SCARBOROUGH – Jim Elkins started volunteering at Project GRACE four years ago. Quickly moving up the ranks, he now volunteers, chairs a committee and sits on the board of directors. For those reasons, Elkins is the first-ever recipient of the Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living Senior Service Award.

Mary Rollo, executive director of Project GRACE, nominated Elkins for the award. The charity and Elkins will each receive a $500 gift from Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living as part of the recognition during a tea event Thursday, June 28 at 2 p.m.

“He is dedicated to improving the lives of our recipients with his time, talent and treasure,” said Rollo. “Jim is a principled and compassionate man who makes a marked difference in Project GRACE every day.”

Elkins is the chairman of the Project GRACE Granting Resource Committee. Members of the committee answer phone calls from people in the community and assess the needs of the callers and decide how to assist them. Sometimes they make those decisions individually and sometimes they discuss options as a committee. Project GRACE provides money for oil, electric bills, rent, food and other necessities. The organization also works with its donors to provide back-to-school items and gifts or food during the holidays.

“I just feel we as citizens have a responsibility to help each other in some way and this is a good way of doing that,” said Elkins. “Scarborough is an affluent community. Many people don’t realize that we have people living on the edge, but we do.”

Elkins is also on the Portland Regional Chamber board and he chairs a committee for United Way. He currently operates Career Planning Services.

Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living started its Senior Service Award to honor active adults 62 and above who are making a difference in the community. A generous $100,000 donation by Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living resident Louis Fineberg to the Scarborough school district inspired the community to start this award.

“It is important to recognize active adults who dedicate their lives to helping our community,” said Terry Huntley, executive director of Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living. “We are honored to have Louis Fineberg as a resident, and we are honored to show others how much we appreciate their service. We want everyone to know, no matter your age, you can have a positive impact on the world around you.”

Jim Elkins