Community invited to participate in annual Sebago Lake area loon count

By Ed Pierce

Maine Audubon is seeking volunteers to assist with the 43rd Annual Loon Count to be conducted later this month on Sebago Lake.

The 43rd Annual Loon Count will be conducted on July 18
by Maine Audubon and volunteers are still needed to count
Maine loons and chicks. The count is part of a statewide
initiative to track loon population changes and assess the
impacts of loon conservation efforts for the future.
COURTESY PHOTO    

The Sebago Lake count is part of a statewide initiative to count Maine loons and chicks and track the population changes and trends in the population by Maine Audubon. The information collected during the annual count helps assess the impacts of loon conservation efforts and to address any significant changes in the population and offer better management solutions in future years.

Loons are large, tuxedoed birds swimming about in the lake and can be very vocal and easy to locate, as the yodeling of one loon will often elicit a chorus response from other loons in the area. They are water birds, only going ashore to mate and incubate eggs.

On Saturday, July 18, a contingent of volunteers will gather at Sebago Lake early in the morning for the count. The deadline to sign up for the Annual Loon Count is July 10, so volunteers are asked to reach out as soon as possible.

The volunteers collect and submit data about the number of loons they observe between 7 and 7:30 a.m. which gives Audubon researchers a “snapshot” of the loon population across the state. The count allows Maine Audubon to monitor how the number of loon adults and chicks have changed over the past 40 years and to make sure it is known how to best protect the loon population.

For years, counting Sebago Lake’s 100-plus miles of shorefront on nearly one trillion gallons of fresh water and at 49 different survey areas presented a significant challenge to Maine Audubon. And despite the efforts of many volunteers, the entire lake was never fully counted.

In 2022, volunteer counters were recruited from each of the seven municipalities that border Sebago Lake and other volunteers signed up as well who wanted to be part of the count. What resulted was the first-ever full Sebago Lake count thanks to more than 50 volunteers who participated and covered more than 30,000 acres of water.

Every single number recorded during the Annual Loon Count was higher in 2025 than it was in 2024 – the number of adult loons, loon chicks, lakes counted, and volunteers – and scientists at Maine Audubon say it’s a great indication that the Common Loon population is healthy in Maine. A healthy loon population is good for many reasons, as it also means enough clear waters, healthy fish populations, and breeding habitat to support a stable loon population.

Based on its calculations, Maine Audubon estimates a 2025 population of 3,174 adults and 568 chicks for the southern half of Maine. In comparison, in 1983, when the count first began, we estimated a population of 1,417 adult loons and 176 loon chicks in the southern half of Maine, suggesting the population has more than doubled since then.

“We’re cautiously optimistic after seeing two years of growing chick numbers,” says Maine Audubon Wildlife Ecologist Tracy Hart. “But it will take several more years before we know if that is a real upward trend, or just two really good years.” Maine has the largest population of loons in the eastern United States, which makes the breeding success of loons here critical to the regional population. In comparison, there were 56 pairs counted in Massachusetts in 2024, about 100 pairs in Vermont, and 514 adults recorded on a subset of lakes in New Hampshire in that state’s 2025 census.

Most loons nest within one foot of the water’s edge, so they are especially vulnerable to washout from arge waves. All motorboats on Maine lakes are required to travel at no-wake speeds when they are within 200 feet of shore or islands. Boats that facilitate wake surfing create even larger waves and can impact loon nests even when operating as far as 500-600 feet offshore. In 2024, a new state law was implemented to address wakesurfing and it restricts individuals “from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline when the motorboat is engaged in a wakesurfing activity.”

The Common Loon faces all kinds of threats including those from boat strikes, nest flooding, tackle made from lead, eagle predators and despite that with the help of an ever-growing volunteer base, the population remains robust.

Audubon officials say that if you can’t make it to volunteer for the Annual Loon Count on July 18, or if one day just isn’t enough for you, you can still monitor loons throughout the summer. Through its Loon Pair Monitoring Project, volunteers can submit observations of breeding loon pairs over several months to help them better understand nest and chick success across Maine.

For further details about the Maine Audubon Annual Loon Count, the Loon Pair Monitoring Project, or to volunteer, contact [email protected] or visit maineaudubon.org/loons. <

PowerServe: A decade of service through the Donnelly Family’s eyes

By Lorraine Glowczak

The special spring tradition of volunteering continues, bringing neighbors together once again and marking 10 years of service rooted in compassion, connection, and community. PowerServe participants will gather for another day of community service, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9, on the Windham Historical Society campus before volunteers disperse to their assigned community projects, and return at 1 p.m. for a shared lunch.

In celebration of its 10-year anniversary, PowerServe hopes
to complete at least 35 service projects with 250 volunteers
at its community service event on May 9 in Windham. 
COURTESY PHOTO  

0 Although the focus is community service, PowerServe has been more than a volunteer event. From the very beginning, the organization has also been a story about people, purpose, and the ripple effect of one teenager’s belief that caring for a community can create lasting change.

This annual volunteer-driven initiative continues to live out its mission of “caring boldly and serving strong.” Often described as a spark of light in the community, PowerServe began as a way to simply turn grief into action.

Launched in 2016 after the unexpected passing of 16-year-old Shane Donnelly, the effort started when Kristine Delano of YoungLife Sebago saw the impact on the students at Windham High School and the wider community and felt called to respond. Inspired by the power of community service, she created a day in early May 2016 to unite the community in kindness and connection in Shane’s honor.

For the Donnelly family, PowerServe is deeply personal – a legacy of compassion that began with a vision to help others and has grown far beyond what they imagined. Each year, they watch that spark spread, drawing in about 200 volunteers and strengthening community bonds through projects like yard cleanups, painting, and small repairs for Windham neighbors and nonprofits.

“When you lose a child, you enter a kind of grief you never imagined,” Shane’s mother, Kim Donnelly said. “But out of something so tragic, something unexpectedly beautiful has grown. People experience loss every day, yet what PowerServe has become is a reflection of community – where nearly two-thirds of the volunteers are youth and students serving alongside adults, all working together.”

Shane’s sister, Maddie Donnelly, a senior at WHS, who was 7 years old at the time of his passing, said her brother carried a quiet, steady outlook on life that was rooted in the outdoors and a deep caring for others. 

“Whether he was talking about college, dreaming of becoming a Maine Game Warden, or simply enjoying time outside, he found a sense of peace and tranquility in nature,” she said. “He was also known for offering kind words and giving others the benefit of the doubt, always choosing compassion first.”

