The return to school is just around the corner, and we are gearing up to give families a helping hand. We'll need the usual items: new sturdy backpacks, pencils and pens, erasers, markers, glue and tape - check our SignUpGenius for what's most needed. (printable list by grade level). Please bring your donations to the Scarborough Public Library on Monday August 26th (10am-2pm). If you'd rather not shop, please consider making a gift today to Project GRACE to sponsor a child's backpack. Thank you!

Rotary Summer Food Drive at the Chamber Concerts in the Park. >>MORE

Project GRACE Food Drive for School Snacks August 26th. >>MORE

Hunger doesn't take a vacation.
We all love a Maine summer!  But the living isn't easy for everyone.  One in eight Mainers – including 1 in 5 children – don't get enough to eat. Kids are especially vulnerable during the summer months when they aren't getting school meals. You may have seen the recent article in the Press Herald  More than half of Mainers struggling to put food on their tables are not eligible for assistance from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a.k.a. food stamps) and food pantries help families with lean budgets put food on the table.. 

Close And Cover Windows
If you’re trying to escape the heat, the strategy is the same as in winter when we want to keep the cold our, heat in. Close your windows tightly, close your curtains, drapes, or blinds to prevent the sun from shining in and heating up your space. Likewise, as temperature cools down and the sun sets, let the cooler air breeze through your home, and be sure to shut everything back up in the morning.

Close Gaps
In the winter, we seal up our doors and windows, using easy DIY tapes and caulking any gaps to prevent outside air from getting in. This works winter or summer to keep your home comfortable.

Remember Heat Rises
If the temperature in your home is stifling, stay low to the ground. Keep to lower levels of the house and if you need to, kip on the couch or move your mattress to the lower floor for the night.

Keep The Stove Off
Heat-producing appliances like ovens, stoves, toaster ovens can make your home hotter than it needs to be. Switch to outdoor grilling or preparing cool salads.

Unplug Where You Can
Plugged-in appliances generate heat, especially bigger machines like the washer, dryer, and dishwasher. Unplug them if you aren't using them regularly. Switch from using the dryer to a clothesline. Smaller appliances like phone chargers or lamps should also be kept unplugged while not in use.

Make The Most Of Fans
Fans are a summertime savior whether they’re in addition to, or instead of, a central A/C unit. Ceiling fans, stand-alone fans, and even hand-helds can make a big difference in fighting sweltering temperatures and still air. First, check the direction your ceiling fan is rotating; in the summer, set fans to rotate counterclockwise to make a room’s temperature feel up to 4 degrees cooler.  At night while you have the windows open, run the exhaust fans in your bathroom or put an fan in an upstairs window (se to exhaust) to move cold air through the house and move hot air out of the house. Portable fans can also be used strategically to welcome in cool air and usher out the heat. When your windows are open at night, place a fan nearby to help disperse that air inwards. Do this at opposite ends of the house to enhance the cooling efficiency even more. Likewise, if you’re using a window box fan, set it to blow inwards from the window when it's cool out, but it should blow outwards to ward off the heat during those sunny hours. Dehumidifiers replace warm damp air with dryer air that feels more comfortable.

Stick To The Shadows
We naturally seek shady spots outside during summer, and the same applies for the whole home. If you can, create cooling shadows over your home by blocking paths for direct sunlight with awnings and shade tents to reduce the solar gain.

Remember Lights Out
Switching to LED lights will save you energy and electricity, but also they emit much less heat. Also take care to turn off any lights, including overhead lights and lamps, when you’re not using them.

Change to Cooler Bedding
The heavy bedding that keeps you cozy during the winter should be swapped for lighter, more breathable fabrics like cotton or linen in the summer. 

Keep Yourself Cool
In addition to keeping your house cool, take steps to regulate your own body temperature to beat the heat. Wear loose clothing made with breathable fabrics; hold ice packs or cold compresses to your neck, wrists, or other pulse points for quick relief; and drink lots of water. Foods like melon, lettuce, and tomatoes are refreshing; spicy foods can also cause you to sweat and ultimately cool you down. 

Seek Comfort Away from Home
Scarborough Public Library has lots of resources, and welcomes visitors during their regular hours. They always have cooling water on hand, too. And it's a fun place to meet up with friends! If you're looking for a walking spot away from the heat, try the mall or along a shady land trust trail.

Find more energy saving tips in the booklet from Efficiency Maine (PDF)