As we celebrate 60 years of impact in communities across Southern Maine, we are excited to highlight the amazing voices of our clients, staff, volunteers and corporate partners with the ‘Voices of our Community’ project.
This initiative is our attempt to share the stories of meaningful connection, positive change, and hope for a brighter future created within our programs.
Voices of our Community
Susie & Mariah
Susie Guthro is TOA’s Community Resilience Builder, tasked with building connections within the greater Sebago Lakes Region to support youth and families with basic needs. Identifying Lake Region High School as a stakeholder and avenue for connecting resources to youth in need, Susie met with Mariah Krauss, an Alternative Education teacher. Mariah has 25 students in her program, many of whom struggle with a myriad of challenges and face several barriers to achieving health, safety, and stability. Food insecurity was identified as a significant issue for many of Mariah’s students. Together, Susie and Mariah have partnered to provide these students with the food, they personally choose, once a week through the Lakes Region Basic Needs Fund. Susie has created a trusted partnership with Mariah, the students, and the high school and has been able to expand the resources provided to this community.
Sonya & Fran
Sonya Thibeau, Director of Senior Volunteer Programs at TOA sits with Fran Seeley, the longest serving Foster Grandparent volunteer, to reflect on the Foster Grandparent Program and its impact. Fran shares how the volunteer opportunity gave her a purpose after her husband passed away when she was 60 – and provided the connection and community she needed. Both Sonya and Fran share how TOA has been a consistent advocate in the community through all of the agency’s changes and truly carries out its mission of connecting individuals and families with resources they need for health, safety, and stability.
Did you know? Over the past year, 59 Foster Grandparent volunteers in Cumberland and York counties served 45,000 hours- that’s the equivalent of 31 full time school-year employees.
Lucie & Mike
Lucie and Mike sit together to talk about Mike’s path to Gordon Green and what his experience is like there as a client. Lucie and Mike discuss his past and the tough circumstances that led him to Gordon Green. It’s clear that Lucie and Mike share a special bond – showcasing the trust and respect between staff and clients in the program. Lucie shares her larger take-a-ways working at Gordon Green in different capacities for 20+ years.
At Gordon Green, residents all have their own stories, but many share similar experiences. Some have been in hospitals and residential facilities their entire lives. Some have fallen through the cracks of the system and have experienced homelessness. But at Gordon Green, they share more than trauma and challenges. Residents take care of each other and check in to see how each other are doing. There are house meetings, craft days, and karaoke competitions. Each night residents eat dinner together, family style.