Windham couple grateful for community’s help in finding missing cat

By Ed Pierce

Breyanna Barboza of Windham continued to pray for a miracle and clung to the hope that her beloved lost cat Kitty would return home safely.

After being missing for 37 days, Breyanna
Barboza's beloved missing cat Kitty was
found on Emerson Drive in Windham on
Oct. 18. The cat disappeared from
Barboza's Pope Road home on Sept. 12,
prompting a frantic five-week search for
the lost poet. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Barboza has owned Kitty for the past nine years since he was just six weeks old and she was desperate to find him. She and her fiancé Gary Trask searched for Kitty for weeks without any luck and as the weather got cold this fall, Breyanna, who is on disability, worried that her pet might never be found.

On Saturday, Sept. 12, Breyanna attended a wedding and when she returned home afterward, she discovered Kitty, who was born outside in a barn and is an outdoor/indoor cat, was missing.

“He has never done this before in the nine years that I’ve had him,” Breyanna said. “I knew instantly something was not right and I felt it in my whole being.”

The couple then took steps to try and find their lost cat. They called local animal shelters and local veterinarians, alerted neighbors, posted Kitty’s photographs on social media and began to walk streets around their Pope Road home calling out for him.

“I walked miles a day until my body could no longer walk because of my disorders. I posted on the Windham community page every week, walked to all the neighbors around me and asked for them to look for him and keep an eye out,” Breyanna said. “We printed flyers and put them in neighbors’ mailboxes, called animal shelters, vets, and everywhere I could to try to find him.”

She said the ordeal was gut-wrenching and didn’t know how she could cope if Kitty was never found.

“Honestly the love I have for Kitty is what kept me going,” Breyanna said. “For the first few days when he went missing, I went to the field near my house and just cried and cried and cried. I didn't want to be here on this earth without him. But I knew I had to keep going because I love him and I needed to find out answers and had to keep trying. He deserves that. He deserved me not giving up complete hope and I pushed myself to keep trying.”

Gary works night shift and sleeps during the day, but he was supportive of the search, as were Breyanna’s roommates who lent a hand by calling neighbors alerting them about the missing cat.

“Other than that, it was mostly me walking miles a day to try to see where he could have gone,” Breyanna said. “People kept telling me not give up hope, look under sheds and other spots like that, set out traps, shake treats and call for him.”

As time went on, Breyanna found it hard for her to accept that Kitty was gone.

“I thought he had passed away because it was so unlike him to do,” she said. “I still kept hope, because he's everything to me and I would never ever just give up looking. I looked even though everything inside me felt in agony without him.”

According to Breyanna, the compassion shown to her by the community helped her cope.

“People's kindness made me get through. If I heard ‘you are a horrible person for letting him outside,’ I would be not here I don't think,” she said.” When he went missing honestly everything in me went into agony.”

The search went on for 37 days until Kimberly Cook saw a post on the Windham Maine Community Board Unfiltered containing photos of a found cat in Windham. She remembered Breyanna’s posts on the Windham Maine Community Board and she sent Breyanna a message on Sunday, Oct. 18.

“Someone named Melissa Ann Dalrymple posted pictures of him. He was all the way by Emerson Drive about 2.2. miles away in Windham,” Breyanna said. “She just posted how he got in her car and didn't want to leave her car. She stayed with him for two hours outside and fed him, so he wasn't alone and posted on the Windham Maine Community Board Unfiltered page how he was in her car.”

Breyanna then woke Gary up and told him that Kitty had been found and he was alive.

“When I saw the message that he was found and the pictures of him, I ran out the door so fast and forgot the address and everything because I was that excited,” she said. “Gary had to look it up and everything because my heart was beating so fast. It didn't feel real at first.”

They drove over to Melissa’s house, picked Kitty up and then brought him home.

“He's doing great,” Breyanna said. “He's so happy to be here. He follows me around, meows and listens like he always used to. Everything I say he just looks and understands.”

She believed her continued posts trying to find Kitty helped find him.

“I would love to say to the community after this hard, hard time thank you for keeping me updated with sightings if you saw him and made me feel better about him being an outdoor cat to and didn't judge me for it,” she said. “His happiness is the most important thing to me. Thank you for keeping him in your prayers. It’s a miracle to have him back.” <

2025 PowerServe volunteers power through rainy conditions

By Ed Pierce

As steady rain fell and damp conditions persisted, the enthusiasm and willingness to help others of more than 200 PowerServe volunteers was evident on Saturday, April 26 in Windham.

