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News For This Month

Our Summer Outreach Partner: Maine Needs

Maine Needs is a local non-profit that provides donated clothing, hygiene products, household items, and basic necessities to individuals and families in Maine. Maine Needs began with a focus on asylum-seeking mothers, and then they expanded to all families and individuals in Maine. They work with people leaving domestic violence or incarceration, asylum seekers, veterans, refugees, unhoused individuals, and any family or individual in need of basic items. 

Maine Needs works with caseworkers, in-home visiting nurses, schools, street outreach teams, DV shelters, and professional care providers to provide these basic necessities to those who need it most This year we are focusing on Maine Needs for the summer! Below are a few ways you can participate!

 1. Sign up to volunteer with Saint Mary's at Maine Needs on June 18 Volunteers of all ages are welcome.  Sign up information is available at https://www.maineneeds.org/volunteer.

2. Start collecting supplies for the Cleaning and Toiletry Kit! The Maine Needs website offers different kits you can create and donate (https://www.maineneeds.org/kits). The greatest demand is for the Cleaning and Toiletry Kit (they've given out more than 24,000 since 2021!).

3. Buy new socks and underwear (and other basics). Bring them with you when you volunteer on June 18 or save them for Kickoff Sunday on September 8!

4. Join the Maine Needs group on Facebook. Case managers post specific needs for their clients there that they can't get at the donation center. Maine community members can then jump in to help meet those specific needs.

Making Sandwiches for Milestone on the first Sunday of each month at 9 am

If you are not part of a Formation discussion at 9:15, please come to the Guild Room to make sandwiches for the Milestone shelter. This is the only "wet" homeless shelter in Portland (first come, first serve and no one is turned away). They are full every night of the year and they send out their guests each morning with a sandwich for the day. Please come and help us make 60-80 sandwiches for these neighbors of ours in need.

 

United Recovery is a Maine-Based program that helps persons early in sobriety to find employment while supporting them through their early days in recovery.  Support includes: job and housing placement, transportation, and providing clothing, all while being sensitive to the particular needs of persons in early recovery…and they have asked for our support! 

Purchase Steel-toes work boots, Carpenter pants  or work gloves

 

St Elizabeth's Jubilee Center: serving on third Tuesday of each month, June 18

The collection for kitchen & cookware continues, but please do not bring any clothing at this point. Saint Mary's is committed to serving at this vital ministry to new Mainers and those in need on the morning of each third Tuesday from 8:30-11. FMI and to find out how to participate, contact Stan Eaton at stan.eaton@gmail.com 

Souper Supper at Saint Mary's

Enjoy this free sit-down dinner of hearty soup, salad, rolls, desserts and beverages.  Come out to eat, or come to volunteer by setting up or by serving on the 2nd & 4th Fridays! Buy our Coffee By Design coffee bags in the Parish House to support Souper Supper.   This month: APRIL 12 & 26

Falmouth Food Pantry
Accepting donations of canned tuna, chicken, soups, (no cream-based), boxes of pasta, cold cereal, granola bars or checks. Serving 200 families/month. FMI contact Vanessa Record record.vanessa@gmail.com

Red Cross Blood Drive at Saint Mary's:  Wednesday June 12,  9 - 2

Please consider sharing your blood. The need is constant. Lives depend on it! This Red Cross blood drive will be in our Auditorium from 9 to 2. To register, visit www.redcrossblood.org  and enter sponsor code stmary to find this blood drive.

Summer Soiree—Save the Date!!

Join us on Sunday, August 11th from 5-7 for our Summer Soiree. We'll enjoy delicious appetizers and bidding on silent auction items followed by a live auction. If you attended last year, you know that the food was fantastic and the bidding was VERY lively!! The proceeds from this event support provide general support for Saint Mary's. If you'd like to donate an item or experience, please contact co-chairs Robin Webber and Janet Bowne (webberonsebago@msn.com and jmitchellbowne@gmail.com). 

Sunday Formation Hour: Sundays at 9:15

  In the Auditorium – Coffee and Conversation

• June 2:  vocation Discernment:  How does each one of us discern God's call in out life?  Listen to Deacon Matthew talk about his call to be a deacon
• June 9:  Columba of Iona and the Celtic Christians
• Summer worship hours of 8 and 9:30 Auditorium formation on hiatus until fall programming begins

  In the Chapel -  Be Still: a weekly time to reflect on contemplative readings and to discuss them in the Chapel

Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)

Guiding RAY takes a summer break after the June 9 Ice Cream Social.  This program for youth will resume on September 8.  With any questions or information, please contact Meg Hurdman at GuidingRAY@smary.org

 

GR is for all young people ages 0 to 12. The doors open in the lower level of the Parish House at 9:15 each Sunday with projects and play, then classes begin at 10:00. GR is a cooperative effort that counts on the participation of many people. Please speak with Meg Hurdman and Melissa Roland about volunteering. There are opportunities for all. 

Register NOW for Summer 2024 at CAMP BISHOPSWOOD
 Located on the shores of Lake Megunticook in the Camden Hills, Bishopswood is one of the best kept secrets among Maine summer camps. Operated by the Diocese of Maine since the early 1960s, Bishopswood is affordable, safe, well-managed, beautiful – and great fun for all young people. There are mini-sessions for first-time campers, multi-week sessions, and a family weekend. But spots are filling up fast, so get online now if you are interested. Register your child or yourself now at www.bishopswood.org .

 

Maine Marathon Relay Team Runner Wanted: 

Runners of ALL ages and abilities are needed for Saint Mary's relay teams in the Maine Marathon. We run together to support this great community event, not in an effort to win any prize! Your pace does not matter, only your positive energy and enthusiasm. The four relay legs are 6, 8.8, 5.7 and 5.7 miles, respectively.  If you want to set a goal of running one or more legs, reach out to Nathan+ to get on a team list.

Beth Shaw

Parish Manager

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

43 Foreside Road, Falmouth, ME 04105

207-781-3366

admin@smary.org