Maddie shared that his compassion for others truly lives on in the spirit of PowerServe, and she is determined to keep that spirit alive by spreading the word about the organization. This year, she did so through her Senior Capstone Project, a graduation requirement.

“It felt like an easy decision to choose PowerServe as my capstone topic,” she said. “Sharing PowerServe and helping people learn about it just made sense. It speaks to the kind of person Shane was and it feels good to make others feel good in his honor. He loved serving others and being outdoors – this is something he would have truly enjoyed doing.”

She said that PowerServe is not just about the projects being completed, it’s about the people being present with one another. It’s about connections.

“Watching volunteers and recipients sit down, talk, and truly connect is what stays with you, Maddie said. “Some of the most meaningful stories come afterward from neighbors who didn’t just receive help, but also shared time, laughter, and a sense of being seen.”

Maddie agrees with her mother, saying that she enjoys connecting with the recipients.

“Our conversations are so much fun and we create lasting memories,” she said. “Sometimes we spend at least an hour talking with each other. It leaves everyone feeling genuinely uplifted.”

As for the requests for assistance, the Donnellys say that it is often a friend, neighbor, or loved one who makes the request for others. 

“People who need help with gardens, painting, etc. generally do not want to burden family, and once we step in, we keep checking back to see how they’re doing, even helping them enjoy flower gardens they haven’t been able to tend to in years,” they said. 

PowerServe, which recently became an official nonprofit, allows all donated funds to stay in Windham, and is hoping to complete at least 35 service projects with 250 volunteers at its community service event on May 9.

“The more volunteers, the more projects we can do and the more people we can help, the better able to make a greater impact and difference in our community, which exemplifies Shane’s personality and would make him so happy,” Maddie said.

As PowerServe celebrates a decade of service, its impact is measured not just in completed projects, but in the relationships built, the gratitude shared, and the reminder that meaningful change often starts with a simple decision to show up and help.

For more details about PowerServe, to volunteer to help, or to request a project, send an email to [email protected]. <

Volunteers provide backbone for Riding To The Top equine therapy center

By Erin Rose

Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center (RTT) is celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week, marked nationally from Saturday, April 19 to Saturday, April 25, by showcasing the significant contributions their dedicated volunteers give to the center and to the patients who receive equine therapy there.

Volunteers Fran Maxwell, Pat Niboli and Sara
Treat get Carrot cleaned up before a lesson on
a muddy day at the Riding To The Top equine
therapy facility in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO

“The impact of these volunteers is visible every day,” said Kelly Johnson, Development Director for RTT. “A rider taking their first independent steps, a child gaining confidence in communication, or a veteran finding peace being in the presence of our horses – these moments are made possible because volunteers show up, week after week, ready to give their time without expecting anything in return.”

Last year, the center’s 200 specially trained volunteers donated over 14,000 hours of time to assist its more than 250 clients. The time was spent helping to lead horses while clients ride or in walking alongside the horse to ensure the client feels secure and confident. The volunteers also provide care for the center’s 17 horses, complete chores in the barn, or by helping with administrative support or with special events.

“Volunteer Appreciation Week is not just about saying ‘thank you,’ though gratitude is certainly deserved,” Johnson said. “It is also about recognizing that organizations like RTT simply could not operate at their current level without volunteer support.”

“Volunteers are not just helpful additions, they are the backbone of the organization, making it possible for RTT to fulfill its mission of improving the health and well-being of children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted services,” she said.

The center’s programs include therapeutic riding, where patients are helped through horsemanship and riding activities. Therapeutic Carriage Driving provides the opportunity for patients who cannot ride to harness and drive a horse from a cart or carriage. RTT also offers Equine Assisted Learning, where interaction with the horse, both mounted and unmounted, helps in the development of life skills, and Hippotherapy, where the horse’s movement is used as a therapy tool.

“Volunteer Appreciation Week serves as a reminder that behind every success at RTT, there are volunteers helping to make it all possible,” Johnson said. “Each volunteer brings unique skills and heart to the program, forming a community rooted in kindness and purpose.”

The volunteers gift the center with a precious resource, and through their generosity, help enable RTT to provide high quality services for its patients. 

“In a world where time is often one of the most valuable resources, the volunteers of RTT demonstrate what it means to give selflessly,” Johnson said. “Their dedication ensures that RTT continues to be a place where challenges are met with encouragement, and where every rider has the opportunity to reach new heights.

“It reflects commitment, patience, and a shared belief in the transformative power of human-animal connection,” she said. “Each hour volunteered helps create a safe, supportive environment where participants can grow physically, emotionally, and socially.”

Founded in 1993, RTT is the only center in Maine accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) solely dedicated to Equine Assisted Services. The center’s facility includes a heated indoor arena and an outdoor riding ring on 50 acres of land on Lilac Drive in Windham.

“Human-Animal Interactions are at the core of RTT’s work and are made possible because of our professional staff, dedicated volunteers and incredible horses,” said Sarah Bronson, RTT’s Executive Director. “We witness on a daily basis the health and wellness benefits of Human-Animal Interactions for our clients, their families, our volunteers and our staff.”

To learn more about RTT, its programs, make a donation, or to inquire about volunteering, visit www.ridingtothetop.org or call 207-892-2813. <

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.” <

Town of Raymond publishes draft of new Comprehensive Plan

By Kendra Raymond

The Raymond Comprehensive Plan committee is staying on schedule producing the preliminary draft of the document just in time for the fall 2024 projected deadline.

A poster displays notes and suggestions
for community services and facilities
developed during a workshop used
to formulate the Town of Raymond's
new Comprehensive Plan.
PHOT BY KENDRA RAYMOND

Residents on the email list received a copy of the draft and it is also available on the town website. The announcement says, “The Raymond Comprehensive Plan team is happy to share the first draft of the Comprehensive Plan for your review.”

The website explains, “Raymond staff, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and North Star Planning have been working together since May 2023 to update Raymond’s comprehensive plan. This draft plan includes Maine State requirements along with goals, policies, action items, and a Future Land Use Plan based on what we’ve heard from the Raymond community through online surveys, workshops, informal polls, and the Committee.”

The CPC draft features several top Priority Goals and Actions that emerged through surveys and workshops held over the past year. These include “Build a resilient Raymond, protect Raymond’s natural and water resources, invest in road and traffic improvements, prioritize walking and biking around Raymond, and strengthen Raymond’s sense of community.”

CPC Co-chair Peter Leavitt took a minute to provide an update about the progress of this long-term and much anticipated project.

