Category: Community Service

Community Service Committee and information

Fraud Watch-Credit Repair Scams

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Reprinted with permission from AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.

Overwhelmed by holiday bills? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to face your debt alone either. The New Year is the perfect time to take control of your finances — but beware of criminal scammers offering quick fixes that are too good to be true.

Scammers often exploit financial stress by promising instant relief or quick results to become debt-free. These schemes typically involve up-front fees, bad advice like avoiding your creditors, or vague claims about what services they actually provide.

Before committing to a debt relief service and providing your sensitive personal information, research reviews and check for complaints with organizations like the Better Business Bureau to ensure their credibility. If you need help getting out of debt, turn to an organization like the Nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

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AARP Fraud Watch Network

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Click the link to fill out the AARP online form or email me@aarp.org.

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Community Service/FHH – December 2024

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

Happy December! There are many ways to help out the Community during this Holiday Season. Make sure you document the planning, actual service, time spent (members and nonmembers), who was involved in the project, pictures, thank you notes, etc. This is what is needed for the notebook report. Also, document on end of year report. These are two separate Community Service reports.

FH&H: Fall leaves us, and winter begins. With temperatures fluctuating and socializing increasing, please dress accordingly and be aware of the environment. It is a great time of year, but if you don’t feel well, stay home and take care of yourself. It is the season for colds, flu, Covid, and respiratory issues. Make sure you are up to date with shots.

This is also a great time to spend or connect with family and friends and make great memories!

Keep your head, hands, and feet warm and dry. This will help keep body temperature steady and keep you comfortable.

Merry Christmas & Happy 2025!

Busy Mill Stream Grange!

Mill Stream Grange member Judy Dunn (l) presents the Grange’s donation to the Mt. Vernon Area Giving Tree to Leslie Grenier, coordinator of the program which helps spread Christmas cheer to area families.  
Mill Stream Grange members (l-r) Judy Dunn, Lisa Goucher, and Jill Sampson shared Grange info, sold quilt raffle tickets, and gave away free kids’ books at the Grange’s table at the Mt. Vernon Craft Fair on Nov. 30. The quilt raffle is one of the main fundraisers for the year, and this year’s drawing will be on Dec. 6 at the regular meeting. 

Food Banks Gearing Up

Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin.

Because so many Granges support food banks, this should be of interest!

With the holidays upon us, many food pantries across the state are gearing up to meet the demand of families that need food assistance. Those needs have become more pronounced the past few years as many families continue to grapple with higher food costs that began a dramatic upward climb in 2021.

According to data from the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, the nonprofit and its 600 food assistance partners delivered 39 million meals to Mainers in hunger last year. That’s the highest number in the organization’s history and well ahead of their goal of 33 million meals by 2025 that was established in their 2015 Strategic Plan. It shows demand is not slowing down anytime soon.

And unfortunately, supply has not kept pace. Food banks across the country are also reporting shortages as higher grocery costs contributing to that demand may also mean less donations from families that may have donated in the past but are now struggling themselves. Additionally, inflation also limits the impact cash donations have in covering food that is more expensive to buy.

Maine’s institutions of higher education are also providing resources for students facing food insecurity. A joint study published by the University of Maine and Husson University in 2021 estimated that 42% of college students were worried about having enough money for food. The study, Food Insecurity in Maine Higher Education, also found that 35% of students surveyed across 24 campuses in Maine ended up skipping meals and 13% went without eating for one or two days.

In April of last year, Husson began a food and hygiene pantry to serve such students in need. In doing so, Husson joined other campuses like Southern Maine Community College and the University of Maine’s flagship and Farmington campuses, all of which have had food pantries for years.

As we approach the holidays, Maine’s food banks will be grateful for any donations to help those most in need. To assist a food pantry near you, the state’s Department of Agriculture’s Resource Development Division has a map that lists all of the state’s food assistance programs under the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program. Good Shepherd also provides a list of its 600 food assistance partners here.

