Aldermere Farm staff would like to send a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our amazing community partners and friends. The 2012 Aldermere Farm Annual Appeal Campaign truly showed us that our community and our Board stand behind the work, educational outreach, and “fun” that the Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields Preserve properties provide. The 2012 Campaign saw a 28 percent increase in the number of donors along with an increase in donations from our current donors, all of which contributed to a $25K match from the Maine Coast Heritage Trust Board of Directors.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide land conservation organization, has owned and managed Aldermere Farm for over thirteen years now and has continued running the farm as the Chatfield family had, but also adding the ability to have community access and outreach through programs and events. MCHT has owned and managed Erickson Fields Preserve for almost five years with Aldermere Farm staff haying the beautiful open fields and also offering some vibrant youth and family programs about food production. Over the years, we have grown the programs, events, haying operation, and cattle operation based on community needs and by staying connected with local farms.

There are so many people to thank for our success over the years and especially for last year’s great annual appeal success. The greatest thanks go to our donors whose support we could not live without and to the Aldermere Ambassadors, who help us connect with our most generous donors. We also can’t overlook our dedicated volunteers, local hayland owners, hay buyers, cattle folks, beef buyers, program participants, event attendees, local farms, teachers, students, town officials, local restaurants and businesses, neighbors, our families, and friends of the farm. We thank you and we look forward to a bright future together!

Sarah Post
Program Manager
Aldermere Farm/Maine Coast Heritage Trust

Healthy Kids wants to thank everyone who made Chocolate Fest 2013 a success. The Lincoln Home is so gracious to host the event and their staff are fantastic. And thanks to Mexicali Blues for letting us use their parking area. The champagne, chocolate and cheese were professionally served by our loyal supporters The River Grill and the Lincoln Academy students. We thank our corporate sponsors Bath Savings Institution and HM Payson. We thank Ronna Lugosch of Peapod Jewelry for the beautiful PeaTer Rabbit troll bead and Safe Harbor Confectioners for the chocolates the bead was presented in. We also thank the local papers for their fantastic coverage and LCTV7 for the production of our PSA. 

And a big thank you to all of our chocolate, cheese and auction item donors. And we thank all the volunteers who helped put the event on and those who roasted coffee. Healthy Kids is a small agency and we do parenting programs, playgroups, home visiting and professional programs throughout Lincoln County and we couldn’t do it without everyone’s support.

Thanks again,

Leslie Livingston
Executive Director, Healthy Kids

Having known of Habitat for Humanity for many years, I volunteered for the first time to help build a house in Richmond. It has been a tremendous learning experience. This service provided by Habitat for Humanity helps people get into a safe, warm home. This can only be accomplished if people step up and give a hand. You can volunteer for a day or for numerous days. You can volunteer in groups or as individuals. Michele Ober, the Habitat volunteer coordinator, is great at organizing the volunteer pool and tries to accommodate all who want to participate.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to volunteer on Thursdays when there are several other individuals who also volunteer on a somewhat regular basis. It has been very cold some days but once the work begins you warm up and stay comfortable.  I think the camaraderie with those you are working with just keeps you going as you work toward a common goal. You do not need to worry if you have no background as a builder as long as you are willing to learn. Steve Whitney, the contracted site supervisor, has been patiently teaching us and guiding us along through the different tasks we need to do each week. I leave each time with a feeling of accomplishment knowing I am helping push the project forward toward completion. I also look forward to the next time I will be on the site to see the progress that was made by others. 

I have enjoyed meeting new people, learning new skills and, most of all, the pleasure of knowing I am helping someone in a local community. When this build is over I look forward to being involved in future builds. I certainly encourage others to give it a try. I believe you will not be sorry you did.

Susan Shorey
Westport Island