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September 2025 Newsletter |
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| Dear Friends,
As we march through the first month of school, many families in our community are settling into familiar routines, packing lunches, organizing backpacks, and getting involved in activities. For families experiencing homelessness, however, the changing seasons can look a lot different, oftentimes bringing stress and uncertainty. Right now, 111 children are part of Homeworthy’s services. That includes 19 little ones under five and 92 school-age children, from kindergarten through high school… and this does not account for the young people waiting to be pulled from our waitlist, which we estimate to be another 30-40 children. Behind each number is a child who deserves the same chance to learn and grow as their peers. Yet for too many, housing insecurity disrupts their education, strains their health, and sets them back developmentally. Research shows that the impacts of homelessness begin very early: infants who experience homelessness face harm to their health and development, and as children grow, housing instability is linked to language delays, social-emotional struggles, and poor classroom engagement. As a global community, we must do better. As a local, Midcoast community, we will continue to show up, think creatively, and combat these realities.
At Homeworthy, we believe every child should walk into school each morning well rested and ready to learn. That’s why our work, whether providing shelter, case management, or youth programming, focuses not only on meeting immediate needs, but also on building the stability children and families need to thrive. |
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| As the leaves start to change and the weather gets colder, I invite you to remember the children and families in our community who are still searching for a place to call home. With your support, we can ensure that their story this year is one of resilience, healing, and hope. |
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| Molly Feeney Executive Director, Homeworthy |
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| | Homeworthy & P.A.W.S. Team Up for Tacos! |
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| | | Homeworthy and PAWS recently teamed up to host Tacos & Tails, Homes & Hot Sauce at the Rockport Boat Club. It was a beautiful August evening on the harbor, complete with tacos, festive music, and colorful decor.
Guests heard from Casey Baugher of P.A.W.S., who shared about the shelter’s vital role in supporting pet owners struggling to afford veterinary care, and the powerful impact of even small monthly gifts through Finnegan’s Friends. Shannon Shimer, Homeworthy’s Assistant Director of Social Services, told the story of a client who, after overcoming significant challenges, now helps lead orientations for others beginning their recovery journey. Adding extra joy to the evening, Ace, the very lovable and adoptable pup, was on hand for pets and belly rubs.
The event highlighted the unique collaboration between P.A.W.S. and Homeworthy: when a Homeworthy client is experiencing homelessness, P.A.W.S. steps in to provide safe shelter for their animals while the family works toward stable housing. It was a night full of connection, celebration, and shared commitment to caring for all families, two- and four-legged alike! |
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| | | Mark Your Calendars: Toy Drive Concert in Support of Adopt-A-Family! |
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| | Join us Friday, October 10th, from 7–10 PM at Hot Hill Tavern in Thomaston for a night of live music, good food, and community fun! 🎶
Homeworthy case manager Ryan Moody is celebrating his birthday with his band Polyjamorous, along with some special guest performers. Instead of gifts, Ryan’s birthday wish is to collect toys for children in need and support our Adopt-A-Family program, which brings holiday joy to families in our community.
Not sure what to bring? Popular items and themes often include Legos, Minecraft, Spiderman, Pokémon, Stitch, Bluey, and Squishmallows, or you can search for trending toys by age group for inspiration.
Come enjoy delicious food, classic and southern rock jams, plenty of laughter, and yes, there might even be cake! 🎂 We hope to see you there. |
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| | Christmas is around the corner… Help support Adopt-A-Family this season! |
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| | The holidays should be a time of joy, but for many of the families we serve, financial stress can make the season difficult. Once again, Homeworthy is working to ensure that every client and their family can celebrate with hope and cheer through our Adopt-A-Family program. |
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| Here’s how you can help: Adopt a family: You (or your book group, church, or workplace) can “adopt” a family of any size and shop for them. Each person receives one thoughtfully chosen gift valued at about $50, guided by a list of their interests. Your generosity helps us stretch resources to provide gifts for more than 250 people this season. To learn more, email adoptafamily@homeworthy.org. Make a donation: Prefer to give without shopping? Visit homeworthy.org/donate-now and choose Adopt-A-Family under “program designation.”
Thank you for helping make the holidays brighter for families facing homelessness. |
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| | | | Backpacks for Back-to-School Success
A huge thank you to the West Bay Rotary Club of Camden, along with L.L. Bean, Walmart, and Reny’s, for their incredible donation of backpacks for the families we serve and the youth at The Landing Place.
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| This generous support made a huge difference during back-to-school season, helping kids start the year feeling prepared and confident. The photo here shows just a portion of the total donation — the backpacks were claimed so quickly that we couldn’t capture a photo of the full collection! We’re deeply grateful for this community partnership in setting students up for success. |
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| Thank You Dr. Wheeler!
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Mark Wheeler for his generous donation of nine bikes! Bicycles open new pathways to transportation for those we serve. |
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| They are also one of the most requested items at Homeworthy, whether it’s adult clients needing a reliable way to get to work, or youth at The Landing Place seeking independence and access to school, friends, and activities. In our region, where public transportation is limited, bicycles provide more than just a ride; they open doors. Thank you, Dr. Wheeler, for helping our community keep moving forward! |
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| | Stepping Stones & Homeworthy Partnership: First Three Months |
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| As mentioned in our July newsletter, Homeworthy was awarded a two-year grant through MaineHealth to serve Lincoln County residents in partnership with Stepping Stone Housing, Inc. (SSHI). This grant funded the creation of a new position, Lincoln County Youth & Family Care Coordinator, which is now filled by former Youth Residential Case Manager, Molly Keller. We spoke with Molly to learn more about the first three months of Homeworthy’s partnership with SSHI: |
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| Molly Keller, Lincoln County Youth & Family Care Coordinator |
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| “Since June, Homeworthy and SSHI have seen an exciting level of collaboration as the two organizations learn how to effectively leverage our respective strengths. I am pleased to report that we’ve already identified three meaningful areas where this partnership can truly shine: client care, supply needs, and community outreach. The creation of the Care Coordinator position has allowed Homeworthy to extend its client care model, including case management services, to the 17+ households in SSHI transitional housing. Secondly, the Stepping Stone Thrift Store has revealed itself to be a valuable resource with the potential to support Homeworthy’s Urgent Needs Coordinator and Case Managers in meeting supply needs for clients and community members. Finally, Stepping Stone’s existing relationships within Lincoln County have been crucial in laying the groundwork for an increased Homeworthy presence throughout the County. Joint outreach opportunities such as the Lincoln County YMCA Back to School Bash, which welcomed approximately 200 students from 15 local schools, continue to facilitate Homeworthy’s introduction to community members and providers who may have previously been unfamiliar with our organization. Looking ahead, I am excited to further develop these three areas of collaboration, particularly as the start of a new school year creates additional avenues for ongoing outreach, feedback solicitation, and data collection.” |
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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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