SAVING YARN MILL ARTIFACTS

The Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council worked to save some of the artifacts at the Camden Yarns Mills as it is transformed into the Museum L/A.

Additional Photos

Michael Blais of Catherine’s Cupboard Food Pantry in Standish receives a $500 donation from Sydney Gillingham on behalf of the Steep Falls Elementary School PTO. Courtesy photo

The Camden Yarns Mills was one of the first cotton mills in Lewiston and according to the museum’s Executive Director Rachel Desgrosseilliers helps tell the story of textiles, recycling and immigration.

The council donated its time, working in cooperation with the museum staff to save a piece of the past before the renovations take place at this historic site.

‘LET’S GO!’ GRANT AWARDED

The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation has awarded a third $100,000 grant to Portland-based “Let’s Go!” for the 5-2-1-0 Goes to School Program.

The foundation’s grant provides direct support to individual schools in 12 communities, enabling them to promote healthy eating and activity by introducing more nutritious snack foods, and purchasing playground and other equipment that encourages fun activity for students.

The program reaches approximately 17,000 students in 48 schools in Greater Portland with a simple message about behavior and eating.

TD BANK DONATES TO PANTRY

TD Bank executives replenished shelves and served food at Preble Street, and presented the organization with a $30,000 donation.

The food pantry shelves are often bare from large volume of requests that occur during the holiday season. The donation of $30,000 is equivalent to 120,000 meals.

This donation is part of $680,000 TD Charitable Foundation has given to area food banks.

BANK ON COMMUNITY GRANTS

Androscoggin Bank announced the recipients of its Bank on Community ABCommunity grants.

Museum L/A received $5,000 to help continue the chronicling of work, industry and community in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Androscoggin Land Trust received $2,500 to help protect the important natural areas, traditional landscapes and outdoor experience in the Androscoggin River watershed.

Camp Sunshine received $2,500 to help sponsor a week at camp for children with life threatening illnesses and their families.

Oratorio Chorale received $1,000 to help promote the independent organization of singers looking to promote the choral arts in midcoast Maine.

CREDIT UNION FIGHTS HUNGER

Maine State Credit Union, a state-chartered credit union serving Kennebec and Somerset counties, distributed $43,250 to local hunger organization in the two counties.

Representatives from local hunger organizations attended an ending-hunger celebration at Maine State Credit Union. Each organization received a donation of $495. Those that participated in the credit union’s 2009 annual Walk to Stop Hunger received an additional bonus of $1,300.

Each year, the credit union hosts several events to raise money for ending hunger. The largest event is their annual Walk to Stop Hunger which raised over $21,000 in 2009.

PTO DONATES TO FOOD PANTRY

Michael Blais of Standish, coordinator of Catherine’s Cupboard Food Pantry in Standish, was presented a $500 check by Sydney Gillingham, 8, on behalf of the Steep Falls Elementary School’s Parent Teachers Organization.

Students at the school also collected five cases of food to donate to the pantry. Blais attended the school assembly to receive the donations.

Gillingham and her mother, Pam, volunteer at the pantry, which operates every Wednesday evening at the Standish Town Hall.

Blais works out of the Campus Ministry office at Saint Joseph’s College, one of the sponsors of the food pantry.

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