Mid Maine Homeless Shelter Food Pantry

There are several food pantries in the area that I will be posting on soon. here is one of them: Participants must present an ID when picking up food items.

The Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter every Friday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at 19 Colby Circle.

A finance class is also offered to MMHS food pantry participants.

"Each program participant can access the program once a month. All participants are encouraged to participate in the Financial Sense program that teaches not only budgeting but how to shop wisely, create savings, lower expenses and increase income.

Greater Waterville Area Food Bank

I will be posting area food banks below in the calender at the bottom of the page.

I am specifically mentioing the  Greater Waterville Area Foodbank because there has been a recent change to their hours.

Accoding to their Facebook page "Our additional hours are on the second and fourth Monday evenings of the month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. located at the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, 61 Pleasant St., Waterville, ME. Their church ph. is 872-7564 @ email is :watervillefoodbank@gmail.com. Their traditional hrs of operation are still from Monday - Thurs from 10AM-12PM.located at the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, 61 Pleasant St., Waterville, ME.
Please note that"prior to visiting the food bank, clients must obtain a voucher from the Salvation Army or the Waterville General Assistance office. Evening clients can come directly to the food bank for screening. You will be required to provide proof of identity and proof of residency." They can be reached through the church at 872-7564 or email them at watervillefoodbank@gmail.com.

Waterville Area Homeschool Co-Op

For anyone homeschooling young children, there is a homeschooling group that meets at the Waterville Library  every fourth Friday.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/698852253469126/

Senior Circle Potluck Lunch in Fairfeld Center

Any seniors who wish to share their culinary creations socialize and become informed about issues relevant to seniors in general, with other seniors there is a  once a month potluck in Fairfield Center!  "If you would like to join the group, have questions, or need a ride, please call Becky Potter at 465-9291".The event is held   on the third Friday of each monthfrom 11AM-2Pm with lunch served at 12.

http://www.fairfieldme.com/library/index.php/calendar-of-events/senior-circle-pot-luck/month/2014/02/21

Free Upcoming Colby College Art Related Events

These events are free and open to the public!
http://www.colby.edu/academics_cs/museum/programs/schedule.cfm

There is a  free clothes store in Oakland that is currently open once every week!
 Dot's Clothing Closet's hours are every every Thursday  from2:00-4:45pm. They are located at the Oakland Methodist Church onWest School St in Oakland in the Fellowship Hall.
Here's their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dots-Closet-at-Oakland-Sidney-Methodist-Church/599884466694305

Update about Lambs free Clothing Store in Fairfield. Its not ready for opening yet.  One of the coordinators Maxine informed me that's the workers expect it to be ready for opening during the first week of March.  She said to check back around that date to be sure as the opening date is not yet set in stone.Tel: (207) 453-6841, Maxine Scribner

I finally found a non profit diaper program for Maine parents in the low income bracket! CuddleMe has partner programs in 9 states including one location in Waterville Maine at the Home for Little Wanderers.
"The Cuddle Me Program now provides the basics of daily living—diapers and wipes, formula and food, along with clothing and equipment—to thousands of children from birth through three years of age."
Here is the form to request help( the program policy is to fill out a request form instead of contacting the agency directly)."Important Note: Please do not contact these organizations directly for assistance. We require you to click here and submit the assistance form for security purposes". Someone will be back in touch with you quickly!http://www.cuddlemeprogram.com/about/partners/ Note there are several parteners in Lewiston and one in Lisbon Falls. http://www.cuddlemeprogram.com/about/partners/

Local Sliding Scale Medical Insurance

Note I do not know how the new governmental programs will affect these current local programs but these are currently in force.
There is a  insurance program  for people who do not qualify for Maine Care but can not personally afford the sky high out of pocket expense of other insurances. It's called CarePartners:http://www.mainehealth.org/mh_body.cfm?id=3441

Inland Hospial provides a Free care program to patients without insurance:
http://www.inlandhospital.org/Patients-and-Visitors/For-Patients/Billing-Help/Free-Care-Program.aspx


 Eastern Maine Medical Center (The hospital is in Bangor which Inland in Waterville is  actually part of, has a free or reduced rate insurance care program:
http://www.emmc.org/billing_help.aspx?id=28460

Maine General  at both  their current Augusta and Waterville locations has two free to low cost insurance Programs and also have financial counselors::http://www.mainegeneral.org/body.cfm?id=855

Sabasticook Valley Health (Their hospital is  in Pittsfield, physicians are in surrounding towns) also has a Free Care Program:
 http://sebasticookvalleyhealth.org/billing-help.aspx?id=18334&terms=free+insurance

Maine Dental Clinics

Maine Dental Clinics
I noticed that I had never done a post here about  low cost/ sliding scale dental  clinics and medical care.I noticed I had included it in my former social services blog so I will post in here today.

Is anyone looking for dental care that costs less than typical dental fees.
In Maine, there are several dental clinics that offer reduced fees.
I (Michelle) have gone to the Bangor University College Clinic for cleaning where dental hygienist students work under the supervision of supervisors. I received excellent dental cleaning  there.I live about 45 min. away but even factoring in the gas prices, its much cheaper for me to go there rather than go to a dentist here for a cleaning.
The appts. do take longer than traditional dentist cleaning visits. The students are required to do an extensive question and answer intake. The visits can be broken up into 2 visits instead of just one.
 Here is a Maine state directory of dental clinics.
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohdcfh/odh/documents/directoryNov09.pdf

Anyone know of  a  highschool aged very high academic achiever whose family is in the low income bracket? Ever heard of Quest Bridge? Their 20applications are being accepted  beginning in the middle of Feb. according to their site: that's in just a couple of weeks.

