last month, The Landing Place held the 9th annual Tuesday before Thanksgiving Feast. This year, our wider community was carrying a great deal of grief. In the midst of all the heaviness, youth, staff, volunteers, and neighbors came together to share a meal, exchange conversation, and simply be present together. Community members arrived with food and supplies, and young people continued to find their way through our doors, even when getting there wasn’t easy. What emerged was a powerful reminder that connection itself can be a form of healing. At its heart, The Landing Place exists so young people know they are not alone. |
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| Welcome New Board Members |
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We welcomed three new board members these past couple months! All three of them have jumped right in to board activites and we’re so happy to have them aboard. Meet Dr. Kendra Emery, Evan Waters, and Jo Geddis! |
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Dr. Kendra Emery is a board-certified family medicine physician and health system leader with a deep commitment to community health and equity. She serves as the Chief Medical Officer with the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization and has championed Community Health Worker (CHW) programs, recognizing their vital role in connecting health care, housing, and community-based resources. In 2026, Dr. Emery will become Chief Medical Officer at Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC), where she looks forward to continuing mission-driven, community-centered care. She is honored to serve on the Homeworthy board and believes strongly that safe, stable housing is foundational to health. |
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| Evan Waters is an engineering leader with over 15 years of experience in the Software industry. He has solved problems ranging from access to electronic health data in rural Africa, to preventing fraud on payments at the global scale. A native of Hallowell, Maine, he and his family returned to the Midcoast in 2021. Since returning to the area, he has shifted his professional focus and is working on addressing systemic issues around housing availability. He recently completed a three-year term as a Board member for the Children's House Montessori School, holding a variety of Officer roles including Board Chair. He enjoys spending time with his family, rowing, woodworking, and being outdoors.
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Jo Geddis was born and raised in Midcoast Maine. After an almost 15 year career at Samsonite Corporation where she worked in Regional and Operations management, she shifted gears and moved back to Maine to start a career in banking. After briefly working for Bank of America, and Jo spent almost 10 years at Bangor Savings Bank where she was Branch Manager and Mortgage Lending Officer. In 2016, she left Bangor Savings Bank to work for an independent mortgage company as a licensed Loan Officer. Jo’s team typically helps around 140 families obtain housing throughout the state of Maine with a focus on first-time home buyers. |
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Rockland's Emergency Warming Center is up and running for the third winter in a row! The EWC is a no-barrier overnight space that opens its doors during winter's coldest nights to provide community members with warm meals, showers, and a quiet and comfortable place to sleep. The EWC's largest financial expense is compensation for the trained staff who tend this space. We're asking our community to step up. We invite those who are able to donate monetarily via check to the City of Rockland with EWC in the memo line. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to City Hall, 270 Pleasant St, Rockland, ME 04841. |
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| (The City of Rockland is a tax-exempt organization as an agency, branch, or instrumentality of the federal government, the State of Maine or political subdivision of the State of Maine, consistent with the exemption provided in 36 M.R.S. § 1760 or 36 M.R.S. § 2557.) |
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| | We’re so thankful to you, our community. |
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| As always, if you or someone you know and love needs assistance and is experiencing homelessness — please reach out to Homeworthy at 207-593-8151 or email us at info@homeworthy.org. |
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