PLANTHROPY: PROMOTING HUMAN WELFARE THROUGH PLANT PROCEEDS

BY MCC TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CURE CANNABIS CO. & THE HEALING COMMUNITY MEDCO

The Store Next Door Project

Growing up isn’t easy, especially when life at home doesn’t provide for the basic needs of young humans. That is where the Store Next Door Project steps in and provides basic tangible goods, academic support, emotional support, and service referrals for students in all grade levels. The mission statement of the SND Project is to eliminate barriers surrounding education for youth experiencing homelessness, displacement, and high mobility within Lewiston. By addressing students’ basic needs, the goal of achieving academic success once again may be within reach. Students formerly homeless, at risk for homelessness, and pregnant/ parenting teens also receive support through this project. The SND Project is completely non-profit and does not receive any state or federal aid. SND is operated by Jamie Caouette and Katie Krantz, who both have huge hearts!

Amidst the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, John Morrison, one of the co-owners of Cure Cannabis Co., learned of the SND Project and decided Cure should be involved. John is an active community member, business owner, candidate for state representative of District 60 this year, and has always been big on giving back. Seeing how they could assist, coowners/father-son duo “Big” John Morrison and Johnny Morrison attended an informational meeting. Neither had an idea of the horrifying statistics and truths surrounding youth homelessness in the Lewiston area. Knowing how loyal and supportive a patient base Cure has, they knew that by educating their community they would be equally as eager to be a part of the solution.

Recently, Cure organized a raffle to benefit the SND Project, which included a Louis Vuitton bag filled with medical cannabis products for patients only. Members of both Cure and The Healing Community MEDCo. also joined forces in October and operated a voluntary toll to both raise awareness and money. The team at Cure believe that “life always comes full circle and at some point it’ll be your time to give back.” By supporting the SND Project, they can help change the lives of these students and assist them to create bright futures. The Store Next Door project relies 100% on our community to meet the basic needs of over 300 youth experiencing homelessness who are living in Lewiston each year.

If you would like to donate to this cause, please visit http://bit.ly/Store_Next_Door or visit their facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/SNDLHS/.

LA Metro Business The Healing Community MEDCo. heads up the Healing Community Food Challenge

The Healing Community MEDCo.

Courtesy of The Healing Community MEDCo.

When medical cannabis was considered an essential business early on in the state’s COVID response, many companies realized they were positioned to give back to their local communities. One such company was Lewiston-based the Healing Community MEDCo., now with two locations and delivery service. Their leadership team, which includes Operating Manager Alex McMahan, Operating Manager and Edibles Production Manager Joey Johnson, and Master Growers Joe Couture and Terri Wentworth, collectively decided their community could benefit from their assistance.

The MEDCo. team devised The Healing Community Food Challenge in under a week. McMahan reached out to the area’s top social service agencies in order to connect with the appropriate families. Aided by Joline Bedard, Executive Director of the United Way of Androscoggin County, McMahan then created partnerships with leaders at Safe Voices, the YMCA, and the YWCA. “They search their programs for families who are experiencing difficult times due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and when they find a candidate, they ask for permission to pass their contact info on to me,” said McMahan. After establishing a relationship with a family, McMahan says, “I explain the challenge and take down some information that we use to get them their gift card. I contact them again when we’re doing the drop-off, and after that, they go on the calendar for us to contact again in a week.”

Joining forces with Shanna Cox, President and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, they were able to raise the sponsorships needed to support the fundraiser. “The Chamber is the direct line to the community leaders,” explains McMahan. “The Chamber is also able to manage donor relations in a stellar fashion and use their name and voice to help get the word out so we can attract more sponsors.”

Casco Bay Food & Beverage, ABC Pools & Spa Center, City Side Motors, The Vault, State Representatives Kristen Cloutier and Bettyann Sheats, Androscoggin Home Health Care & Hospice, State Farm agent Lisa Laliberte, Darby Ray, Heidi Taylor, and two anonymous donors are the businesses and individuals that have sponsored families so far. In just one week, Androscoggin Home Health Care & Hospice supported five families.

On a normal day, MEDCo. makes dozens of deliveries to customers across the state. So of course, MEDCo. was able to assist with the delivery of food directly to the families in need.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” says McMahan. “People sometimes get teary-eyed when I first reach out to them. There’s such genuine appreciation. We often get thank you cards from the families.”

MEDCo. and their fundraising partners plan to continue the project as long as the need exists. “Our initial plan was to continue until the State of Civil Emergency is lifted,” McMahan says. “At this point, it’s tough to say. We’re going to play it by ear and see how it goes.” Along with conceiving the project, MEDCo. has donated more than $4,500 to the effort so far. McMahan expects the total funds raised will exceed $10,000.

If you or your business would like to make a donation to the Healing Community Food Challenge, you can do so by visiting the LA Metro Chamber’s website at http://bit.ly/MCC_Medco.

The Healing Community MEDCo.