Members of Windham High School's varsity and JV baseball
teams were among 200 volunteers from throughout the
community who pitched in to assist with various projects
to help neighbors and the town during the 2025 PowerServe
event on Saturday, April 26. PHOTO BY CHRIS DOUGHTY 

PowerServe was created in the memory of Windham High School sophomore Shane Donnelly, who was 16 when he passed away unexpectedly in May 2015. Shane’s family says he was passionate about helping others and he cared deeply about his community.

To show their love for Shane, his family helped to create and organize the very first PowerServe in 2016, It was intended to be just a one-day event where volunteers served Windham area organizations and individuals who needed assistance by performing various tasks ranging from painting to yard work to household repairs and few other projects benefiting the town.

But because of an outpouring of volunteers willing to donate their time to help their neighbors, PowerServe has become an annual event held in Windham every April that completes dozens of meaningful projects and tasks throughout the community.

“Despite the rain, we had over 200 people turn out to do almost 30 service projects this year,” said Kim Donnelly, Shane’s mother. “A couple of them had to be moved to another date when it wasn’t pouring out, but we were so excited at how positive the volunteers were and how happy the recipients of the projects were. There were great connections made between the volunteers, getting to know not only the homeowner, but those people on their teams that they worked alongside that day.”

She said the number of projects that PowerServe volunteers worked on this year were the most since the event started in 2016. Some of their projects included building bridges and performing a trail clean-up at Black Brook Preserve. Past projects performed by PowerServe volunteers include work on the community basketball courts/skate park, building conduits for the 302 Rotary holiday lights, at the Historical Society Community Gardens, on RSU 14’s Cross Country trails, at Manchester School and various plantings at Windham High School.

Volunteers were organized into teams that went out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to work together on the projects and then they all met back on the Windham Historical Grounds to share stories and enjoy a free barbecue for their work.

“The majority of our projects are for Windham residents who are in need of spring clean-ups, outside light stain or painting, spring plantings and mulch, power washing, and more,” Kim Donnelly said. “These are people with disabilities, sickness, who are elderly, an educator or public servant that we want to show our thanks for or just don't have the help and support needed to take care of these projects around their homes. Each year we go out to the town, community, and local businesses requesting nominations for projects for Windham residents to help with.”

She said PowerServe was fortunate to have Chuck Daigle serve on its planning committee this year.

“He quickly secured the Windham Town Hall gymnasium for our registration and the free barbecue afterward for PowerServe volunteers.

Because of the weather, Kim Donnelly said that there were two projects that PowerServe needed to push off until last weekend.

“Both have been completed with the help of Fuller House volunteers and then a larger project at Dundee Park with the help of Andrew Daigle, Sean McGuire and his team from McGuire Home Services was finished,” she said. “This included a new stage for entertainers at the Dundee Park Concert Series in the summer.”

Many of the homeowners and recipients of PowersServe projects were so surprised that the volunteers showed up despite the rain.

“I think that added to a feeling of pride from the volunteers that come rain or shine, they committed to helping these individuals and they showed up to do it, like a real Mainer would do,” Kim Donnelly said.

With the success and even bigger outpouring of volunteers and projects to be completed, the organization has already scheduled next year's PowerServe event, which will be its 10th year anniversary. The 2026 PowerServe will be conducted Saturday, April 25, rain or shine.

“My family and I feel so blessed to live in such a kind and compassionate community that gives back and supports its neighbors in need,” Kim Donnelly said. “Shane would be so touched by the outpouring of love and support for those around us. This is a life lesson for all of the youth in our community who volunteer. I bet they received so much more than the few hours they gave that day.”

To see more photos from the 2025 PowerServe, visit their Facebook page or go to www.powerserve.me. <

PowerServe 2025 a lasting community tribute to late WHS student

By Ed Pierce

Perhaps our greatest legacy in life is what people remember about us and do in our memory when we’re gone. For Shane Donnelly, his legacy is one of love for his community and the inspiration for an annual event that continues to help neighbors and the town years after his death.

Student volunteers work on a project at the
302 Rotary during a previous PowerServe
event in Windham. The 2025 PowerServe
will be held Saturday, April 26 and is a 
one-day event with volunteers helping
organizations and individuals in the
community who need assistance in
performing various tasks such as 
painting, yard work and home repairs.
COURTESY PHOTO  

Shane Donnelly was just 16 and a sophomore at Windham High School when he passed away unexpectedly in May 2015. His family says that he cared deeply about his community and to show their love for him, his family helped organize the first PowerServe in 2016, a community event where volunteers served Windham area organizations and individuals who needed assistance by performing various tasks ranging from painting to yard work to household repairs and major projects benefiting the town.

