From Herald Gazette (VillageSoup) – Rockland, ME
In 1994 Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a national day of service, or a day on, not off. The Maine Commission for Community Service shares with the Corporation for National and Community Service responsibility for ensuring that King is remembered through volunteer service that advances tolerance, social justice, and opportunities for all citizens to thrive.
Recently the Maine Commission for Community Service challenged communities across Maine to develop volunteer service projects that unite community sectors in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The Maine Commission for Community Service is happy to announce that eight organizations have been awarded $500 grants to implement Martin Luther King Day of Service Projects.
Awards given out in the Midcoast are:
Island Institute will be holding events on the islands of Vinalhaven, St. George, Deer Isle, and Chebeague on Monday, Jan. 16 between 9 a.m. and noon, which will address the impact of home energy use and the high cost of Maine island living. AmeriCorps members living within year-round island communities (placed through the Island Fellows Program at the Island Institute) will lead community volunteers as they build interior storm windows and install them in a local public building. The windows will help reduce energy consumption by increasing energy efficiency in the chosen building. Through the project, both members and volunteers will also learn the skills they need to teach other community members to install the windows in their own homes. For more information or to get involved, contact Alexandria Brasili at abrasili@islandinstitute.org or 372-8677.
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England will be hosting events across Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Penobscot, Knox, Kennebec, Oxford, York, Washington, Waldo, Aroostook, Piscataquis, Hancock, Somerset, and Franklin counties Jan. 14-16. The purpose of the events will be to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic in Maine as well as across the country. Each site will feature a local chef who will teach ways to eat healthy, affordably, as well as a fitness expert who offers fitness classes free of charge as well as fitness advice. For more information or to volunteer, contact Joely Ross at joely.ross@goodwillnne.org or 370-3936.
The Game Loft, located in Belfast, is partnering with the Belfast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, three local lawyers, Thornton Academy, the Belfast Peace and Justice Committee, RSU 20, and the cable access channel to put on a mock trial with local youth at the Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church on Jan. 16 from noon to 5 p.m.
Others who were awarded grants were: Bodwell Center for Service & Volunteerism will host a diversity day in the Old Town/Orono area, Catholic Charities Maine is hosting a charity fashion show in Portland, Portland Housing Association will be working with youth to reflect upon King’s speech and how the speech still has meaning today, Southern Maine Community College will partner with the University of Southern Maine, Portland High School and the Boys and Girls Club to train high school students in bystander intervention and nonviolent conflict resolution.
