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| Hello Friends,
Thank you for taking the time to stay connected with us - we look forward to sharing snapshots of this work with you every month! This last stretch was no exception to our very fast pace; a business that’s built of high needs, challenging systems, AND incredibly hopeful progress.
For those of you who have been following along with our legislative work, I am happy to share that LD 698; An Act to Sustain Emergency Homeless Shelters in Maine went ‘under the hammer’ in both chambers this week, which means the bill will soon go to the appropriations table. If you are feeling inclined to extend support, please call your local legislators and express the importance of this bill. Maine needs our shelter system intact so we can keep working diligently to realize the housing solutions that every family deserves.
As you will see in this newsletter, we have lots to celebrate, and exciting stories to tell, but I would be remiss if I did not also share that we are facing some incredible demand. Last winter, we reached out when families needed support with heat and you all showed up in incredible ways. Today, we are fielding an unprecedented number of calls for urgent need supplies, in fact, we are answering 8-10 calls DAILY. We are struggling to maintain enough inventory to support these lifesaving requests.
If you or someone you know has the capacity to give, your support will go directly toward meeting this crucial need, and it will offer comfort, dignity, and safety to someone in crisis. There’s a dropdown option on our donate page to designate your gift to this program. |
| | As our Midcoast roads start to see heavier traffic and sidewalks get busier, it is a reminder of just how special this community is. It is our goal to nurture the unique elements of the Midcoast, so whether you are a year-round neighbor, a visitor, or Maine is a part-time home, it takes all of us to make sure this space is cared for, to make sure our neighbors are cared for. It is clear this community connects us, so thank you for choosing to be part of this village.
Sincerely, |
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| Molly Feeney Executive Director, Homeworthy |
| | | | For the past two years, The Landing Place has been hosting “Listening Suppers” where youth are invited to speak their minds openly about certain topics with a small group of “listening specialist” adults in the room. Check out this article in the Pen Bay Pilot that shares more details. |
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| Housing for all is at the core of our mission, and we are grateful to be part of a community who frequently thinks outside the box, with creative and bold ideas on how to increase housing inventory when we need it most. In that vein we are happy to share a link with information about Rockland’s latest Housing Bond Proposal - an interesting approach to incentivizing housing development, we encourage you to reach out to your city officials if you have questions. |
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| | Homeworthy and Stepping Stone Housing have received a combined $460,000 from the MaineHealth Community Health Improvement Fund to strengthen affordable housing efforts in Lincoln County! The funding will help expand housing options and bridge service gaps for low-income individuals and families. This new partnership allows Stepping Stone to provide professional case management through Homeworthy’s wraparound services, while both organizations work together to support long-term stability and well-being for the community. |
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| 2nd Annual Carriage House Cookbook Fundraiser! |
| | The Uproot Pie Co are hosting the 2nd Annual Cookbook Fundraiser in support of Homeworthy! This year’s event is happening on Sunday, June 1st, from 10AM-2PM. You’ll browse donated cookbooks, discover new culinary inspiration, and connect with other food lovers. live music by Kate Fiano two exciting raffles drinks + sweet things
Admission is free and open to the public! If you’re planning on donating books, please make sure to take a peek at the donation details above. Last year we received a ton of books (thank you!), but many were in rough shape or not related to food. Please donate with care so we can make the most of your generosity. Books will be accepted for donation up until May 29! |
| | | | Last month, Rockport resident Diana Castle ran the Boston Marathon in support of Homeworthy and raised over $8,000! This kind of support is SO important, and we are incredibly grateful to be the recipients of Diana’s hard work. Congratulations on your amazing success, Diana, and thank you for choosing to support Homeworthy through this run.
Are you taking on a personal challenge or race in the next few months? Consider fundraising for Homeworthy - it really makes a difference for us! |
| | | Community Champion Spotlight: Dave Perry
This tax season, local tax preparer Dave Perry generously donated his time and expertise to support more than 30 Homeworthy clients with their tax returns - providing a vital service that helps individuals stay on track financially. But Dave’s impact doesn’t stop there. In his broader work with community members, Dave offers tax preparation services in exchange for donations to Homeworthy, turning his professional skills into tangible support for our mission. This year, over $20,000 has been donated through Dave’s services! |
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| Dave is a shining example of how one person’s talents can make a lasting difference. He encourages others with professional experience to consider a similar give-back model: if you can, offer your services in exchange for donations to Homeworthy (or another nonprofit!). Thank you, Dave, for inspiring us all! |
| | | | On May 1, The Landing Place celebrated the coming of spring with a May Day celebration! There was a smoothie bar, plenty of delicious food and sweets, games and activities, and of course, music and dancing! Thanks so much to the RSU13 Youth Alliance organizations that joined us for the day and of course a huge shoutout to our local youth who came out and made the day so fun and celebratory. |
| | Rockport Music Festival Sneak Peek |
| | We are one month out from the Rockport Music Festival, sponsored by Homeworthy! This event is taking place Sunday, June 22 from 12-7PM at the Rockport Common (corner of Route 1 and West St)!
We have an awesome lineup of local musicians, including Maurita Lord, Orville Lee, JonBoy Nemo, Ouvre, Adam Messier, Matt Pajaczkowski, Rockin’ Blue Geezers, Trisha Mason, Mateo Mendoza, PHOG, Polyjamorous, and Subatomic. Plus, we’ll have local vendors selling tie-dye clothing, jewelry, handmade cigar box guitars, glass-blown art, and more! |
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| Tickets are $10, and kids twelve and under get in free! We are also running a raffle - prizes include a week of Sailing Camp, gift cards to local eateries, and a hotel stay at 250 Main in Rockland! This event is not to be missed. All proceeds go toward helping midcoast folks find housing. |
| | | Campus Clean Up Day Success |
| | | This past week, Homeworthy welcomed a group of volunteers from MaineHousing (photo 1) who joined us for our campus-wide clean up day! It was an incredible day for our staff who were able to take some time away from their regular duties to do some yard work around the shelter as well as organize our furniture and clothing donations in our storage barn. We celebrated with an afternoon BBQ for staff and volunteers - a huge thank you to the team from MaineHousing who showed up ready to get hands dirty, and of course an enormous thank you to our team and long-time volunteers who jumped at the opportunity to come together for this work. |
| | We’re so thankful to you, our community. |
| 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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