Please see below for the programs the outreach mission supports.

Habitat for Humanity

Tedford Shelter

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program

OAIS Health Network

Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Independence Association

Merrymeeting Aids Support Services

Brunswick Area Respite

Home to Home

Sexual Assault Support Services

Bath/Brunswick Hospice

Brunswick Area Interfaith Council

Connections

Our Church's Wider Mission

El Salvador Mission

Bread for the World

Carpenter's Boat Shop

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Seven Rivers Habitat for Humanity (formerly Habitat for Humanity- Bath Brunswick Area) is a locally-run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Local churches covenant to build partneships with community businesses and volunteers to support its mission.

Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build or renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.

The Bath-Brunwick area affiliate was formed in 1990 by First Parish members Judith Long and Mercie Normand. Since that time, Habitat has built 24 homes from Freeport to Lincoln County. It has grown to 5 staff who coordinate fund raising, volunteers, and the home building projects. For more information see http://www.habitat-bba.org/

The connections between First Parish and HFHBBA are numerous and have been consistent. The organization was initiated by First Parish members, and there have consistently been members of the church who serve on its Board. First Parish has supported Habitat financially, and has often sent volunteers to build homes in the area. First Parish is now considering sponsoring a home build on its own, which would require both raising funds and providing volunteers for the build.

Volunteer Opportunities:
ReStore Program: Intake Screeners, Field Intake Screeners, Dispatchers, Pricers, Cash Register Clerks, Sales Representatives, Stockers, Truck Drivers, Inventory Preparers, Administrative Assistants. Partner Family Advocates: Advocates support partner families by empowering its members through home ownership; responsibilities begin when an advocate is matched with a family and continues until one year after the family moves into its new home; advocates receive training prior to working with families. Public Relations Assistants: PR Assistants work with the Resource Development and Public Relations Manager to promote and document Habitat events through distribution of flyers; follow-up with media regarding public service announcements; attend and draft articles about events; and photograph and video events. Faith Relations Committee: Members of this committee increase awareness within the faith community about Habitat’s mission through visitations with clergy and outreach/social justice committees; public presentations; and distribution of materials and follow-up communications. Miscellaneous: Builders, Prayer support; and Public Advocacy. Items to sell at the ReStore: home furnishings, construction remnants (paint, wood, replaced cabinets, etc.). Call ahead to make sure your items are useful. See website for contact number.

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TEDFORD SHELTER

In 1987 the Brunswick Area Church Council, now the Brunswick Area Interfaith Council, was instrumental in developing the Tedford Shelter. The Council is comprised of representatives from Protestant, Catholic and Jewish congregations in the area.

The program is dedicated to ending homelessness in mid coast Maine. The first homeless shelter was located at 10 Pleasant Street, Brunswick. In 1994 the shelter moved to 49 Cumberland Street, Brunswick. Currently, Tedford House accommodates eighteen single men and women. It offers a place to sleep and two meals a day. A professional staff helps clients develop job skills, locate jobs and housing. Those clients in need of medical care are referred to the OASIS Medical Clinic.

In 2000 a family shelter was opened with six apartments at 34 Federal Street, Brunswick. This provides shelter for homeless families with children.

Tedford is developing nineteen units of rental support housing. Eleven units will be in Bath and eight in Brunswick.

First Parish Church, along with other community churches, provides evening meals for the shelter. Two members of first Parish serve on The Tedford Board, Peter Ladner and Rev. David Olson.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Assistance moving and setting up furnishings; installation of blinds; maintain lawns and gardens (weeding, mulching, etc.); pick up food at various restaurants around town and deliver to Tedford Shelter; furnishings, and kitchen supplies for people setting up in new apartments; miscellaneous silverware for the Tedford Shelter.

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MIDCOAST HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAM

The Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program was started 25 years ago by clergy involved with the Brunswick Area Interfaith Council. It was first a soup kitchen. The food pantry was added later. Having outgrown its space at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and also needing a new space due to St. Paul's expansion, the Hunger Prevention Program held a successful fund raising campaign several years ago and now has its own building on Union Street. The soup kitchen and food pantry continue, and other social services have been added.

The mission of the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program is to provide food assistance, nutritional education, and referrals to appropriate social services. Four members of First Parish Church are currently serving on the Program's board. Outgoing Christian Outreach Committee member, Elaine Kurtz, ably served as the board's president during the expansion period.