“The community feedback collected by the Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC) over the past two years is reflected in the plan's Mission Statement (page 9) and Priority Actions listed at the very beginning of the draft plan,” he said.

Leavitt highlighted the priority actions at this junction as:

* Build a more resilient Raymond regarding extremes in weather and natural disasters

* Protect Raymond's natural and water resources

* Invest in road safety and traffic improvements

* Strengthen Raymond's sense of community

It is important to recognize that the priority actions are just a starting point. Leavitt explained, “While these are intentionally broad goals, the data and detail of the many initiatives necessary in achieving them are contained in the section of the draft entitled Goals, Policies and Action Items beginning on page 33. Each initiative is identified with a segment(s) of municipal government assigned to its implementation as well as an assigned timeframe for action, for example priority (As Soon As Possible), short term (one to three years), medium term (three to five years), and long term (five to 10 years).”

The document is comprised of three parts: the outlook for the future (including the vision, goals, and action items), data collection results (topics required by state law), and the appendices which include public engagement events and the Capital Improvement Plan for the town.

North Star Planning representatives Ben Smith, AICP, Kate Burch, and Sam Peikes lead the process with the assistance of Forrest Meader with Rhumbline Maps. The Comprehensive Plan Committee consists of a cross-section of Raymond residents including John Clark, Greg Foster, Kaela Gonzalez (co-chair), Peter Leavitt (co-chair), Frank McDermott, Shawn McKillop, Danelle Milone, John Rand, Jacqueline Sawyer, and Brad McCurtain.

The committee has been working together since August 2022 to guide the process, gather and synthesize data and feedback to create a vision for the future of Raymond.

The update reminds residents, “During this time, the State of Maine Municipal Planning Assistance Program will review Raymond’s plan for completeness and compliance with the state’s Growth Management Act.”

Once the public comment period has ended and state review is complete, Raymond staff, the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and North Star Planning will make edits and updates to finalize the plan. Then, the plan will go to the Select Board to vote on inclusion in the 2025 Town Warrant, where you will be able to vote on its approval.”

Following gaining approval to proceed, Leavitt said that the next step after the statutory public comment period and public hearing will be the submission of the draft plan to the State of Maine.

“The state approval can take up to three months. Once approved by the state the plan is presented to the town Select Board for placement on the Town Warrant for our June 2025 elections,” said Leavitt. “As with any major warrant article the plan will be the subject of a final town hearing prior to the community vote.”

Once approved, it will be time for the committee to “roll up their sleeves” once again.

“The real work is in the implementation of the priority actions, goals and policies identified by the community. It is the responsibility of the Select Board to create the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee to this end,” said Leavitt.

He went on to sum up the journey perfectly.

“The process is completed once the citizens of Raymond vote to accept the Comprehensive Plan,” Leavitt said. “As I have learned with Municipal comprehensive planning this…’is not the end...this is not even the beginning of the end...but perhaps this is the end of the beginning!" (Winston Churchill).’”

The CPC is seeking public comments and feedback on the recently published draft as requested on their website, “Now, we want to hear from you. The public comment period runs through Dec. 4. Please submit your comments using the form or drop them off in person at the Raymond Town Office.”

A Public Hearing on the draft plan will be held by the Raymond Comprehensive Plan Committee at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 4. 

Follow this link to learn more about the comprehensive plan, review the draft, and submit your comments: https://compplan.raymondmaine.org/index.php/review-the-plan/ <

PowerServe volunteers gearing up for 2024 Windham projects

By Ed Pierce and Masha Yurkevich

Author Mitch Albom once wrote that love is how you stay alive, even after you’re gone. In the case of Windham High School student Shane Donnelly, his death has led to an outpouring of community service projects accomplished in his memory through an organization called PowerServe.

Shane Donnelly was 16 and a 
sophomore at Windham High School
when he tragically died in 2015. To
honor his memory, the organization
PowerServe was created to assist
people in need in Windham with
home repairs and other community
projects. This year's PowerServe
event will be April 27 and 
volunteers are needed to lend a hand.
SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Shane Donnelly was just 16 and a sophomore at WHS when he passed away unexpectedly in May 2015. He cared deeply about his community and to show their love for him, his family joined Young Life students and Kristine Delano in organizing the first PowerServe in 2016, a one-day event where volunteers serve Windham area organizations and individuals who need assistance by performing various tasks from painting, yard work, and repairs. The first PowerServe event was only supposed to be a one-time occurrence but following an enormous volunteer response, it became an annual event growing to include hundreds of volunteers and dozens of projects each year.

“The purpose of the event is to come together and support and serve others. We had our largest turnout last year with over 300 hundred volunteers that supported 17 projects throughout the community,” said Bob Donnelly, Shane’s father. “The event this year will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27 at the Windham Historical Society.”

He said the Power Serve team is always looking for more volunteers but more importantly, needs projects that they can work on for others in need.

“If you know of a person or group that is in need of help with a project, we clean trails, plant memorials, paint sheds, pick up trash, clean gutters, rake leaves, remove old structures, and repair decks,” Donnelly said. “We want to provide joy and bring smiles to those in need in our community. We want to help people from all walks of life and hope to make a difference so join us for this great event and nominate a project that we can help someone in the Windham area. Thank you so much for your support in growing this event.”

Kim Donnelly is Shane’s mother and serves as Volunteer Coordinator and Co-Director of the PowerServe event.

“My son Shane Donnelly was a student, athlete, kind young man and 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,” she 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.”

She said PowerServe is such a gift and tribute to Shane’s memory.

“Shane loved the peace and beauty of the outdoors,” his mother said. “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 residences support one another.”

This year’s event will start at the Windham Historical Society gardens in Windham Center. Each volunteer will receive a PowerServe t-shirt and by 1 p.m. the projects wrap up and all volunteers are treated to a barbecue lunch at the Windham Historical Society.

“This is an opportunity to talk about the wonderful people you have supported as most love to come out and talk with the volunteers,” Kim Donnely said. “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.”

PowereServe Committee Member Anne Daigle said that she’s known the Donnelly Family for over 30 years and personally knew Shane.

“I felt compelled to do this in hopes that it would help to heal the family as well as the community,” Daigle said.

Past projects accomplished by volunteers involved cleaning up storm damage at Dundee Park, spring cleanups, painting softball dugouts, performing repairs on decks and steps and stacking firewood.

“Giving back and helping others is the heart of any community and having the students and other members of the community work together I believe gives us all a little hope that this coming generation is amazing,” Daigle said. “We help continually, and we are happy to help anyone in need.”

