MEET THE TEAM
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Joel Furrow
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Before joining The Root Cellar's ministry in Lewiston in 2012, Joel implemented and directed the Bridging the Gap Juvenile Diversion program in Boston, MA serving nearly 100 juvenile offenders annually.
Early in this career, Joel was impacted greatly by work within refugee communities in Amman, Jordan and Clarkston, GA. He discovered God's great love for these vulnerable communities as well as the gift that refugees and immigrants offer to a welcoming city.
Joel is a graduate of Liberty University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Religion with a concentration in Intercultural Studies, Islam and Arabic. Joel and his lovely wife Hilary live in Wales, ME raising 3 beautiful, wicked smaht daughters and a baby boy.
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Alyssa McKay
PROGRAM MANAGER, LEWISTON
In 2011 after completing high school, Alyssa took a hop, skip and a jump from San Diego, where she was born and raised, to Lewiston to attend Bates College, majoring in Chemistry, Psychology, soccer and track. Jesus and the kiddos downtown tugged on her heart to stay after graduation. Calling Lewiston home has brought her much joy as she learns of God alongside His children by working, playing, growing and gathering together.
Alyssa and her husband Jared live in Auburn with their two boys.
In her words, “I just love the Lew!”
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Sean Noe
PROGRAM MANAGER, PORTLAND
Sean and his wife Arricka recently felt called by God to move into the Munjoy Hill neighborhood where they have a passion to serve especially the youth. Sean's heart and testimony have had a great effect on the Children's Programs at The Root Cellar. Sean has served as the the Programs Coordinator since 2014 and was promoted to Program Manager in 2021.
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Emily Bollinger
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR
Emily been with The Root Cellar since the beginning of 2020 as the Finance and Adminstrative Coordinator.
She enjoys getting to know our neighbors and their stories. Through these relationships, she has experienced more of God's love and peace.
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Alyssa Rieff
PROGRAM CORDINATOR, PORTLAND
Alyssa has been a program coordinator with The Root Cellar since 2022. Alyssa is committed to serving people with the love of Christ through The Root Cellar's programs and is dedicated to holistically meeting needs in the city of Portland. She is a graduate from Messiah University with a degree in Politics and International Relations. Alyssa is from New Hampshire and enjoys going there on the weekends to see family or take a hike in the White Mountains.
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Martha Bucher
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, LEWISTON
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Damon Crouse
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, LEWISTON
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Christina Ekholm
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, PORTLAND
Christina Ekholm has been serving with The Root Cellar since 2022 when she began volunteering with our Meal Program. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut where she majored in Urban and Community Studies and Human Rights. She was initially drawn to The Root Cellar because of its unapologetic commitment to serve both physical and spiritual needs. She is grateful for the freedom to love people in these ways, and is most inspired to come to work each day because of the growing community here. At any time she can be seen sporting neon wind pants and laughing with a neighbor.