First Parish Church has a generous history of donating canned goods and other foods on a weekly basis to the Program. (Donations are put in the blue box by the vestry door or taken directly to Pilgrim House.) In recent years First Parish Church, with the impetus and enthusiasm of the Sue and Mark Wild family, through the Hunger Prevention Program, have provided many Thanksgiving baskets to those who otherwise would not have a special holiday meal, or worse yet, no meal at all.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers who can fill in for regular volunteers when they are away. The need is particularly high in the winter and summer; assistance in raising awareness regarding poverty and hunger; provide space for food storage; provide food for the ever increasing demand.

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OASIS HEALTH NETWORK

In 1992, Dr. Peter McGuire, now Director of OASIS Health Clinic, served on the Tedford-OASIS Board and started a one evening a week medical clinic. The clinic convened in a room at the Tedford House Administrative Office, located on Middle Street in Brunswick. Care was offered by one doctor and one nurse each evening.

Dr. Dean & Rev. Alice Davies arrived in Brunswick in 1992, and shortly thereafter Dr. Davies offered to help Dr. McGuire with the Clinic. Dr. Davies joined the clinic staff, chaired the Board, applied for grants and recruited additional doctors and other staff members. The clinic was no longer limited to Tedford residents. It was open to the community for people without medical coverage.

In 1994, Dr. John Kanwit, originally at the clinic with Dr. McGuire, persuaded Mid Coast Hospital to donate space for the growing clinic. After several years there, OASIS located at Parkview Hospital Professional Building. Today it is located at 66 Baribeau, a building owned by Mid Coast Hospital.

OASIS convenes every Tuesday evening, with dedicated volunteers in attendance to meet the needs of approximately fifteen clients. Several specialty clinics are held throughout the month and a pharmacy assistance program is in place. The OASIS Health Clinic has truly expanded, as it continues to provide health care to those in need.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers for actual clinics- ranges from greeters to specific disciplines such as pharmacist, social workers, etc.

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BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS

Big Brothers/Big Sisters was started in the 1980's by members of the Social Action Committee of First Parish Church. The involvement by parishioners has become more distant since the local organization joined the national.

Volunteer Opportunities:
People to serve as big brothers or sisters; Assistance in recruiting new participants in the program.

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INDEPENDENCE ASSOCIATION

Independence Association was originally named the Development Association. This association was founded in 1967 by six families in the greater Brunswick area. The goal was to provide support for children who were mentally challenged, so these children could participate in life's normal activities.

Parents saw no school or community based structure to serve young children with disabilities. The common practice was to keep these individuals at home or in state operated facilities, remote from their families and communities.

The organization evolved into a well organized service, and operates now as Independence Association, Inc. It serves twenty-six towns including Brunswick, Freeport, Richmond, Bath, Harpswell, Topsham, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham.

It provides support to children with mental retardation, but increasingly assists individuals with other disabilities as autism, cerebral palsy, mental illness and multiple disabilities, wherein an individual may have several identifiable challenges. The objective is to allow these individuals to achieve a life of their own, living as independent as possible within their community.

In 2005, the association served 237 people in the area. Jim Pierce has been the director since the 1980's. Other First Parish members that have served on the Board of Directors in varying capacities are George Gilmore, Carol and Gil Schneidewind, Debbie Schall and Polly Greason.

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MERRYMEETING AIDS SUPPORT SERVICES

Merrymeeting Aids has been in existence for the past fifteen years. It provides HIV/AIDS, STD and Hepatitis education, counseling, testing and referral.

The organization advocates for preventive education and social change. Its mission is to impact the underlying beliefs, attitudes and prejudices that allow HIV infection to spread in the community. Merrymeeting Aids has a strict confidentiality policy to protect the client.

A web site is available at www.merrymeetingaids.org.

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RESPITE CARE

Respite Care is an adult day service in the community, which provides supportive care to individuals and their families who face life changes due to aging. The program offers activities for the participant and a time away for the caregiver, who may be caring for a family member or friend twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Margaret Hutchins of First Parish Church was instrumental in beginning this service in 1989. Margaret arrived from California, after caring for her mother and seeing the need for a day respite. Finding no established program in this area, Margaret began networking and an adult day service was developed at the United Methodist Church in Brunswick. Margaret continues to volunteer at Respite Care.

The service is provided daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During the year, an Alzheimer Support Group is held along with other programs related to aging. Many families have reaped the benefits of this ever so important community program.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers (training provided); occasional assistance in publicizing events or need for volunteers.