Mill Stream Grange Makes Annual Donation

Mill Stream Grange made its annual Thanksgiving donation to the Mt. Vernon Area Food Bank on Nov. 16.  The makings for 50 pumpkin pies and 50 cans of cranberry sauce were delivered to the Food Bank to be used for Thanksgiving baskets for area families. Pictured are Lisa Goucher, Ceres, on the left, and Jill Sampson, Master.

Valley Grange Dictionary Days

Valley Grange is proud to have handed out close to 250 dictionaries to third-graders this year. That puts us well over 4,000 since starting the program several decades ago. Enjoy some photos of this year’s program.

Dictionary Days are fun because learning is fun!

If your Grange is interested in starting a Words for Thirds Dictionary Program, complete the form below. No obligation!

Name of person submitting
Email address of person submitting
What position, if any, you currently hold.

Community Service/FHH – November 2024

By Brenda Dyer, MSG Community Service/FHH Director
(207) 608-9193

The Community Service Committee would like to thank all Grangers (Community Service Chairperson, committee members, individuals, and groups) and non-Grange members (groups, citizens and individuals) for their hours of community service and supporting the Grange.

Community Service Notebooks
These notebooks are a report of the Community Service Projects usually one to two pages (three if absolutely needed) for each project. The 1-2 pages will describe the project, planning involved, advertising for project, pictures of project, recognition and thank you.

Ten notebooks were submitted. A certificate of participation recognition was presented to each Grange. Monetary awards were given to the first four places.

10. Willow Grange #366
9. Evening Star Grange #83
8. Hudson Grange #457
7. Valley Grange #144
6. Maple Grove #148
5. Jonesboro Grange #357
4. Saco Grange #53, $50.00
3. Highland Lake Grange #87, $150.00
2. Lakeside Grange #63, $200.00
1. Enterprise Grange #48,$250.00 (Enterprise Grange Notebook goes on to National Grange, representing Maine State Grange.)

Marilyn Stinson of Enterprise Grange was selected as Granger of the Year. Granger of the Year chooses a cause to receive a $100 donation. Marilyn selected the Home for Little Wanderers.

Highland Lake Grange #87 was awarded $50 as the winner of the FH&H Contest.

For a complete report, see the 2023-24 Community Service Annual Report of winners.

Thank you all for participating in the Community Service Programs! Congratulations to all participating Granges and winners!

Valley Grange Presents Dictionaries

Watch the story Here!

Please note that there is one correction to the story–The Dictionary Project has actually distributed 37,000,000 dictionaries in total!

Brownville Students Gain Words!

Valley Grange is located in Guilford, Maine

BROWNVILLE — Grade 3 students at the Brownville Elementary School now have thousands of words and accompanying definitions at their fingertips, along with other assorted facts. The pupils do not need to worry about charged laptops or cellphones to access this information, as each of the nearly 50 youngsters now has their very own dictionary thanks to Valley Grange No. 144 of Guilford...

Check out this amazing article in the Piscataquis Observer about the words for Thirds Dictionary Day in Brownville Elementary School!

Last Call!

By Walter Boomsma

Well, at least for now! We still have some confirming to do, but it looks like at least ten Granges in Maine are participating in the Words for Thirds Program.

  • Chelsea Grange #215
  • East Madison Grange #228
  • Evening Star Grange #183
  • Farmington Grange #12
  • Hollis Grange #132
  • Maple Grave Grange #148
  • Mill Stream Grange #574
  • Old Town Riverside Grange #273 (unconfirmed)
  • Valley Grange #144
  • Waterford Grange #479

Thanks to the folks who have answered the call and provided information. If you still haven’t, just complete this simple form!

    Our resource page is shaping up nicely and should be ready to release in a week or so. It includes a customized logo for participating Granges, many sample documents such as a letter for parents, press releases, media advisories, and a sample presentation outline.

    We owe a special thanks to Mary French, Director of the Dictionary Project, for her enthusiasm and support of this effort!