The first day of school looms large in a child's life, and we all want to see kids head back to school with a smile and ready to learn. Which is why Project GRACE and its partners come together in the waning days of summer to help families who might otherwise go without. This year we gave away a whopping 190 school backpacks!! We are very thankful for all who volunteered their time, brought in a full pack, gave supplies, sponsored a child's backpack, or hosted a collection drive or drop-off site. We also wanted to offer a special thank you to Abbott, Scarborough Dems, and Landry/French who contributed dozens and dozens of full packs, and to our friends at Scarborough Public Library, Katahdin Trust, cPort Credit Union, Gorham Savings Bank, Biddeford Savings who graciously received so many donations on our behalf. And to Staples who featured us in their back to school drive, too! Also a very hearty thank you to St. Max for inviting us to use their hall. Thank you, one and all.

Each and every backpack gave a child a fresh start to the new school year. We are grateful, and so are the parents and kids. One parent told us, the packs 'had everything they needed, and more" and a mom said, "I can't tell you how thankful we are; as a single parent, I couldn't have done this myself." And another said, “A backpack is simple but yet makes my heart happy that they got one with all they need, and the choices were great and well packed. The ease of getting them without feeling like a loser as a parent was good too. The volunteers were very friendly and as excited as I to give the bags. Thank you.”

We have exciting news: Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial will match up to $2,500 in Bee sponsorships! WOW! Can you help us earn this challenge gift?!! Please consider becoming a sponsor at any level. Proceeds from this marquis event help us keep our neighbors warm, feed hungry families, and lend a hand to a neighbor going through a temporary rough patch. (Click to download sponsor info.)  

Kids will be heading back to school soon, but many families will struggle to provide the basics like backpacks, notebooks, paper, pens and pencils, rulers and glue sticks. With your help, we can ensure all kids start the first day of school ready to learn, prepared to succeed.

Join the Portland Sea Dogs on FRIDAY, AUGUST 9th, as we celebrate Scarborough Community Night at Hadlock Field. Along with a fun night of baseball we will be celebrating Scarborough's fabulous community spirit, and the Project GRACE mission of Neighbors Helping Neighbors. 

You can help your neighbors with each ticket purchased. Tickets are $9 general admission seats, including $3 donated to Project GRACE's Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund which supports programs like community nutrition, fuel assistance, and helping a neighbor in a time of need. To purchase your tickets, please go to this online link.

For questions regarding the event, or to discuss a corporate package or see how your group can get in on the game, please contact Dennis Meehan at 874-9300 or dmeehan@seadogs.com

Thank you to the Sea Dogs for hosting a fun night at the ballpark with Slugger the Sea Dog! We were glad to have the extra tickets from Katahdin Trust, too. The Scarborough Little League U11 State Champions were honored in a pregame ceremony, the Scarborough High School Mixed Chorus performed the National Anthem, and Scarborough Joint Public Safety Honor Guard presented the colors. Round of applause to Dennis Meehan and his team for showcasing Scarborough's community spirit!

Others in the community are ready to help, too. The Scarborough Food Pantry and South Portland Food Cupboard are a couple of the local pantries open every week to distribute food. Area banks and credit unions may be able offer temporary low-interest loans to help federal workers get by until the shutdown ends. >>MORE

Not sure where to start? Call us at 883-5111.

Please save the date for our annual rally for fuel assistance: Saturday, February 16th 10-Noon at the Oak Hill Fire House. Our goal is to raise $15,000, and whether you give a little or a lot, you can help your neighbors keep warm this winter.

Project GRACE has been working with our very good friends at the Scarborough Food Pantry to give seniors a boost in their monthly food budgets. With the help of Wayside Foods, boxes of staples like soups and peanut butter, juice and cereal, canned fruit and vegetables are provided to eligible seniors. For Scarborough residents, home delivery is an option. We wanted to give a shout out to the many helping hands that make this project a growing success!

Here are a few tips for keeping warm. Visit us on FaceBook to share yours...

>>More tips from "This Old House"

Special gifts to make the holidays brighter for kids! 

You can be matched to a specific family for a child's needs and wants for the holiday, or you can host a giving tree or make a gift to sponsor a child's holiday. For giving trees, we can provide tags, or you can make your own. Items needed include: new toys and family games, arts & crafts supplies for all ages and abilities, learning toys, new dish towels and cooking utensils, snow pants, hats & mittens, new warm socks for boys and girls, soaps and shampoos, fleece 'throw' blankets, fleece vests and pullovers, energy saving LED lightbulbs, and more...

Delicious goodness, that's what's in a holiday meal basket! There are the fixings for a traditional holiday meal plus a modest grocery gift card to get a turkey, or other fresh items. There may also be extra touches like a pack of festive napkins or paper plates, a fresh pie or treat for the kids, rolls or bread, roasting pan or aluminum foil. Some baskets also have the fixings for another meal or two over the holiday weekend: pancake mix and syrup, pasta and sauce, soups and peanut butter. We also hope for fresh items like oranges, apples, bananas or potatoes, carrots, celery, squash, onions, and green beans.

Our good friends in the Hillcrest neighborhood are holding their annual charity craft fair and bake sale - and proceeds help Project GRACE keep our neighbors warm, grow community gardens with fresh veggies for the pantry, and help our neighbors when they have a temporary setback or need a little help to make ends meet. Come out to the Hillcrest Community Center (108 HIllcrest Ave, just off Route One) on Saturday, Nov. 3rd, and you'll be sure to get in the holiday spirit!

Returning 2017 champions, Scarborough Public Library, are facing some tough competition this year from past champions (Maine POPS Concert Band/In the Key of Bee, Scarborough Ed Techs/The Trivials, O'Reilly's Cure/The Brewsual Suspects) and plenty of other SMAArty Pants determined to win bragging rights!  Who has the best team name? Help the judges decide - vote now through 8pm on Thursday!

We are grateful to all who made the 7th Annual Pumpkin Festival a great success, including our good friends at Highland Avenue Greenhouse & Farm Market. Sunday was bright, mild, and the perfect day to enjoy all the activities -- from facepainting to obstacle course to pumpkin painting to apple and pumpkin catapults, and more! If you missed it, you can still stop in to pick out a pumpkin or mums or sample treats from the cafe! Thank you one and all, including these event sponsors:

A whole lot of neighbors voted for us to be this year's charity for the annual pumpkin festival at Highland Avenue Greenhouses!  Wow - thank you!!  We hope you'll come out and see us, bring the kids!!