Local groups get foundation support

Community service, outreach key
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Three local non-profits are among eight in Aroostook County receiving grants from the Maine Community Foundation.
    Empowering Life, the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project (SACAP) and Houlton’s community park and waterfront rehabilitation project were singled out for their community-oriented goals, said Jon McLaughlin, an adviser to the foundation.
    Empowering Life provides fresh produce and firewood to the working poor. Dale Flewelling, program director, said in addition to a $4,500 grant from the foundation’s Pinetree Fund, an additional $3,000 from the Harold Dudley Charitable fund was presented to the organization. Friends of Aroostook (FOA) is under the Empowering Life umbrella of direct service programs. 
    “The grants will be used to deliver firewood, purchase seeds for crops, make produce deliveries to Meals-On- Wheels and other Aroostook County agencies serving working poor and elderly residents,” said Flewelling. He said the program does not charge recipients for food or firewood.
    McLaughlin spoke well of all programs that received grants. “They are helping the community in very positive ways.” In addition to FOA’s food and wood program, McLaughlin said he liked the public/private partnership that created walking trails in Houlton’s community park and the family-oriented aspect of SACAP’s art program.
    Wade Hanson, Houlton’s community development director, said the $2,500 grant to the community park project will be used to complete informational signs at various locations in Riverfront Park. Doug Hazlett, town manager, added that much of the work there was done with grant money and private donations. “It is very much appreciated to not be a burden to the taxpayers.”
    The grant of $2,500 to SACAP, said Barbara Sutton, its director, will enable the program to offer family art classes whereby a child accompanied by an adult will get one-on-one art instruction along with art history classes. “I liked the family involvement of that program. And we are fortunate to have three recipients from southern Aroostook County. That’s pretty good,” commented McLaughlin.
    Other organizations awarded by the Maine Community Foundation were: Presque Isle Minor Hockey for a girls’ varsity team; Halfway Home Pet Rescue (Caribou) for public school education, spay/neuter funding and vaccines; Ft. Kent Elementary School to purchase uniforms and equipment for the Rivers Middle School Booster Club; Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery (Caribou) to create an avenue of flags; and, Stockholm Community Center to create a fitness center.
    For information on the Maine Community Foundation visit www.mainecf.org or call (877) 700-6800.