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)

MEND Health & Wellness of Maine and NRB (Nonesuch River Brewing) have nominated Project GRACE, Holy Cross School, and Travis Mills Foundation as beneficiaries of the Autumn & Ales 5K, 10K, 1/2  Marathon to be held in Scarborough on Saturday, September 14th 2024. To run, donate, or sponsor, follow this link.  This race is perfect for runners of all levels, whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out. The course starts at the Libby Mitchell American Legion Post #76 and takes runners along the Eastern Trail and through the gorgeous Scarborough Marsh.  Project GRACE is grateful to be among this year's chosen beneficiaries.

Winter and those colder temperatures are here. Have you tried any of these easy and inexpensive ways to warm up and stay cozy? Got any other ideas for us? We'd love to hear'em!

What's under a tree? So that kids around town and our neighbors have a merrier holiday, we're asking for help collecting traditional holiday gifts like: new hats and mittens, cozy socks for kids and adults, new toys for kids of all ages, craft kits and games for families, pajamas and read-aloud books, hoodies for kids and teens, shampoo and hygiene items, and spices for the food pantry.

Grocery and retail cards as well as gifts to the Keep Our Neighbors Warm fuel fund or our Neighbors Helping Neighbors fund are also very much appreciated.

The other day a friend was encouraging Project GRACE to do a food collection, put out a box somewhere. When I mentioned the library had been doing that for us already for a long time, she was glad, but also genuinely surprised. She goes to the library often, but had never noticed the box by the bulletin boards. Sometimes the library is helping us collect school supplies, holiday presents for kids or new warm socks. Mostly the box is brimming with cans and boxes of food for the pantry. It was right there all the time, out in the open, but caught up in her own busy-ness, my friend didn’t see the opportunity.
 
The holiday season comes as the days are at their shortest and darkest; as the cold seeps in and takes hold, the holidays envelop us in the brightness of the hustle and bustle, the excitement of dashing about to check things off our lists, and the joy and anticipation of being reunited with our nearest and dearest. The holidays are exciting, feeding us, knitting us together, giving us the opportunity to be a part of something bigger, bolder, brighter.

Mainers look out for their neighbors. We give. A new report from the personal finance web site WalletHub.com put Maine near the top of the list of charitable states (our rank was #5!) and even higher (#2) when factoring in volunteering. We can see proof right here in our own neighborhoods. Look at the bounty under the holiday trees popping up all over town, collecting presents for children, warm hats and mittens, and more. Stand still for a moment, take in the warmth of friendly chatter of our neighbors at the many charity craft fairs, see how our neighbors transform a stitched or knitted this or that, a hand-crafted treasure or deliciously baked treat, into hard earned dollars for change and charity and community. Know that your favorite nonprofit(s) are grateful that you took the opportunity to donate to a #GivingTuesday or year-end appeal so that with your support they can continue to fulfill their missions for the greater good.
 
So much of the news of the world and closer to home is tragic beyond measure. It can weigh us down with shock, anger, fear, and anguish. Grief sits heavy in our hearts these days. There is a disturbing and persistent sharpness in our public voices that chafes at our ability to work together. But stop. All of that is outweighed by all the good that happens every day. The small kindnesses and acts of conscience and compassion add up, move us forward, and knit us together with common purpose. Our everyday actions of persistent good neighborliness are building a strong foundation for resilience. No matter what comes our way, we can lift the heavy load and go forward together. I see that hope nearly every day working for Project GRACE. And if you look about as you go about your every day, you can see it too. Don’t miss the opportunity.

Three food pantries, three communities, one united effort to feed our neighbors

Sunday NOVEMBER 12
3PM-6PM @ POND COVE IGA (Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth)

Friday & Saturday NOVEMBER 17 & 18
10AM-2PM @ PAPE SUBARU (2065 Broadway, South Portland)

Saturday NOVEMBER 18
11AM-1PM @ TOWN HALL / PUBLIC SAFETY (259 Route One, Scarborough)'

What's Needed? Nutritious nonperishable foods, shelf-stable proteins like canned tuna or ham or chicken, and 'fixings' for Thanksgiving dinner like stuffing, instant mashed, cranberry sauce, pie mix and canned fillings. Pantries also need CASH, CHECKS, & ONLINE DONATIONS.

