NEWSNEWSAu g u s t 2011

Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson to Benefit Catholic Charities

Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson will appear at Spud Speedway on August 20th as part of an ongoing campaign to support Feed the County and Catholic Charities Home Supplies and Food Bank.

“It’s a crazy idea I’ve had and something I’d been thinking about since January,” John Swanberg, President of Aroostook Savings and Loan, said. “I presented it to our Board, and Catholic Charities gave us the go-ahead.”For the past eight years, Feed the County has been a food drive campaign lead by Aroostook Savings and Loan, WAGM-TV8, and Catholic Charities. Feed the County accepts non-perishable food items and assists with purchasing of food to help stock the 24 food pantries in Aroostook County served by Catholic Charities’ Food Bank in Caribou.

“I was just ecstatic. I couldn’t believe something of this magnitude could be put together to benefit our cause,” said Dixie Shaw, Director of Catholic Charities Home Supplies Store and Food Bank. “It’s by far the biggest fundraiser we’ve ever had.”

“This is going to save us and get us through...it couldn’t have happened at a better time. What used to cost us about $30,000 to Feed the County now costs us $90,000.00,” commented Shaw.

One hundred percent of the profits from ticket sales and 50 percent of food and drink sale profits will go to the Feed the County campaign to raise money and hunger awareness in northern Maine. Swanberg hopes to sell 7,500 tickets to raise $75,000 or more for Catholic Charities.

“We’re a fairly small community bank with 25 employees so this is quite a bit of money to book these guys and quite a risk for us, but it’s a great way to raise money for

Do you have a will?

Have you considered including a gift to Catholic Charities in your will?

Including Catholic Charities in your will ensures your continued support for people in need in Maine. Request that your attorney draft a statement in your will that conveys your desire to:

Give the entire residue of your estate•Give a fraction of your estate•Give a specific amount•Give a contingent amount•

There are many ways to include Catholic Charities in your estate plans. Please contact our Director of Development, Kristen Wells, at (207) 321-7806 for more information.

More information about Feed the County Summerfest is on our website at www.ccmaine.org

For sponsorship information contact Kristen Wells

at (207) 321-7806.

There are many ways to support the work of Catholic Charities in your community.

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPortland, MEPermit No. 16

P.O. Box 10660Portland, ME 04104-6060

www.ccmaine.org

This newsletter is a publication for the friends and supporters of Catholic Charities and its programs.News and other information is also available online at www.ccmaine.org

a wonderful cause that is really struggling, like a lot of people around here and all over the country.” WAGM-TV and Spud Speedway are also contributing a great deal to ensure the success of this effort. Spud Speedway owner Troy Hainey offered the use of his facility. “We had to find someone willing to put on the show, and that’s where Troy came in,” Swanberg said. “They had a show there last year, and all indications were it was done well.”

Join us August 20, 2011! Tickets are available online at www.spud-speedway.com, at Aroostook Savings and Loan branch locations in Caribou and Presque Isle, and at the Catholic Charities Thrift Stores in Caribou and Presque Isle. Tickets are $54.50 each in advance and $59.50 at the gate. Corporate group discounts are available as well.

World Refugee Da• y was celebrated June 20th in Portland and Lewiston with a viewing of Welcome to Shelbyville. This film shows how a small southern town deals with a sudden growth in ethnic diversity when the Latino population booms and Somali refugees arrive.

Catholic Charities commercials receive •a Bronze telly Award! The Telly Awards honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. The 31st Annual Telly Awards received over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.

After facing severe budget cuts in State •government, funding to st. Francis Recovery Center has been restored.

A Message from

steve Letourneau, CEO

One of the hallmarks of Catholic Charities is its dedicated, loyal and compassionate staff. This year marks the 40th anniversary for two of our long time employees. Sally Temm, Program Director,

Support and Recovery Services in Portland and Brenda Robb, Independent Support Services District Supervisor in Washington County began their tenure with us in 1971! On behalf of our entire team and the Board of Directors I want to pay tribute to both for their tireless service to those in need.