The first PowerServe was supposed to be a one-time event in Shane’s memory but following an outpouring of volunteers willing to donate their time to help, it evolved into an annual event growing to include hundreds of volunteers and dozens of projects each year.

“Since that time, we have done hundreds of service projects for the community and residents in need with the help of over 150 volunteers each year on our PowerServe day,” said Shane’s mother Kim Donnelly.

This year, the PowerServe event will be held on Saturday, April 26.

“For this year, we have 160 volunteers signed up so far and 34 projects scheduled to work on,” Kim Donnelly said. “We are looking for more volunteers to meet the need. The day is truly about students and adults in our community giving back to help those here in Windham while serving together.”

PowerServe brings Windham students, coaches, educators, business leaders and residents from all walks of life together to help neighbors, friends and family in Windham on this one day of giving back to our community and those in need who live here.

The volunteers are organized into teams that go out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to work together doing projects to help residents and organizations in the community.

“Everyone meets back to share stories at the free barbecue at the Windham Historical Society grounds,” Kim Donnelly said. “This gives everyone time to share their experiences. It is a great opportunity to come together to help their neighbors and to meet new people from all ages and walks of life here in Windham.”

According to his mother, Shane loved the peace and beauty of the outdoors. She said he was a good student, a gifted athlete, a kind young man and a loving son.

“When he passed away unexpectedly at the age of 16, it was not only a shock to our family, but to the community and students at school,” Kim Donnelly said. “Nothing can fill the void from Shane’s passing. However, being able to materially see the impact that this event has had on the students, individuals and our larger community does help to feel that he left his mark on this world. Having past classmates of Shane’s and current students come back to Windham to support one another and our neighbors is so heartwarming. The projects that we do mean that our volunteers are working outside together to do good. It’s wonderful to see these students volunteer alongside local business teams, church members, teachers, friends, and families. It truly shows that Windham residents support one another.”

For 2025, PowerServe has 34 projects lined up at this time, the most since it started in 2016. For the larger Windham community, this year volunteers will be doing work at Dundee Park, moving the performance pavilion, building a stage and an overall spring clean-up. They will also build bridges and perform a trail clean-up at Black Brook Preserve.

Past projects performed by PowerServe volunteers include work on the community basketball courts/skate park, building conduits for the 302 Rotary holiday lights, at the Historical Society Community Gardens, on RSU 14’s Cross Country trails, at Manchester School and various plantings at Windham High School.

“The majority of our projects are for Windham residents who are in need of spring clean-ups, outside light stain or painting, spring plantings and mulch, power washing, and more,” Kim Donnelly said. “These are people with disabilities, sickness, who are elderly, an educator or public servant that we want to show our thanks for or just don't have the help and support needed to take care of these projects around their homes. Each year we go out to the town, community, and local businesses requesting nominations for projects for Windham residents to help with.”

As a lifelong volunteer, and Shane’s mother, Kim Donnelly said that in volunteering, you come to understand that simple actions can have a big impact.

“The old adage ‘it is better to give than receive’ or ‘the more you give, the more you get,’ holds true,” she said. “There are many opportunities to volunteer in Maine. PowerServe gives us as Windham residents the opportunity to give back to our own neighbors in need, alongside other Windham residents of all ages. Of course, for me and my family, this is an act of love in memory of Shane, who is remembered by students, teachers, coaches, friends and family for being a kind, loving young man who was accepting of all.”

Volunteers can sign up at PowerServe Windham’s FaceBook page or by visiting www.powerserve.me.

“Volunteering offers invaluable life lessons, a sense of purpose and gratitude for our own life,” Kim Donnelly said. “For our youth, it may take you outside of your comfort zone, but it can develop leadership, communication skills, confidence, and new relationships. This event was originally created in memory of one of our community’s young people. Its success is driven by student involvement in the Planning Committee, outreach to the high school teams and student groups and ultimately the pride our youth feel giving back to their community the day of the event. I would be remiss in not thanking those community members who continue to volunteer year after year. It gives you an amazing feeling of giving back to the community and those around us. You will also meet some wonderful people in your community who are volunteering alongside you.” <