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HOME to HOME

Home to Home is an organization designed for children of divorced parents. One parent will drop the child off to the other parent, and the parents will not see or communicate with one another. The parent with the child is met at one door, and the child is walked to another door and given to the other parent. This procedure is mandated by the courts. This program was started by the AAUW, and Barbara Norton, of First Parish was very instrumental in its beginnings. The program has had various homes, Brunswick Naval Air Station, Pilgrim House and now MidCoast Hospital, all providing a safe place for the child. There is one paid employee who recruits and trains volunteers approximately 10 to 15 hours per week. The program operates Wednesday and Friday nights and weekends. It is currently serving 15 families, and most children are under school age. Susan Wild of First Parish currently coordinates the program.

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SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT SERVICES OF MIDCOAST MAINE

The mission of Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Mine (SASSMM) is to provide support and advocacy to survivors of sexual assault; to provide community awareness and response; and to provide prevention education regarding sexual violence. Formed in 1983, it serves the counties of eastern Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and Lincoln. They now have 7 staff people who coordinate services and fundraising. See www.sassmm.org for more information.

SASSMM supports a hotline and trained volunteers who provide crisis support and advocacy to survivors of sexual assault. They also provide referrals to support professionals, as well as support groups for survivors. They have recently offered a full-time advocate at five area law enforcement agencies to provide on-going support and referrals for sexual assault survivors. In 2005, they served over 1000 people affected by sexual assault.

SASSMM offers training and education programs to businesses, organizations and schools to explain the many forms of sexual assault, and how to address this growing issue. These programs reached 4538 school students and staff, and 1893 non-school community members in 2005.

First Parish members have participated on the Board of this organization for many years. Dodie Jones served as president for a number of years and Rev. Larry Kalajainen is currently serving on the board.

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BATH/BRUNSWICK HOSPICE

Jill Miller, a member of First Parish who was dying of cancer sought help from then pastor, John Wild, to address the lack of support for those in situations like hers. First Parish members Frank and Debbie Lunblad and Tiny Drier, and Linda Kelly were the driving force behind starting Hospice in this area. Other members gave time and talents over the next 30 years.

Several First Parish parishioners are active in the organization itself, many parishioners volunteer with Hospice, and Hospice has given special training to our lay pastoral callers who are on call to use these skills.

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BRUNSWICK AREA INTERFAITH COUNCIL

The Brunswick Area Interfaith Council is an organization for lay and clergy of many of the faiths represented in the Brunswick area: Catholic, Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist. Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Jewish, Seventh Day Adventists, and Quakers. The Council was first organized in 1956. Over the years it has been more or less useful, depending on the needs of the time.

When it has been most valuable it has provided spiritual guidance to the community at a time of crisis, such as the destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City, and it has speared headed important developments such as Tedford Shelter; pastoral care at Regional Hospital, which changed into the various services now at Mid Coast Hospital; the soup kitchen and food bank. precursor of the MidCoast Hunger Prevention Program, Pejepscot Terrace Housing, and Adult Respite Care. At this time the position of president and at least 2 of its lay members are filled by First Parish Church parishioners

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CONNECTIONS

Connections is a mentoring program for Junior and Senior High students. Caring adults from the community volunteer to be mentors and attend a series of training sessions. The adult is then matched with a young person, who is in need of encouragement in coping with the challenges of life.

In the late 1990's, First Parish worked with other churches in the community to form a Board of Directors. Rev. William Imes was very instrumental in the development of this program, which was first held at Brunswick High and Junior High Schools. Later, the program reached to Mt. Ararat High and Middle High Schools. Funds initially came from the local Rotary Club for games, field trips and training programs.

In recent years, Big Brothers/Big Sisters developed a mentoring program, and now Connections volunteers serve in Brunswick High and Mt. Ararat Middle School. There are fourteen mentors at Brunswick and 25 at Mt. Ararat.

Jane Newhall, our church's Social Worker and Rev. David Olson, also of First Parish, are very involved in the success of this program. Both continue to give of their time. Rev. Olson currently mentors three students.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Mentors (who will receive training prior to starting as a mentor); assistance recruiting new mentors and students.

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OUR CHURCH'S WIDER MISSION

Our Church's Wider Mission is the program of the United Church of Christ through which we do the work beyond the local church: through the Maine State Conference, national ministries, and UCC-related institutions. We give financial support to Our Church's Wider Mission that makes this broader mission possible.

What First Parish Church determines to give to Our Church's Wider Mission, directly impacts the levels of funding for the Maine State Conference and for UCC national ministries. As a national organization with distribution avenues already in place, Our Church's Wider Mission is an efficient way to help those in need.

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EL SALVADOR

In 1987, a work group from the UCC Norwell, MASS went to El Salvador for the first time. In 1990, Valerie Ricker, then living in MASS, went with the Norwell group. In 1999, Valerie, now in Brunswick, was joined by Susan Chadima, and together they went with the Norwell group. In 2000, a work group left from First Parish Church, thus the beginning of an annual outreach trip to El Salvador.

