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Long Creek Youth Development Center - South Portland,
Maine
In 2006-2007, the Junior League of Portland and Long Creek Youth Development
Center will celebrate their 10th Anniversary of uninterrupted collaboration.
This year is the perfect opportunity to truly celebrate this long-standing
commitment to such a worthy cause. Beginning in October 2006, Junior League of
Portland volunteer opportunities will consist of larger, more meaningful
projects occurring five times throughout the year. As always, our activities are
intended to provide enjoyment, promote self-esteem, and teach life skills and
values such as respect and compassion for others. Among other possibilities, the
Community Projects Committee hopes to implement the following workshop-based
volunteer opportunities:
• “Women in the Workforce” (educational/career choices)
• “Women in the Arts” (to include hands on craft project)
• Outdoor event or activity (softball game, etc.)
• “I’m Worth It” party to include spa services for the girls
• “Giving Back to the Community” workshop that will incorporate a hands-on
project that will then be donated back to the community.
Ronald McDonald House – Portland, Maine
Once again, throughout the 2006-2007 year, Junior League volunteers will
provide comfort and support to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House by
preparing a home-cooked meal for them through the Guest Chef Night program. As
in the past, our dedicated volunteers will prepare and drop-off all elements of
homemade dinners (like soup, chili, casserole and bread), which guests can enjoy
at their leisure. We also hope to volunteer at some Guest Chef Breakfast
opportunities to offer members an opportunity to volunteer on a weekend morning
by cooking and preparing breakfast onsite at the Ronald McDonald House.
STRIVE – Portland, Maine
This year, our first year partnering with STRIVE on an on-going project
basis, the Junior League will create and sustain four large volunteer
opportunities that will help STRIVE in various ways. Upcoming projects include
helping to organize BookWorks, a secondhand bookstore run by STRIVE members and
volunteers. Junior League volunteers also hope to help out on STRIVE Pride Day -
this could include revamping an interior or exterior space. Volunteers also will
be given the opportunity to bake with STRIVE students around the Holidays, as
well as give STRIVE students a hand in preparing for their annual Dance-A-Thon
by cleaning and decorating the facility.
Portland West – Portland, Maine
Working with Portland West in their Community Resource Lab is also a new
partnership for the 2006-2007 year. Through the Junior League, our volunteers
will meet weekly with individuals between the ages of 16-24 to tutor them in
adult education classes and ESL, or with students working toward obtaining their
GED.
Sweetser – Westbrook Bridge Home
Throughout 2006-2007 Junior League volunteers will work directly
with the children and staff at Westbrook Bridge Home on various projects (craft
projects, landscaping, interior/exterior painting, cooking and baking). If
residents were unavailable – due to scheduling or circumstances – our volunteers
will be available to work on interior/exterior projects or landscaping alone.
Our two goals with this ongoing project are to (1) provide the children with an
afternoon of fun, caring, carefree, interaction that would help take their minds
off of their current situation, and (2) help maintain the facility thereby
alleviating some of the burden placed on staff and residents.
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Since
1922, the Junior League of Portland has committed volunteer leadership and
funding to many worthwhile community projects. We founded the
Children's Museum of Maine,
Children's Theatre of Maine, and the Parenting Center at USM. We co-founded the Beacon Teen Center and most
recently the
Kids First Center.
We initiated the first school volunteer program in Maine, which later became
Portland Partnership. We initiated Project Kids in
Safe Seats, which led to passing legislation for mandatory use of seat belts. We
were a charter-funding source for the
Center for Grieving Children and
Preble Street Resource Center. We restored
rooms at the Sweat Mansion, Daniel-Howe House, and Victoria Mansion. We established
programs, provided volunteers, and funded major projects for Maine Medical
Center and Maine Audubon Society.
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