To sign up to volunteer for this year’s PowerServe event or to nominate a project to be worked on, visit https://www.facebook.com/PowerServePage/ or send an email to [email protected] <

Backpack program tackles food insecurity in community

By Ed Pierce

The lyrics of an old Christian hymn proclaim simply “we rise by lifting others” and that’s precisely what the Windham/Raymond Backpack Program strives to do.

Volunteers gathered in the Windham Middle School 
cafeteria on Tuesday, Dec. 12 after packing student 
backpacks with food for them over the Christmas
break from school. The program is seeking donations
to help RSU 14 children overcome food insecurity
and go on to success in their lives.
PHOTO BY BRUCE SMALL 

The initiative was launched during the 2011-2012 school year to assist school children in RSU 14 to overcome food insecurity so they can grow up healthy, do their best work in school, and become successful adults. With Maine passing the “School Meals For All” legislation in 2021, all students across the state are given access to school meals, but some struggling families in the community still face the daunting challenge of feeding children on weekends and over vacations when school is not in session.

This is where the Windham/Raymond Backpack Program comes in. It provides food to supplement children in need over weekends and school breaks during the school year. Each “Backpack” contains breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, as well as snacks. The backpacks are discreetly distributed to the students by teachers or staff at each RSU 14 school and are packed every Tuesday by a team of volunteers at Windham Middle School.

Volunteer Marge Govoni of Windham says that research indicates that children who grow up in food insecure households sometimes trail their peers in terms of cognitive, emotional, and physical development and this program is designed to help those students succeed.

“When the program began 12 years ago, it provided meals for approximately 50 students. It has since increased in number to 120 students from both Windham and Raymond schools being served,” Govoni said. “The increase in participation paired with rising food cost has made it more important than ever that we keep this program open and available to as many children as we can.”

In data collected in 2022 by the National Health Interview Study, a direct correlation was shown between household food insecurity and significantly worse general health in American children, including some acute and chronic health problems, and heightened emergency room hospital visits.

The Windham/Raymond Backpack Program only accepts monetary donations to ensure the nutritional items and menu are similarly based and meet the needs of the child.

“In order to continue to serve up to 120 children each weekend during the school year, we need more members of the community to support our program,” Govoni said. “We are reaching out to local businesses asking for additional sponsors to this program. Our biggest and most consistent contributor over the past several years has been Windham Weaponry and their generous staff, who unfortunately recently announced they will be closing down.”

If you are considering donating, Govoni said that donation benchmarks are one bag for one child at $10, and one child for the school year at $300.

“Of course, any amount is helpful, and 100 percent of the donations go toward buying food and supplies with no administrative cost or fees applied,” she said. “Using this program to give students food for the weekend ensures that come Monday morning when they return to school, they will not be hungry and ready to learn. I am passionate about this program and making sure that students have access to food over the weekend and it is run totally on donations and the work of some wonderful and caring volunteers.”

RSU 14 Chef Ryan Roderick said that the Backpack Program is so valuable because it helps to fill the gaps.

“It is not uncommon to think that because school meals are free that these kids should already have everything they need. The unfortunate truth is that even though breakfasts and lunches are available to all students, there are still hundreds of children who leave school on Friday afternoon and have no certainty that they will be fed a complete meal until Monday morning when they return to school,” Roderick said. “If that is the case, you can bet those students are going to be the ones struggling to stay focused, stay awake and to be the best version of themselves when they are in attendance. The backpack program helps those children sustain over the weekend, to feel a sense of comfort and normalcy and to be confident knowing they will not have to feel hungry, tired, or irritable by the time they get back to school. Every child deserves to feel happy and energized and to be given the best possible chance to succeed and the Backpack Program is our way to ensure that chance is given.”

Govoni said that making a donation can help transform the lives of the RSU 14 students whose lives can be made a little easier with a nutritional meal that is not always available to them.

“We cannot make this program work without the help of our very generous businesses, organizations and residents of Windham and Raymond,” she said. “We are very grateful and cannot thank those who have contributed monetary donations or volunteer their time to help make this program successful.”

To make a donation helping ensure that the food insecure children of the Windham and Raymond communities are nourished and well fed, mail a check or money order to: School Nutrition Program, Attn: Ryan Roderick, 228 Windham Center Road Windham, ME 04062 Note: Backpack Program.

Online donations can also be made at https://rsu14.androgov.com/ - Select “all other student activities,” fill in your information, for a specific school, select “School Nutrition.” For *Payment Description* write “Backpack Program.”

For more details about the Windham/Raymond Backpack Program, call 207-892-1800, Ext. 2012 or send an email to [email protected] or [email protected] <

Rescued couple grateful after boat starts sinking on Sebago Lake

By Ed Pierce

What began as a leisurely sunset cruise on Sebago Lake turned into a dramatic rescue and later an affirmation of the goodness of their fellow man for a Windham couple.

Fire/Rescue crews from Standish, Windham and Raymond
bring Brian and Kathleen March of Windham on board to
safety after their boat began taking on water on Sebago
Lake on Aug. 21. The boat was towed to shore in Standish
and the next day some volunteers from Shaw Acres helped
push it out of the water and up onto a trailer for evaluation
by insurance agents. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

On the evening of Monday, Aug. 21, Brian March and his wife, Kathleeen, took their boat out for the first time this summer after extensive work was performed in May on the 22-foot skiff craft they’ve owned for three years. They cruised to Frye Island, watched the sunset from the lake, took some photographs, and then headed along the shoreline by Saint Joseph’s College in Standish. And that’s when the trouble started.

“The motor stalls and I put it in neutral and it stalls again,” Brian March said. “I started playing with throttle when my wife told me there was water in the boat.”

He looked over and saw water in two corners, opened the bilge and saw that it was flooded with water. They looked up a towing company by cell phone, but as water began filling the boat, the couple decided to immediately call 9-1-1. On board the couple had a small hand pump, but they were more than 100 yards from shore and continuing to take on water.

“We had our life jackets on and waited for help to arrive,” Brian March said. “But we feared the boat was going to sink.”

The couple spent some harrowing minutes together waiting for rescue.

In the nick of time, the new Standish Fire/Rescue boat arrived at the scene and latched onto the March’s vessel with rope. In the coming minutes, several other towns’ fire-rescue crews responded to help as Brian and Kathleen March were taken aboard the rescue watercraft and a secure line was affixed to the bow of their boat for towing.

