Our Team in Portland Perseveres

Jul 29

I talked with a few of the staff and volunteers at the Root Cellar in Portland to find out how things are going. Christine, Sean and Kattie were all excited to share about the impact being made in the neighborhood despite COVID challenges.

Christine coordinates several programs, including Ladies Breakfast, International Women’s Tea, Sewing programs and After-School programming. Even with the pandemic forcing things to continue differently, Christine would not be stopped from seeing her neighbors almost everyday.

“I live in the neighborhood more than I live at my desk now, because I am just out there searching out ways to engage the children.”

Walking several miles through the neighborhood, Christine meets with children at their homes, connecting with the families and talking through life issues they are facing that are really emphasized by the pandemic. She also tries to get the kids out of the house sometimes (away from video and computer games), and takes them on trips to the beach and other outdoor adventures where it is easy to socially distance.

There is not a lot of programming going on, however, the staff and volunteers are working on ideas to safely reopen soon. Your ongoing support helps Christine and other Portland staff and volunteers continue to be apart of these kids’ lives. Give today.

Christine describes the current situations as a mixed blessing, saying that “[We’re] building relationships much deeper and more intimate because the kids see us right there, and they know that we care about them and that we are trying to reach out to them.”

Christine has made herself available to her neighborhood kids electronically as well, so that she can stay in touch with them all the time, and is able to help or just talk whenever they need it.

Sean, a program coordinator focusing on youth, has also been outside and around the neighborhood. Typically he focuses on job placement programs and activities like teen night, but right now he has taken a shift towards food security in the community. He helps distribute school lunches, and started a meal site in a pocket of the neighborhood that was underserved.

Sean has maintained his connections with as many teens as he can, helping them to go to businesses and get applications, or just spending time in his backyard around the firepit, eating, connecting, and cultivating deeper relationships.

He expresses his gratefulness that he lives in the neighborhood, saying “I am able to stay connected despite the pandemic requirements.”

A big project Sean undertook amid COVID-19 was restarting and mobilizing the food pantry in the same area he started the meal site. Over 35 families, representing over 100 people are food secure because of the pantry; he remarks, “It was kind of interesting — it was super fulfilling to minister in that kind of way.”

TO SUPPORT THIS FOOD DISTRIBUTION CLICK HERE

Speaking of food, Kattie, is the coordinator of the Friends and Neighbors Network, providing over 2900 pounds of food to roughly 35 families every week.

When COVID-19 reached Maine, a small number of staff along with the FANN managers (wearing masks and gloves) packed the boxes and distributed them curbside to the members. Typically, all members gather to chat and fill the boxes together, and everyone looks forward to doing this again once it is safe.

The Root Cellar is starting to slowly work their way back towards this by inviting FANN members to come in (with a mask), wash hands, put on gloves and pack boxes at socially-distanced tables.

It has been a crazy few months for everyone, but The Root Cellar in Portland has continued to have a positive impact in the Munjoy Hill community, cultivating social, economic, and spiritual wholeness and making sure neighbors are food secure.