Quest Bridge is a national program that offers full scholarships at top notch colleges and universities to very high achieving low income students. Here is the main site:http://www.questbridge.org/Here is the link to the National College Match Program:http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/cps-college-prep-scholarship
They also have college prep programs:http://www.questbridge.org/about-questbridge/college-prep-scholarship

There is a parent and child play group at  Waterville High through the KV Tech program. Bonnie Brown is the director. This is her email address:bbrown@aos92.org

  and # is 873-0102, ext. 222

I just spoke to the director for specifics regarding the program. I personally attended the playgroup with my son when he was a toddler over 20 years ago and the director at that time is still there.
She sent me this email today.

"Parents and caregivers, with their children, any age, can come to playgroup. It is a lab experience for my high school students who are studying Early Childhood Education. Our classroom layout is primarily for preschool age because we run a licensed and NAEYC accredited preschool. But on playgroup days we put out toys safe for infants and toddlers.

There is no fee and no registration. We generally have a full house based on word-of-mouth recommendations. It is mostly "free play" with activities offered like sensory play, the easel, dramatic play, blocks, etc. We have a "circle time" for the last 10-15 minutes because it helps the children understand that the session is ending. During circle we do songs and easy active games".

There are brochures of area resources and general info (oral health, Child and Family Services, Parent Federation, etc.)"

They are open this morning( Today is Monday Jan 27th from 9-10:30.) The next dates are:

February 24

March 3 and 17

April 7 and 28

May 5 and 19

June 2 (final playgroup until next fall)

Anyone looking for no cost items either to acquire  or donate, in other words to get or give?Well Freecycle is a world side no money exchanges hands program to do just that.
Here's Waterville's Freesycle group:https://groups.freecycle.org/group/WatervilleMaineFreeCycle/posts/all

Here's  Augusta's  Freecycle group:https://groups.freecycle.org/group/freecycleaugustame/description
\and here's Skowhegan's Freecycle group:https://groups.freecycle.org/group/SkowheganME/posts/all

There is a $ 5.00 per session yoga class on Friday nights at School St Yoga in Waterville  on Fri evenings.from 5:30-6:45. http://www.schoolstreetyoga.com/Workshops.html#Mindfulness_Communications
The fee for this over time over course could prove to be costly. However, if attending just once in a blue moon, sort of speak of course is much less,  so I thought it was worth mentioning.

For anyone that is currently undergoing cancer treatments, there are  free yoga classes at School St Yoga in Waterville.Contact info is  at 207-330-1450 or by email. Scroll down the page for more info:http://www.schoolstreetyoga.com/Workshops.html#Mindfulness_Communications

 Anyone looking to join in or visit a meditation group?There is an ongoing free meditation group in Waterville on Wednesday nights from 7-8PM .Its in  the School St Yoga on School St in Waterville.  According to the a site,Its open to everyone regardless of  past meditation experience. Scroll down the page for more info: http://www.schoolstreetyoga.com/Workshops.html#Mindfulness_Communications

Free Clothing Store in Fairfield

Lambs Clothing Store at the First Baptist Church on Newhall St in Fairfield offers free clothes for all ages and a variety of sizes (money donations are accepted but never required).Lambs had a flood in basement issue but the the organizers hope  reopen back up on Tues Feb.2nd from 9-12 AM Maxine Scribner may be called at (207) 453-6841 just prior to  the 2nd to confirm the reopening date. Just called Maxine stated that it is espexted to open the first week opf March.

Lawrence Library in Fairfield has some great sounding programs for families.There's a weekly Story and Craft Time for Preschoolers held on Wednesdays from 10:15-10:45.
http://www.fairfieldme.com/library/index.php/calendar-of-events/Weekly+story-time/month/2014/01/15

There's also a Montessori Parenting Support Group on Tuesday, January 28th, 2014: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM for any family whether their children attend Montessori or not!:
http://www.fairfieldme.com/library/index.php/calendar-of-events/montessori+parenting+support+group/month/2014/01/28

Gear Up College Prep and Scholarship Program

Gear Up College Prep and Scholarship Program

Many Jr high and high school students and their families who attend public schools are acquainted with the Gear Up college preparation and scholarship program for those that fall under the so called low income bracket.
That said, there are likely those who for a variety of reasons such as homeschoolers for example who have never heard of its benefits. My son and I were homeschooling when we decided to use some of the public school services;that is when the junior high school counselor informed us about Gear Up.

Here is the US Dept Of Education Gear Up national guidelines link:http://www2.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html
 Individual states do have their own links and individual policies. For example here is the Maine Gear Up page:http://www.gearupme.org/
It is important to note that some colleges may not be familiar with the program. (A big reason for this is that many people are under the false impression that select schools are more expensive for low income families than select schools so  unfortunately academically qualified students  they simply do not apply The fact is select schools often have a much larger endowment than public universities.

Hey guys,

211 is a local by state phone and web-based information line/portal for "food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more". Here is the website version :http://www.211.org/ I will put it under our nonprofit program listings.