Standish Fire/Rescue brought it to the nearest beach, a private residence on Burke Street in Standish. The resident there allowed them to keep their boat at the site until they figured out what to do with it and he stayed with the couple until Windham Fire/Rescue Chief Brent Libby arrived to give them a ride back to their truck and trailer at Raymond Beach.

The next morning, the couple called a towing service and was quoted a price of $5,000 to haul it away to be evaluated for insurance purposes.

“I told our insurance agent I was looking at other options,” Brian March said. “I thought if we could pump the water out if we had a sump pump, we could do it ourselves and save that expense.”

Scouting out possible locations to lift the boat out of the water, the launch at Shaw Acres seemed to be a possibility. Near the boat launch, Shaw Acres resident Victor Salome brought the couple into his home and got on the phone and called Ralph Morrison of the Shaw Acres Community Association. They looked over the situation and agreed to help the Marchs.

They found a sump pump and hoses to pump out the boat at Windham Rental and pumped the water out of their boat, then waited 20 to 25 minutes while it filled again but stayed above the waterline.

At that point, they decided to turn the boat around and make a short trip across the lake to Shaw Acres with two hand pumps and an electric pump on board just in case water started pouring in again.

“Through God’s grace, we made it,” Katheen March said.

Over a span of four hours, they had brought the boat to Shaw Acres and with the help of four volunteers from Shaw Acres, the couple pushed the boat to the dock, pumped it out a third time and up and onto a 22-foot trailer to be appraised by their insurance company.

“They were all very pleasant and willing to help,” Kathleen March said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”

To show their gratitude, the Marchs sent Victor and Ralph and the Shaw Acres Association thank-you cards.

“I’m a person of faith and we were blessed that the boat didn’t take on water faster,” Kathleen March said. “We’re blessed that Standish Fire/Rescue had a new boat and it had the power to pull it to shore. We’re blessed that the landowner let us keep our boat there overnight and we’re blessed that the people of Shaw Acres were kind and wanted to help us. Every step of the way we had gifts and blessings.”

She said she feels lucky to be alive and her faith in the goodness of humanity has been strengthened because of their ordeal on the lake.

“Life is short, assess what you invest your time and money in,” Kathleen March said.

Her husband agrees and says in looking back over everything that happened to them, one thing is clear.

“We may have lost a boat but gained some wonderful new friends,” Brian March said. <

RTT rider’s determination to overcome MS leads to 2023 Adult Equestrian of the Year award

By Kelly Johnson
Special to The Windham Eagle

At Riding To The Top’s 14th annual Triple B celebration last fall, Debbie Hutchinson of Raymond shared her emotional story of navigating life with Multiple Sclerosis and how riding horses at the Windham facility has improved her physical heath and that her relationship with a horse there has boosted her emotional well-being. Hutchinson’s efforts to overcome MS at RTT have led to her being honored by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International as its 2023 Adult Equestrian of the Year.

Riding To The Top rider Debbie Hutchinson
shows her equine partner Paxton her award
as 2023 Adult Equestrian of the Year by the
Professional Association of Therapeutic
Horsemanship International.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

Hutchinson has been dealing with MS for 30 years and has been a client of RTT for the past three years. She’s experienced struggles with balance and spasticity which affect her ability to walk, but something magical began to happen to her when she was partnered with an RTT mare named Paxton.

“When I’m riding Paxton, I don’t have MS,” she said.

According to Hutchinson, working with Paxton at RTT has not only helped her to deal with her MS more effectively and has also given her a new support network to deal with MS through the friendships that she’s forged with the staff and volunteers at RTT.

Multiple Sclerosis is an immune-mediated disease producing an abnormal response of the body’s immune system which attacks the central nervous system by mistake. The immune system attack damages the body’s myelin, the substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers and the cells that make it. Without myelin to protect nerve fibers, they are also damaged. This can lead to a range of unpredictable symptoms such as tingling, numbness, pain, fatigue, memory problems and paralysis.

Riding To The Top (RTT), a Therapeutic Riding Center in Windham, was founded in 1993 and its mission is to enhance health and wellness through equine assisted services. More than 250 clients each year are impacted and assisted by a team of certified instructors, a herd of 17 horses and nearly 100 volunteers, all specially trained to assist with therapeutic riding, carriage driving and Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy using equine movement. It is Maine’s only facility that is accredited by Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (Path Intl.).

The RTT facility is a community-based nonprofit and receives no federal or state funding while providing scholarships to more than 60 percent of clients who avail themselves of equestrian services offered there.

Hutchinson’s efforts to not let MS control her life drew notice and admiration from everyone she has worked with at RTT.

“From her first entry to our center, Debbie's grit and determination were as obvious as her wide smile, said Kate Jeton, RTT program director. “She has formed an amazing bond with her horse and without assistance is able to walk and trot, modulating rhythm and pace and creating bend in her horse’s body, in spite of not being able to effectively use her right leg. Her feel for her horse is obvious and her elation is infectious."

The riding team that works directly with Hutchinson said she’s truly inspirational and deserving of the 2023 Equestrian of the Year honor.

"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Debbie for several years. She performs her pre-ride warm up with tenacity, enthusiasm, and determination to assure a successful lesson,” said Susan Layton, RTT team member. “She deals with the stress of her condition daily, but when she is sitting high on her horse, her focus is on establishing a close connection with her horse, achieving horsemanship skills, and the pure joy of riding. Her constant smile says it all."

Her achievements riding Paxton also gained the attention of Path Intl., which leads the national advancement of professional equine-assisted services by supporting members and stakeholders through rigorously developed standards, credentialing and education.

“As an international voice in the equine-assisted services (EAS) industry, PATH Intl. has a responsibility to recognize individuals and equines that symbolize our celebration of ability, optimism, diversity, and a shared love of equines,” said Alyson Thrasher, PATH’s Membership and Education Representative. “Exceptional equestrians who join in the excitement offered by EAS are a testament to the power of the horse to change lives. Debbie Hutchinson is an outstanding representative of the PATH Intl. adult equestrian community.”

To learn more about Riding To The Top’s client services, volunteering, or making a gift to RTT, visit www.ridingtothetop.org or call 207-892-2813. <

Special Olympic athletes prepare for spring competition

By Ed Pierce

Windham students are training and getting ready to make a competitive run in the State Special Olympic Games to be held at the University of Maine at Orono in June.

