Season of Giving

SEASON OF GIVING Waldo County Tech Team unites to support students " " “If they’re in survival mode, we

need to meet their needs.”

The Maine Education Association is giving back during our Season of Giving! MEA offices around the state will all participate in our new MEA Season of Giving where each office will do something to help others in the community. AND—we know you’re all doing the same. Maine Educator is sharing some of those stories here and encourages you to share your stories on our social media pages. Use #MEAGiving in your post! Check out our Facebook page for more details. A n increasing number of children are in need across the state and an increasing number of educators find themselves in the position of doing more than teaching.

At Waldo County Tech Center, carpentry students are helping build a new space to house the It’s Cool to Be Warm clothing “store” where everything is free for students. From hooded sweatshirts to hats, to underwear and everything in between, the “store” has what students don’t have, and need. The Food for Friends food pantry is in a large closet in a separate part of the school. Inside, students can freely walk and get snacks, breakfast and even food to take home for dinner or holidays when they don’t receive a hot meal at school. There are no questions asked. The pantries are necessary additions to the school that accepts students from three districts in Waldo County.

“We are now more aware than ever as to just how many of our students are homeless, couch-surfing, or not living with their parents,” said Lacey Breems who helps run the programs. The awareness of need comes in part from a survey the school conducts quarterly asking students specifically what their needs are—food, clothes, toiletries, even housing.

The team that runs both the clothing and food pantry is beyond dedicated to providing both an education and basic needs for their students. Their relationships with their students don’t end when they graduate.

“We had a former student come back after he graduated. He needed his resume printed, he needed a dress shirt for a job interview, so he came here to school. He came to the clothing closet; we ironed his shirt and he got the job. Another student needed help for an interview too. I went to Good Will, I got her a job interview outfit and drove it to her house and she got the job,” said Literacy teacher, Rachel Littlefield.

During the holidays, the team at Waldo County holds a ‘Tis the Season event where every student gets something, reducing the stigma attached to those who are actually in need. The educators set up tables in the hallways, fill them with food and clothing and make everyone take something home. “There were even toiletries, and every kid came down to get something. The idea was everyone had to leave with something so there was no shame—we set aside extra bags of food for kids we know need a little extra,” said Breems. The school is especially grateful for the members of the community who continue to donate clothing and food to the students.

This year RSU 19 Education Association’s (Newport area) EDUCATE! community group is teaming up with Nokomis High School and the Nokomis Jr. ROTC (JRTOC) cadets to provide food to students and their families.

EDUCATE! purchased tote bags to distribute food to all families who attended Nokomis Regional High's Student Led Conferences. As families entered the gymnasium for the Student Led Conference, they noticed the ample supply of food being dispersed by the JROTC cadets through the "Warrior Provisions" food pantry that is hosted weekly on campus for students. In just two days, more than 150 families in RSU 19 benefited from this partnership.

Food Drive Success

The Dirigo Education Association worked with its local schools to host a food drive for the four towns in the district. The Association, together with the middle school’s student community service team collected the food. Elementary school students also helped in the effort, picking up food and preparing boxes for local food panties. In total, the Association provided 20 boxes of food to local food pantries and also prepared baskets to individual families in the community.

Holiday Wishes Come True

In partnership with the Augusta Education Association, the employees, leadership and MEABT staff at the Augusta MEA offices adopt a family each holiday season. The AEA choose a family that is struggling and in need of help. Together, the Augusta MEA and MEABT purchase gifts for the entire family, ensuring both the children and adults in the family have their needs met, and also have their toys and “wish” items from their list.