ASAPROSAR (Asociacion Salvadorena Pro Salud Rural/Salvadoran Association for Rural Health) was founded in 1985 by Dr.Vicky Guzman, a native of El Salvador. Dr.Vicky was very concerned about people in need of health care and preventive medicine, as she worked in remote mountainous areas of El Salvador. ASAPROSAR was not an easy accomplishment for Dr. Vicky, amidst the strife of ongoing civil war in her country.

The mission remains to help villagers improve their health and well-being. The guiding principle of ASAPROSAR is the empowerment of the people to be involved in solving the problems within their communities. Depending on funding, the number served yearly by ASAPROSAR ranges from 30,000 to 90,000. ASAPROSAR relies primarily on government funding. The amount of funding depends on the amount of foreign aid received by El Salvador, and how the current political party in El Salvador establishes spending priorities.

ASAPROSAR's future goals are to maintain and expand funding to the services they provide. These services are Rural Health Care and Education, Rural Pre-school Program, Barefoot Angels' Urban Youth Program, Eye Care at the Vicky Guzman Clinic and Sustainable Agriculture.

For additional information about ASAPROSAR web site: asaprosar.org. The website has links to other organizations that provide support to ASAPROSAR.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers to assist with construction projects in Santa Ana, El Salvador; assistance raising money for construction projects; assistance raising money to subsidize costs for the people participating in the work camp. Needed Donated Materials (school supplies, used clothing and shoes in good condition, used eye glasses, toys and sample toiletries-hotel size)

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BREAD FOR THE WORLD

Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian movement that seeks justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers.

In October 1972, a small group of Catholics and Protestants met to reflect on how persons of faith could be mobilized to influence U.S. policies that address the causes of hunger. Under the leadership of the Reverend Arthur Simon, the group began to test the idea in the spring of 1974. By year's end, more than 500 people had joined the ranks of Bread for the World as citizen advocates for hungry people. This small group has grown to a nationwide movement of more than 56,000 members.

First Parish Church became a member of Bread for the World in 2005. Members of the congregation participated in the letter writing campaign in the fall of 2005, helping to stop Congress from pushing hundreds of thousands of hardworking people and their children off the Food Stamp Program.

Representatives of the Christian Outreach Committee meet with other member churches in the Bath/Brunswick area to learn more how to affect relief from world hunger. They also organize a yearly "gift" of letter writing effort in concert with the national Bread for the World organization.

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THE CARPENTER'S BOAT SHOP

The program was established by Bobbie and Ruth Ives in 1979. Bobbie sang in the First Parish Church Choir, while attending Bowdoin College. He completed graduate studies in theology, was ordained a UCC minister and served Monhegan Island, New Haven and Round Pond congregations before starting The Boat Shop.

Bobby created his own ministry while working with young people who lived in the Ives' home. They built fine wooden boats while building there own lives into ones of peace and love.

There are currently 10 apprentices in the nine month program. There is no charge for the apprenticeship and no pay for the work done. The aim is to live in creative simplicity.

Apprentices are people in transition. Some go onto seminary, while others continue with boatbuilding or branch off into building furniture, music instruments, or houses. All are expected to be involved with community service while at The Boat Shop.

The Boat Shop is supported by the sale of the boats built by the apprentices and by generous gifts of many people. Today the apprentice community may consist of ministers on sabbatical, students on break from academic studies, business people looking for balance in their lives and retirees looking for new skills.

From Judy Bauman- I had a delightful phone conversation with Ruth, and she forwarded some requested materials to me. Included was a note saying, "We always appreciate and enjoy a visit from First Parish parishioners, so we shall keep the tea water going in case you can join us at 10AM one day!" Millie Jones, Bill Imes and other folks from our church visited The Boat Shop 6-7 years ago.

Volunteer Opportunities:
Donated items needed (heavy duty, commercial grade, or contractor grade): porta cable sawzall, food processor, “one-way” brand lathe, Baldor bench grinder, DMT coarse diamond stone, 6” adjustable combo squares, brush hog-field mowing unite [5’], Toro lawn and garden tractor, corded 1/2” drills, jig saw, lathe turning tools, Tormek sharpening system, 3’ metal rulers, quick grip clamps. For Sale: Beautifully made wooden boats – catspaw dinghy, Maine Coast peapod, Monehegan skiffs,; and Ladder back and Adirondack chairs. Log carriers and shaker boxes can be ordered.

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