BRUNSWICK
The Independence Association is gaining traction in raising funds for its Keep Our Clients Warm campaign.
According to the association’s Dennis St. Pierre, leadership and the board of directors decided to set a goal to having a more energy efficient infrastructure — that meant a lot of work for an agency with 10 older structures.
“We needed to make some major changes … to save money and energy alike,” St. Pierre said.
St. Pierre said the agency began by making energy efficiency changes throughout the agency and having energy audits completed on all their structures.
In doing so, the Independence Association identified more than $127,000 worth of work that needed to be completed to bring all their buildings to a higher efficiency standard — an investment that would help them recoup money lost due to drafty buildings.
St. Pierre said state and federal funding does not cover expenses associated with structures that house or deliver services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, leaving them only the private sector to turn to.
That help began to trickle in, first as a beneficiary of Downeast Energy annual golf tournament. St. Pierre said those funds gave them the money needed to kick off their campaign.
In September, the Brunswick Rotary Club held a fundraiser on behalf or Independence Association called “Lift the Spirits.” This event garnered another $2,250 toward their efforts.
The Maine Community Foundation Grants to Green award of $16,305 went directly to Spindleworks on Lincoln Street.
Spindleworks Director Brian Braley said artists and staff regularly fight the cold air that freely flows throughout the building. t. Pierre said some of the walls in the historic building have no insulation at all in them.
In all, St. Pierre said the agency has received $32,620 toward work at Spindleworks — money he said the agency will see pay for itself in as little as five years.
Still, St. Pierre puts out the call for donations, saying any individual, business or philanthropic organization is more than welcome to donate toward the massive insulating projects to keep the people they serve warm during the cold months.
With their 50th anniversary being celebrated just as that cold weather arrives in October, St. Pierre is optimistic with only $94,000 left to go to reach their goal.
mcintire@timesrecord.com
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