At the holidays we are thankful for the bounty on our tables, we treasure our time with friends and family gathered round to celebrate. But we also know some of us are lonely or hungry or looking for a way to connect. Like others Project GRACE yearned to answer that need, through our “Food for Thought & Action” initiative, we brought like-minded people in a room together. Project GRACE was a catalyst for the first and subsequent years, a founding member of the collaborative that created and invested in the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Like our partners at School Nutrition, Community Services, and Public Safety, we gladly contributed our time, treasure, and talent to give lift and a strong foundation for an event, now in its 8th year, that nourishes our community.    

Held on Thanksgiving Day (11-1) at Wentworth, volunteers serve a traditional holiday meal of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, gravy, dinner rolls, & pie. Save your seat at the table, rsvp here.

The last several days have been shocking, painful, and deeply distressing. We extend our deepest sympathies to our neighbors in Lewiston, and to all who are affected by this senseless tragedy. As we make our way forward together, grieve, and help our communities recover and heal from the unfathomable violence, it can all be overwhelming. There are services that can help us take care of ourselves and others, help us cope and support each other. If you or someone you know is in crisis and in need of immediate support, call the Maine Crisis Hotline at 1-888-568-1112.

The Autumn & Ales Race, hosted by MEND Health, Nonesuch River Brewing and friends, is happening on Saturday, October 21st! Race organizers are also collecting NEW socks for kids, teens, and adults at the race. For more info, visit the race site here. Project GRACE is one of the named beneficiaries, and we're grateful to all the sponsors!

Who will BEE the smartest team in town? Who will have the best team name, the best costumes to impress the judges, and who will take home the most trophies and bragging rights after an evening of lively competition with friends and neighbors?!  Find out Thursday, October 26th at the 13th Annual Trivia Bee. Our marquis event is back, celebrating bee-ing good neighbors and Scarborough's wonderful community spirit!

Players in teams of three will return to Ketcha Outdoors to test their trivia knowledge. Emcee Blake Hayes along with referee Dwayne Hopkins and our panel of esteemed judges "The Nurses" will take center stage. Visit the Game Hive where you can get some "Bee Bling" and try your luck for prizes. Delicious catered treats by Churchill Events, a cash bar, and the swinging sounds of our hometown "Crooners" will set the mood for a fabulous, fun evening! You won't want to miss the return of the Bee!
Please RSVP by October 20th for "early bee" rates.

Sponsorships and event proceeds benefit Project GRACE. We're neighbors helping neighbors, and we rely on your generous support!

Anita Chandler (right) president of Altrusa International Foundation of Portland presented the annual  "Volunteer of the Year" award to Sharyn Shearer at their club dinner recently. Attending were Project GRACE board president, Alberta Follansbee, and executive director, Steffi Cox.

About 80 area nonprofits were invited to submit nominations, and we're thrilled Altrusa choose Sharyn to receive their esteemed award. 

 "Sharyn is an exceptional representative of the hundreds of volunteers who are at the very center of our mission to help our neighbors through difficult times, inspire our community to come together for common cause, and do so with dignity, compassion, and grace," said executive director, Steffi Cox.

Project GRACE receives dozens and dozens of thank you notes from recipients of our services; and though addressed to Project GRACE, they are intended for the volunteers like Sharyn. In addition to volunteering for Project GRACE, Sharyn has helped with activities at her church, St. Maximilian-Kolbe, been very active with the South Portland Food Cupboard, and over the years has quietly and steadily made our community a much more caring place.

"Throughout her more than twenty years with Project GRACE, Sharyn has been a steady source of wisdom, helping us keep true to our founders’ vision of a neighbor helping neighbor group that lifts up, rather than enables, that is welcoming and friendly, and gives with generosity," said board president, Alberta Follansbee.

We are grateful to the Altrusa International Foundation for giving us the opportunity to shine a light on the good work being done by Sharyn and our many volunteers. Please join us in congratulating, Sharyn!