Maine Children’s Home Newsletter

 
APRIL – May 2018
 
We are very pleased to share news of our programs and exciting events this month. As always, we can’t carry out our mission without the incredible community support from many caring volunteers, businesses, friends and of course, our committed staff and Board of Directors.
 
We were thrilled to honor Jean Sawyer, Board Secretary/Friends Member/hostess with the mostest, who is an incredible advocate and supporter of our mission, who helps make life better for children and families every month. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events as we share our good works and develop new resources to help carry out our work. Very good things are happening here because of you.
 
In sincere gratitude,
 
Richard Dorian, Executive Director
 
Agency Report Card
 
Adoption Program:
Hague Accreditation Renewal
We are honored and pleased to share that Thursday, March 29, 2018, The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers’ George J. & Mary S. Mitchell Adoption Unit received renewal of their Hague Accreditation by The Council on Accreditation. We remain the only Maine-based Hague Accredited agency statewide. The Hague Convention is an international treaty created to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children and to prevent abduction, exploitation, sale or trafficking of children.
We thank all of our supporters for helping us build and strengthen adoptive families in Maine and we look forward to our continued work statewide!
 
 
On Thursday, May 3rd, The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers will be hosting a beer and wine tasting at T&B’s Celebration Center in Waterville. Enjoy wine and craft beer from local Maine vendors, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music from The Sunday Project and a silent and live auction from 5:30 to 8:30 pm with Maine humorist, Gary Crocker.
 
Tickets are $35 per person and are available online or by calling Kelly Couture at (207) 872-0261. Must be 21+ to attend. 
 
Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program
The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers has been selected to be a part of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, which is specially designed to support local nonprofits like us.
 
For every reusable Community Bag purchased at the Hannaford located at Elm Plaza in Waterville during the month of May, $1 is donated to our cause in order to help us fulfill our mission.
 
We continually appreciate all the support you give, which has allowed us to maintain the work we do in our community. The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program is a simple and fun way to continue this support!
 
The Children’s Place News:
Week of the Young Child
The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) celebrating early learning, young children, their families and their teachers. According to NAEYC, the Week of the Young Child™ is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each child experiences the type of early environment – at home, at early care and education programs, and in the community – that will promote their early learning.
The Vision Statement of NAEYC that, all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential, aligns perfectly with the mission of the Maine Children’s Home to build and strengthen families and their children, instilling hope for the future and a better quality of life.
The Children’s Place Early Care and Education Center celebrated the Week of the Young Child™ with several community visitors sharing enrichment opportunities with our children. The kiddos enjoyed and actively participated in: African Drumming, Baby Doll Circle Time, building window boxes, and gardening. One dad serenaded each classroom with his mandolin, another visited in his Police Officer uniform. Several other visitors joined our younger classrooms to cuddle and play. The week-long celebration culminated with a Family Breakfast and a puppet show.
 
Enjoy these “highlights” of our celebration…
 
 
 
 
 
Jean Sawyer Award Recognition
The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers was thrilled to honor long-time volunteer, Jean Sawyer recently at REM’s Community Volunteers Recognition Event on Saturday, April 21st at the Waterville Opera House.
 
Jean first started volunteering for The Maine Children’s Home in 2001 when a friend invited her to join The Friends of The Maine Children’s Home. Jean jumped right in helping with the Christmas Program, which serves Maine Children in need with vital warm clothes, hats, scarves, mittens, pajamas, books and toys. Jean has done a great deal of shopping for the Christmas Program over the years and always finds the best ‘After Christmas’ sales to help restock for the next year. Jean was President of Friends of The Maine Children’s Home for 2 years and started the annual Yard Sale fundraiser to help send children in need to Summer Camps. Jean has also helped with the Annual Lobster Roll Lunch fundraiser both selling lunches and putting the delicious rolls together. Jean has also shared her wonderful culinary skills at many gatherings, receptions and meals for the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program, for events and for the Maine Children’s Home Staff and Board.
Jean recently completed her first three-year term on the Board of Directors of The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers, having served the past two years as Secretary. Jean is a tireless advocate for the programs of The Maine Children’s Home. Jean states that she is so devoted because “each program at MCH has a special place in my heart, as they serve families from birth to adults.”
 
Upcoming Events
 
 
Big E Live Benefit Concert
May 12th 7 pm
 
On May 12th, Big E Entertainment Live Presents: Big E & The Hopefuls Unplugged for a concert to benefit the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program! Tickets are $10 and available by calling 872-0261.
 
 
Yard Sale
June 9th 8 am
 
Join us on June 9th for a yard sale to benefit our Summer Camp Scholarship Program! Organized by The Friends of The Maine Children’s Home, this Yard Sale will have children’s clothing, toys, household items, furnishings and more. 
 
Volunteer Opportunities
 
 
We are in need of volunteers this spring from Monday – Thursday 8 am to 4 pm! We are working on organizing our yard sale inventory, processing in kind donations, carrying boxes, taking care of toys in our toy room, yard work, getting ready for our Annual Yard Sale and MORE! Contact us at (207) 872-0261 or stop in to our Development building to volunteer!
 
*We are in need of donations of Huggies diapers in size 1, 4, 5, & 6.
 
You can send them to or drop them off at our Development Office at 93 Silver St., Waterville, ME.


 
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