Windham's Special Olympics team competed in the Maine
Special Olympics Summer Games last June at the
University of Maine at Orono and is preparing for
another spring track season. Back, from left, are AJ Mains,
Coach Wyatt LeBlanc, Austin Rice, Coach Amanda Pope,
Coach Anne Blake, Ryleigh Geary, Coach Margaret Dionne,
and Cameron Malone. Front, from left, are Dani Iaconeta, 
and Mary Jean. SUBMITTED PHOTO    

To qualify to compete in Orono, Windham Special Olympians will compete in the Cumberland County Spring Games at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish in May. The Maine Special Olympics organization provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, the number of people with and without intellectual disabilities who are involved with the organization has been growing, but the unmet need to reach more people with intellectual disabilities is ongoing.

The activities provide the athletes with continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and to participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.

Last spring, a team from Windham turned in an exceptional performance during the Maine Special Olympics competition in Orono and brought home a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay race. Windham athletes also competed in the running long jump, the softball throw and several running events during the competition, which drew participating Special Olympics athletes from throughout Maine.

Anne Blake, a physical therapist from RSU 14 coaches Windham’s Special Olympics team, which is made up of student athletes from Windham High School and Windham Middle School.

Blake said because Special Olympics is a national organization, they are very stringent and need to ensure that the athletes have intellectual and other disabilities and meet the qualifying criteria to be able to compete.

Along with Special Olympians from the high school and middle school, Windham also fields a team for students in elementary school but could only take middle school and high school students to the State Special Olympics last year.

Blake said that Windham has fielded Special Olympics teams for the past decade, but because of COVID-19 concerns and restrictions, the Maine Special Olympics competition was canceled in 2020 and 2021.

Besides Special Olympics teams, Windham also fields Unified sports squads at the high school level. Unified sports teams promote social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences by including students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.

Studies have shown that Unified teams dramatically increase inclusion in the community, using sports to help break down barriers that have historically kept people apart. Teams are made up of people of similar age and ability, which makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all.

Across the state, more than 5,000 students participate in Special Olympic activities throughout the year at more than 75 different events, culminating at the State Summer Games in Orono.

In Windham’s Special Olympics track-and-field-based training program, participants can develop total fitness to compete in any sport. The program gives student athletes a chance to learn through skill development and competitive settings, and to be involved in large social groups.

Track events range from walks and sprints to relay competitions and wheelchair events. Field events include running and standing long jump contests, shot put, and softball throws.

Blake said that community support for Special Olympics and Unified sports programs is greatly appreciated. The program is always looking for volunteers from throughout the community willing to give up their time to help and cheer on the student athletes and serve as coaches and sports officials. All Special Olympic volunteers must be age 14 or older.

Financial donations are also welcomed and Maine Special Olympics is a 501C(3) nonprofit. Donations to support Special Olympics may be made online at https://support.specialolympics.org/a/maine or by mailing a check to Special Olympics Maine, 525 Maine St. Unit D, South Portland, ME 04106.

To become a Special Olympics volunteer in Windham, send an email to Blake at [email protected] <

Volunteers exhibit kindness in stepping up to help homeless

By Ed Pierce

The late Coretta Scott King once said that the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. Bearing that in mind, a group of Windham volunteers stepped up to assist those in need when a blast of arctic air dropped the temperature outside to -18 degrees last weekend and asked for nothing in return.

A group of volunteers from Windham gather in the kitchen
at First Parish Church in Portland on Saturday, Feb. 4 to help
fix and serve meals to the homeless and those in needs on
the coldest day of the year. The volunteers also collected 
warm winter clothing and blankets to assist those suffering
from the cold sub-zero temperatures. SUBMITTED PHOTO    

Friends and neighbors in Windham concerned about those less fortunate banded together to help the homeless and those experiencing food insecurity on what was the coldest weekend in many years.

“When the temperatures dropped to unprecedented levels, this started a frenzy about how to best help many people in Windham,” said Carol Walsh of Windham. “First, it was asked how can we help the needy so they will be warm while they weather out the two days? Secondly, how can the needy be helped with a place to warm up and also get a hot meal?”

The group of Windham volunteers chose to join others at the First Parish Church Warming Center in Portland to lend a hand on Saturday, Feb. 4 and then began collecting winter items and meals to take with them to the church that day.

“Starting with the first thing on the list, warm clothes and blankets, a friend who volunteers for Maine Needs, Amy Weickert, sent our friend's group a quick text stating the dire straits of getting enough warm items for people who would be encountering the low temps,” Walsh said. “I sent out an email to some of my neighbors and friends, and boom, I had hats, gloves, mittens, blankets, boots and jackets, and some items were bought at Reny's. The multiple bags were delivered to Maine Needs the very next day. I then saw the huge donations from American Roots, a Westbrook company who produce ‘Made in Maine’ items, and said yikes, talk about generous.”

Walsh said that the volunteer group from Windham then discussed how to help those coming that day to the Warming Center at the First Parish Church.

“Kristen Harris, the co-founder of Maine Meal Assistance, saw the need for help there,” Walsh said. “She contacted the church, then she went and saw the space and knew our group would help. I called out to friends and they were happy to volunteer for whatever was needed.”

Among volunteers agreeing to pitch in and help at the church were Walsh, Ellen LaChapelle, Cheryl Alterman, Judy George, Marilyn Pierce and Kristen Harris.

“We saw firsthand the people from the frigid cold coming into a warm and welcoming center where a hot meal was being offered to those in need,” Walsh said. “People with frost-bitten hands, everything they own by their sides and then we saw the complete satisfaction on their faces with the delicious food.”

The volunteers gathered and served the homeless at the church a meal made up of donated foods, including ziti with beef, ziti with sausage, vegetarian ziti, roasted turkey, roasted potatoes, gravy, stuffing, squash risotto, mashed sweet potatoes, lasagna from Lasagna Love of Windham, a vegetarian ziti with tons of vegetables and hundreds of homemade cookies and brownies baked by the Windham volunteers.

Walsh said that serving utensils were donated by Hannaford in Windham and Amatos of Windham. Gift cards were donated by various Windham businesses to help defray the expenses for buying plates, utensils, and napkins.

In helping out at the church, the volunteers met Harry Bailey, who has opened a shelter at 160 State St. in Portland for about 40 residents. These are mostly young adults who have aged out of foster care and individuals recently from incarceration. Walsh said the Windham volunteers are talking about ways they can help Bailey and the residents of his shelter too.

Returning to Windham, Walsh said all of the volunteers were grateful for the opportunity to serve those in need on the coldest day in years.