Sally has served in many different positions over the years. Most recently she’s been directing Catholic Charities’ largest program. As Director of Support and Recovery Services in Portland she is responsible for over 70 employees

all working towards helping hundreds of adults with severe mental health issues remain integrated within the community in which they live. Her steady leadership, compassionate heart and professional approach to her work have served the program and agency well for many years!

Remarkably, Brenda has served in the same program for all of her 40 years with Catholic Charities! As a supervisor of Independent Support Services, she has managed hundreds of workers and has been responsible for coordinating homemaking services to thousands of elderly people. These are the kind of services that enable the elderly to enjoy the dignity of remaining independent in their own homes as they live through their twighlight years.

Many thanks to Brenda and Sally. They are shining examples of our agency’s mission in action!

Portland

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesME or Twitter @ccmainetweets

Congratulations! Our Lady’s Kitchen Receives Matthew 25 Award and grant Catholic Charities recently awarded Our Lady’s Kitchen, a parish social ministry project of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dexter, with the Matthew 25 Award.

The Matthew 25 Award is given to a parish or cluster directly serving people in their community who are in need, regardless of their faith affiliation. This award also includes a grant of $5,000 for the parish or cluster to use to support and expand its social ministry to the community.

Our Lady’s Kitchen not only provides food, but also works to enhance the human dignity of every person who comes to Sunday dinner, regardless of their status in life. Teams of volunteers cook Sunday dinner and provide a welcoming family environment so each guest can feel at home. A greeter hugs each guest and welcomes them warmly. Guests gather for family-style dining that is set up with real dishes and silverware as if they were at a friend’s house for Sunday dinner. Volunteers work tirelessly to make

sure that the 80-100 people who come have enough food during the week, and volunteers also take the time to check in with families or individuals who may be struggling in their community.

Pictured are Steve Letourneau, CEO of Catholic Charities Maine; Jane Young, Parish Life Coordinator; Kathi Lombard,

Volunteer; and Father Kent Ouellette accepting the award before serving dinner.

Upc

omin

g Ev

ents

In th

e N

ews

Presque Isle

New Catholic Charities thrift stores in Presque Isle and Portland!Every year our programs are vulnerable to State and Federal budget cuts and fluctuating funding sources. We are charged with finding new ways to raise funds to help off-set the cost of serving people in our communities. Our Home Supplies Store and Food Bank in Caribou has provided us with a strong model for linking our program needs to a community-based revenue source.

Catholic Charities has opened a new Thrift Store in Presque Isle on Davis Street behind the Mobile station on Route 1. Revenue from our Home Supplies Store in Caribou directly supports our Food Bank that serves 24 food pantries in Aroostook County. This new store will help meet the rising need for food in that area and the ever-increasing cost of purchasing and distributing food.

Catholic Charities Thrift Store in Portland is our newest thrift store to open and will support emergency needs of our programs. Clothing, books, movies, furniture, and other home goods are available as well as merchandise from Olympia Sports. There will be an on-going need for donations and volunteers. The store is located on St. John Street in the Union Station Plaza in Portland.

summerfest Concert in Aroostook County •to support the Feed the County Project. August 20th at the Spud Speedway in Caribou.

Join us for the • 2nd Annual Walk for Recovery in Portland! Celebrate National Drug and Alcohol Recovery month by walking with september 10th. For more information visit us online at www.ccmaine.org/recovery

“Golf is a game in which you yell ‘fore,’ •shoot six, and write down five.” - Paul Harvey. You can help support our biggest event of the year by participating in the 9th Annual Catholic Charities golf Classic, september 19th at the Woodlands in Falmouth. For more information visit us online at www.ccmaine.org/golf.

Look for our upcoming• Annual Appeal to arrive in your mailboxes this Fall!