I’m not a regular TV watcher, but when I’m in the mood, I have my favorites. Oprah allows me to check in on my well being, and I’m often left with one of three thoughts: Thank God I’m not in that situation. This could be me if some conditions in my life were to change. Or, I can so relate – I need to change.

When I’m done assessing my condition, HGTV is the channel I turn to for inspiration around the house. A channel filled with home improvement and makeover ideas, for a moment, it makes me want to jump up and tackle the next home improvement project.

But then I do a reality check. In 1990, we renovated our home with a new floor plan top to bottom. Only the living room remained the same. In the truest sense of the word – it was our “livingroom” while the makeover was underway. A whole lot happened in that small space.

An experience I don’t want to repeat, we did battle with endless dust, ate microwave dinners, and slept to the buzz of the refrigerator a few feet from our bed. Living in less than optimum conditions we knew there was an end in sight, and the outcome would be a much improved home.

The experience heightened our mindfulness that others in this world would give anything for what we had at that moment. Each night, I dusted off the table, and cooked up the microwave dinner. Among the chaos, the table was set, and we sat down and ate.

To this day when I see a microwave dinner, I’m reminded of renovation dust evoking a natural impulse that tells me to run away and go out to dinner instead. Making meals from scratch these days is the economical choice in my house. With a great grocery store nearby, complete with in-house chef, Gary McCourt, and recipes to inspire, could it get any better?

Hannaford advertising campaign suggests creating memories through food experiences. The shopping experience is all part of the pleasure that adds joy to your everyday life.

Everything looks so perfect in the ad. However, things are less than perfect at Scarborough’s Hannaford these days as they undergo a total makeover. Each time I walk into that store I’m reminded of my home renovation project. There was only two of us managing and maneuvering in the less than optimum conditions.

In contrast, they’re dealing with a whole community that needs groceries regardless of the store’s condition. It’s fun to watch the progress. Each time I visit the store I wonder how they’re managing the dust because I never see any. Compared to my own renovation experience, on the surface, they have this under control, but I’m sure that behind the scenes a lot is going on to manage all of this.

Like a life in crisis, life must go on around you, and needs must be met. When it rains, it often pours. More demands make things especially challenging.

Jason Hilton hadn’t even been manager a week, when the store began its renovation. I approached the store manager him with a special request: Would Scarborough Hannaford provide and prepare the menu for Project G.R.A.C.E.’s food booth at SummerFest?

New to town, I told him about Project G.R.A.C.E. An acronym for Granting Resources and Assistance through Community Effort – this great organization helps neighbors when their life is in crisis by providing short-term assistance. Help provides a sense of joy and hope to those whose life has been shattered, so that lives may be restored.

Thanks to Hannaford, Project G.R.A.C.E. will be serving up pulled pork barbecue sandwiches, chips and pickles at SummerFest (booth No. 21). Hannaford’s gift will help to raise $12,000 as Project G.R.A.C.E. gears up for the most demanding time of the year for recipients: back to school, holidays, followed by the cold winter months.

People often wonder, “How can I help Project G.R.A.C.E.?” In addition to the food booth, there will be two booths offering games and fun (No. 22 and No. 23). I don’t know about you, but when it comes time to eat, I like to be able to sit down, and hopefully relax. With all the excitement of the festival, Project G.R.A.C.E. will make the effort. The table will be set.

Sit and relax with your friends and enjoy a pulled pork sandwich or a homemade hot fudge brownie sundae while your children enjoy all the games: Ring a Maine Root, Race for G.R.A.C.E., balloon twisting, slide, and fishing. There will be great prizes for game winners, and participation gifts for all. Be sure to wager a guess at the number of Freaky Beans in the pickle jar too.

Big things can happen in a small space (booths No. 21 through 23). You can help bring joy to a life in crisis. Simply participating means that you’ve entered a life renovation project for a neighbor in need, and you don’t have to deal with any renovation dust! Experience the Project G.R.A.C.E. activities at SummerFest!