“Every person getting a plate was so grateful, kind and came back before leaving to say thank you,” Walsh said. “My reason for helping is I just can't stand by and not do something. It warmed my heart, serving hot food to people who were so grateful. After being a volunteer cook for three years with Maine Meal Assistance, it's just in my blood to help.”

She said that anyone can help.

“The help can be making something. Have someone pick it up and deliver it or complete the whole process. The people you meet make you remember that any one of us could be a step away from what we take for granted. This is a very fulfilling experience. I have had friends who donate gift cards to me so in turn I can buy the ingredients for the home-cooked meals. They recognize my passion, and I am so appreciative to them for their support.” <

Fuller Center expresses gratitude for area volunteers, businesses

By Lorraine Glowczak

The board members of the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing (Fuller Center) always appreciate their volunteers' time, energy, and financial contributions and the businesses that contribute to their cause. What better way to convey that gratitude than to offer it during the holiday that celebrates the expression of thanks?

The Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing
board members are thankful for the generosity of this
community that so readily helps others.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK

“We certainly could not fulfill our mission of providing adequate shelter and a safe living space for our older adults without the help of area volunteers and businesses,” said Fuller Center President Diane Dunton Bruni. “I am amazed and grateful for the generosity of this community to help others.”

The Fuller Center was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller, who also founded Habitat for Humanity. The local Sebago Lakes Region chapter focuses its mission on housing repair so older adults can remain and age safely in their own homes.

At a recent Fuller Center Volunteer Appreciation celebration, Linda Gregoire of Windham spoke at the event. She and her husband, John, were recipients of Fuller Center services in July.

Her words speak genuine and heartfelt appreciation that the local Fuller Center believes regarding everyone’s time, materials and financial contributions.

“I’m here to share with you from everyone who was a recipient of the Fuller Housing Foundation projects, our thanks and gratitude for your kind help,” she said. “I don’t just speak for John and myself, but I hope I speak for everyone you helped. I want to start with a quote that epitomizes the spirit of volunteerism by a woman who dedicated her life to helping the unseen. In the words of Mother Teresa, ‘You have not truly lived until you have done something for someone who can do nothing to repay you’.”

Gregoire continued by saying that serving the unseen, the elderly, the disabled, and veterans (who are often both), is a worthy calling.

“We should remember the unseen weren’t always unseen. They were productive members of our community,” she said. “So, to have a group of caring people come into your life to fix or build and repair something you used to be able to do but can no longer do yourself is an unbelievable experience and blessing.”

Gregoire said that she and her husband felt relief that one of their needs was met.

“How do you ever thank the people who freely gave their love, compassion, time, talent and resources? It can be so humbling and overwhelming to receive so much. But I assure you, you have been thanked in prayers to be blessed as you have been a blessing. God smiled a lot this summer, particularly on July 29, but also on a rainy afternoon when the last nail was pounded as the rain fell. None of it goes unnoticed. What you all did this summer won’t just last for this summer. After you all went home, back to your jobs and lives, what you did will last for years. Every project will be a testament to what we can do for one another when we join together and put our “Faith into Action.”

Dunton Bruni said there are so many individuals to thank that it would take an entire page to express the Fuller Center’s gratitude. She listed a small group of individuals, organizations, and businesses who gave $1,000 or more or were local contractors who gave their time.

But first, Dunton Bruni said she felt it necessary to mention one more thing.

“It is essential to note that this list does not eliminate our appreciation for those who gave in smaller ways but with a big heart,” Dunton Bruni said. “Especially those who worked hard cooking to feed the volunteers. Please know that we know who you are and are grateful to you beyond words.”

Dunton Bruni said the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing is grateful to Hancock Lumber, Maine Association of Realtors, Modern Woodman, Sebago Lake Rotary, Bill and Jane Diamond, North Windham Union Church, Alex Ewig, Stephen Fraizer, Raymond Village Community Church, Hussy Seating, Fuller Center Bike Adventure, Randy Perkins of Perks Peak, Brian Shaw of Earthworks, Jill Johanning, Larry Hodgkins, Scott Symonds, Greg Cushman, Rob Regan, Tom Cleveland, Lowes, Casella Waste, VFW Post 10643, Hannaford Supermarkets, and Bob’s Seafood for their help.

Perhaps Gregoire expresses the Fuller Center’s appreciation the best.

“I want you to know you changed circumstances, which has changed lives and how those lives are lived and enjoyed. I hope and pray these projects will be an example to others of what we can all accomplish when we open our hearts and use our hands to help the unseen.”

To learn more about the Sebago Lakes Region Fuller Center for Housing organization, to volunteer, or to inquire about housing repair, call 207-387-0855, send an email to [email protected], visit their website at www.sebagofullerhousing.org or follow them on Facebook. <

Medical Loan Closet assists community with medical equipment in tough times

By Masha Yurkevich

A medical emergency - we’ve all been there. A slip on the ice resulting in a broken leg, taking the laundry downstairs, and missing the last step; it’s happened to the majority of us. Oftentimes, it’s the elderly that get hit by this the hardest and they often have a hard time getting the needed and proper equipment to help them with their injuries. Since 1940, the Medical Loan Closet has been helping the Windham Raymond community along with surrounding towns by loaning out durable medical equipment to help mostly with mobility.

Since 1940 the Medical Loan Closet has been helping the
Windham and Raymond community along with the 
surrounding towns by loaning out durable medical
equipment to help mostly with mobility. It is at 221
Windham Center Road next to the Windham Public
Library. FILE PHOTO 

The Windham Medical Loan Closet is at 221 Windham Center Road, next to the Windham Public Library. Its idea was established by superintendent of schools at that time Frederick Alkens, and Windham school nurse Beverly Allen in the mid-1940s when they saw a need for loaning out medical equipment to those recuperating at home from various medical conditions who might not be able to afford purchasing it. Town doctors Sidney Branson and Robert Burns soon joined along with other volunteers.

At that time, the organization was known as the Windham Health Council. Their work first began with the schools, weighing and measuring children and in the 1950s, the Windham Health Council organized a Well Baby Clinic, which operated until about the later 1960s. About that time, Mrs. Allen and council volunteers led a move to make fluoride treatment available to all children of Windham. Then, in the 1970s, Windham Health Council was very active and influential in recruiting the town’s first dentist.

But perhaps the most enduring contribution of Windham Health Council is the Medical Loan Closet. It was launched by Helen Alkens when she saw the struggle of getting medical equipment to those recuperating at home from various medical conditions. From its humble beginning with just a hospital bed and a few children’s books, the medical closet has grown much bigger. It now falls under the Town Manager’s Office and has a small budget.

