 Summer is officially here and I have to say, it’s great fun watching the toddlers from The Children’s Place playing joyfully outside my office windows.
Next to the play area, we have a number of raised garden beds with sprouting seedlings thanks to the efforts of high school students from the Waterville Alternative School and the Teen Parent School Program, with help from The Children’s Place children.
Much like the seedlings need early tending and care, there is a mountain of research about the critical benefit of comprehensive and stimulating early care for young children. Early nurturing will have a lifetime of benefits. The early and comprehensive nature of our services challenges and supports young people to go far in their lives.
We have great successes to share about the teen parents graduating this month, along with strong community supporters, like the Friends Group and Low XII Widows Sons Motorcycle Club. We welcome and are deeply grateful for all the helpers.
Look for news next month about the new and enriching ways we are extending the supports of the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program.
Richard Dorian, Executive Director
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2017 Teen Parent School Grads
Congratulations to our 2017 Teen Parent School Program graduates!
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Elexis Wilson and daughter Madelynn
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| Allison Grady and son Kadin |
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Tyler Bragdon and daughter Rosalie |
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| Shanna Varner, Tyler Bragdon, Allison Grady |
There are currently openings in the Teen Parent School Program for the fall. Please contact Becky Judd, program director at rjudd@mainechildrenshome.org to arrange a tour and to learn more about the comprehensive supports available for pregnant and parenting teens to help finish their high school education. A wonderful new benefit this year is a transportation fund to assist teens to get back and forth to campus each day.
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Successful Events
Friends Group Annual Yard Sale
The Annual Yard Sale hosted by the Friends of The Maine Children’s Home was held on Saturday, June 3, with great success. Shoppers found many treasures waiting for them in the early morning hours under a somewhat threatening sky. In spite of a few raindrops, bargains were found on children’s clothing, furnishings, toys, books and household items. A total of $2,400 dollars was raised, which will support several children in attending summer camp this year. Many thanks for the hard work and dedication of the Friends members and New Balance volunteers.
Low XII Chapter of the Widows Sons Motorcycle Club Ride-In
On Saturday, June 10, the Low XII Chapter of the Widows Sons Motorcycle Club hosted a ride-in to benefit The Maine Children’s Home.
The riders brought more than $2,000 in new Christmas Program donations, and participated in a BBQ celebration that will benefit the the Friends. The Low XII riders raised $820, which will be matched by a Bank of America grant. The result was $1,640 more for camp scholarships!
The ride was so successful, the club would like to make the ride-in an annual event, and plans to come back to campus to help with a variety of projects. Thank you to the motorcycle club, and those who attended the BBQ!
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Healthy Northern Kennebec Mini-Grant
Besides tending the existing eight raised-bed gardens, goals of the gardening project include:
- Continuing the mentorship between the teens and the preschoolers
- Extending the growing season with the purchase and installation of an outdoor greenhouse
- Increasing food security for at-risk youth
- Conservation of natural resources, sustainable practice, composting and recycling
- Providing educational opportunities for the teens and preschoolers to learn about gardening, health & nutrition, and preserving foods
Children are more likely to try vegetables they have grown themselves, therefore gardening can effectively transform attitudes about food choices. And, when these gardeners take their new food preferences home, they can improve their family’s food choices, leading to healthier lifestyle habits.
For more information about gardening with kids, check out this article from NAEYC for families.
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Mandi Howard, program director of The Children’s Place, and Becky Judd, program director of the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program, were on hand to receive the mini-grant award from
Healthy Northern Kennebec.
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A Party with a Purpose
Cristen Sawyer, development associate, held a Party with a Purpose in celebration of her birthday by collecting gas cards to benefit the transportation needs of the students at the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program.
Cristen hoped to collect 52 gas cards to help ease the challenges and transportation barriers students of the program are faced with. She began collecting ahead of time and met her goal on the day of the party!
There were door prizes, a delicious and beautiful cake, and punch and champagne, while guests also enjoyed the wonderful weather. Thank you to all those who donated.
For more information and ideas about how you can also hold a Party with a Purpose, contact The Maine Children’s Home at 207-872-4253.
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