Providing help and creating hope in Maine
Portland, Maine - Governor Janet T. Mills and Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, recently celebrated 165 volunteers who devoted exceptional service to communities across the state in 2021. The Volunteer Rolls of Honor give statewide recognition to adults and youths who go above and beyond by devoting 500 hours or more of volunteer service to Maine communities between January 1 and December 31, 2021.
Included in this year’s list of outstanding volunteers were six who generously served Catholic Charities Maine’s (CCM) programs with thousands of hours of service.
1. Barbara Hughes of Lewiston served 1,440 hours knitting with the Seek Elderly Alone., Renew Courage and Hope (SEARCH) program.
2. Betty Bates of Auburn served 1,107 hours also knitting with SEARCH.
3. Anne Skelton of Auburn served 635 hours providing companionship to older neighbors in the Androscoggin area through the SEARCH program.
4. Susan English of Wales served 527 hours knitting as a SEARCH volunteer.
5. June Gagnon of Westbrook served 526.5 hours with our Refugee & Immigration Services’ Donations Room and Car Seat Volunteer efforts.
6. Carol Hartt, of Presque Isle, served 520 hours at our Threads of Hope Mall Boutique Store.
“Our knitters not only knit for our SEARCH seniors, but they also support many other local, charitable programs,” said SEARCH Program Director Wendy Russell, who explained that the knitters make hats, mittens, slippers, scarves, afghans, lap robes, and blankets for the Salvation Army, Trinity Jubilee Center, Hope Haven Gospel Mission, and New Beginnings Transitional Living Center.
“We are incredibly grateful for these volunteers and for the time they have dedicated to several of our programs around the state,” said Kelly Day, Director of Volunteer Services at CCM. “Our work of providing help and creating hope for Maine’s most vulnerable depends on a robust volunteer network. We congratulate all of our faithful volunteers and thank them for their invaluable services to CCM, to their neighbors and to Maine communities where CCM provides services.”
Last year, 449 volunteers gave their time to CCM. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at CCM, visit https://www.ccmaine.org/volunteer and www.facebook.com/CatholicCharitiesME.
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