Lynda Murphy, Director of the Windham Medical Loan Closet, has just taken over after being led by Kristi MacKinnon for well over 10 years. Murphy has been volunteering at the loan closet for about five years.

“There are about nine current volunteers and Kristi and a few of our current members may have been volunteering for close to twenty years if not over that,” says Murphy. “Like many of us, we really aren’t sure when we may have started. I started volunteering because I had borrowed equipment for a family member and thought I would like to be a part of it.”

The Windham Medical Loan Closet serves the community and surrounding towns by loaning out durable medical equipment to help mostly with mobility. They do not have any electrically motivated equipment. They have mostly walkers, knee scooters, wheelchairs, shower chairs, commodes, bed rails, and some assortment of donated briefs and other medical items.

“We do not necessarily limit our service to just Windham/Raymond at all,” says Murphy. “Clients need only call 207-894-5999 and leave their message for what they need, and a volunteer calls them back. We try to limit the time of use to three months but there are exceptions made.”

Volunteers answer messages from Monday through Sunday and meet clients when they are available. The loan closet evaluates the client’s need for equipment, sets up a time and meets at the loan closet when convenient for both. There are no specific times that the closet is open to pick up or drop off equipment.

“We expect messages to always be left so volunteers can arrange a meeting,” said Murphy. “Currently, we find a great need for equipment and are likely to return many calls in a day. By the end of a week, we may well have met the needs of over 25 clients, though each week can be quite different.”

Volunteers do various other duties keeping up the loan closet, such as cleaning equipment and meeting clients. While Murphy says that she refers to herself as the director, she says that the loan closet only runs by all of the input of the volunteers and by helping each other.

“We have two meetings a year to fill out a schedule and volunteer a week every eight weeks as it works out currently,” says Murphy. “We fill in for each other and work around all of our schedules. We are always looking for helpers and volunteers and are glad to work around individual schedules.”

For Murphy, she believes that the purpose of the Medical Loan Closet has not changed much from when everything was first formed in the 1940s.

“We serve the needs of the community of Windham and surrounding areas by loaning some medical equipment, so they do not have to incur making that expense,” says Murphy. “We operate with the assistance of the town of Windham and our volunteers, sometimes receive donations of equipment and monetary donations from individuals and purchase some newer equipment. Our goal remains the same: helping those who have a need for our services. God bless those with a vision to serve in some small way, and that is what we do at the Windham Medical Loan Closet.”

As volunteers, they are all very committed to keeping the original purpose of this organization moving forward. It started with one person seeing a need and has continued forward with hundreds of people keeping it going.

To obtain equipment from the Medical Loan Closet, call 207-894-5999 and leave a message for what you are looking for and a volunteer will call back and follow up. <

Lasagna Love spreads kindness throughout community

Amanda Wertanen of Windham makes a lasagna from scratch
for donation to a local family. Wertanen is one of a handful of
volunteer chefs making meals for the Lasagna Love
organization, a group dedicated to spreading love and
kindness in the community. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

By Andrew Wing

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to so many terrible things from loss of life to worldwide lockdowns, to global disruption, and it's been hard on everybody. Despite that, some good things have come out of it, and one of those things is Lasagna Love. 

A global nonprofit organization, Lasagna Love was born out of the pandemic and aims to positively impact communities by connecting neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal deliveries. It seeks to eliminate the stigma associated with asking for help when it’s needed most and their mission is a simple one -- to feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities.

Lasagna Love was started by a mother from California as she connected home cooks who wanted to make dinner with others who needed a little help during the trying times. Now just two years later, Lasagna Love is serving three countries, providing about 3,500 meals a week to those in need thanks to over 20,000 volunteers, and it’s even making an impact in our communities in Windham and Raymond.

A big reason why Lasagna Love has been able to make an impact in this community is Jennifer Merrill. She has been a Windham resident all her life and she started volunteering for Lasagna Love some 18 months ago.

“I heard about the opportunity during the pandemic, and it sounded like a good way to provide a much needed service while still staying safe because there was little to no face to face contact with recipients,” said Merrill. “I enjoy cooking and it sounded like an easy way to make a difference in the local area, and since I have been on the receiving end of a meal delivery before, I know how helpful it truly is for many reasons.”

Several months before becoming the regional leader for southern Maine, Merrill was cooking a lasagna every week or so. She was chosen as regional leader because she has lived here her whole life and she knew the area well, and as regional leader, she’s grown the base of the organization by adding both more volunteers and recipients. 

The Town of Windham currently has seven chefs that are making lasagnas for the organization, and they’re always eager to add more to the list as there are typically about thirty deliveries each week for the southern Maine region, with one to four of those deliveries being in Windham. While this organization was created to help mainly those in need, Merrill views it as being mutually beneficial.

“Lasagna Love helps both chefs and recipients,” said Merrill. “Chefs are blessed to be able to give, and recipients are blessed with a home cooked lasagna made and delivered with kindness, from the heart.”

Also, Merrill encourages anyone who’s interested in cooking to sign up to cook monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, or even just once to try it out. Similarly, she encourages anyone who could use a hand to request a lasagna.

“Everyone needs a break some time,” said Merrill. “Please don’t feel like someone else needs it more than you, everyone is worthy of this act of kindness. Requests come in for just about any reason, and there is no judgment.”

One person that took Merrill’s advice and joined was Kelly Grant Smith of Windham. Smith joined last fall after seeing a segment about Lasagna Love on the Today Show on television. And while she doesn’t consider herself a “chef,” Smith has been very happy with her decision to join and help those in need.

“I’ve loved to cook my whole life, and while I don’t have a recipe for lasagna, I just make it like my mom did,” said Smith. “During the pandemic, like so many others, I experimented more. I dug out my bread machine, perfected my bagels, and made a lot more comfort food, so you could say Lasagna Love came at a perfect time.”

There’s no denying that Lasagna Love has touched many lives since its inception, but in the past month, it has significantly touched someone in our community, and that was Cathy Dodge of Windham. A friend of Cathy’s suggested Lasagna Love to her after her mom passed away, and although it was hard for her to accept help, she did and was able to have a night of not having to stress over the mundane task of making dinner.

“My mother told me long ago that you are being a blessing to someone else by letting them bless you with help, and that stuck with me,” said Dodge. “I love that Lasagna Love is there for anyone. You do not need to be in sickness, distress, or financial difficulties, anyone for any reason can request a meal once a month.”

To request a meal or for more information about becoming a Lasagna Love chef, visit www.lasagnalove.org/ <