Lowe’s Hometown Grants Program

It was recently announced Lowe’s is looking for nominations for this year’s “Lowe’s Hometowns Grants Program”. 100 projects across the nation will be selected to receive funding. Projects must benefit the community as a whole and not just a single group. Projects must be able to be completed on or before November 15, 2022 and be located within a reasonable distance of a Lowe’s store. Full rules can be found at https://lowes-hometowns.com/en-us/Rules.

Individuals can nominate up to two projects through the Lowe’s Hometowns Grant Program online portal.

The nomination period runs from March 1st, 2022 – March 28, 2022 at 11:59:59 PM ET.

Projects must fall into at least one of the following categories:

  • Community Resources/Space (e.g. park, senior citizen center, youth center, etc.);
  • Safe Affordable Housing (e.g. critical repairs, block of homes, accessible home needs, etc.);
  • Cultural Preservation (e.g. theatre, memorial renovation, sustainability, etc.);
  • Area Revitalization (e.g. a new playground at a community park, small business renovations/repairs, renovations to downtown areas, etc.); and/or
  • Skilled Trades Education initiatives (e.g. mobile training programs, high school vocational, etc.).

Note that recipients must be capable of being sponsored by a nonprofit entity recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Nonprofit”) or a government entity.

Kennebec Valley Grange Ham Dinner

Saturday, March 26, 2022 – 11: 30-until gone
Public Ham Dinner, take home only, NO dine in. Menu includes ham with raisin sauce, mashed potato, green beans, coleslaw, homemade biscuits, 4 choices of homemade pies.
Kennebec Valley Grange #128
560 Main Street Madison, ME
$10.00 per meal
FMI- call Diane Pinkham 314-5135

Kennebec Valley Grange Facebook Page

Grange Month Resources Now Available

Grange Month Resources are now available on the National Grange Website! In addition to the traditional sample press release, proclamation, etc. there are a number of graphics including customizable posters! These are all free for downloading and use.

Grange Month Resources

Use these to help celebrate the Grange in your community!

Don’t forget to submit your events and news to the Maine State Grange Website!

Fraternal Concern, Dorothy Shores

Submitted by Sharon Morton, MSG Secretary

It becomes my sad duty to inform you of the death of Dorothy H. Shores, on March 4, 2022. The mother of Susanne Verrill, Dorothy was a  former Flora of the Maine State Grange and Ceres of the National Grange.

Condolences may be sent to Susanne Verrill and her family at  270 Bailey Hill Road, Poland ME  04274.  Memorial donations may be made to the Maine Alzheimer’s Association, 383 US Route One #2C, Scarborough, ME  04074 in Dot’s memory.

Read the complete obituary here.

Heirlooms at Maine State Grange Headquarters

Okay, so these are a little different than the ones released by National Grange. As mentioned in her March President’s Perspective, Master/President Sherry has completed an inventory of items currently being stored at MSG Headquarters: seals, charters, and records of Granges that no longer exist. As some will recall, these are available to interested local historical societies. The list is sorted by the original Grange Name and is four pages long! A copy is also being mailed to Subordinate/Community Grange secretaries.

Check the list to see if there are items that might be of interest to historical societies in your area! These items certainly deserve a good home. There is a Historical Society Agreement Form that should accompany any items provided. Both the list and the form will remain available in the Historical Resources Page of the Program Books and Information Page.

“A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”

Mahatma Gandhi

What’s the Number for 2-1-1?

MSG Comm Department Logo
This article is reprinted in part with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Stearns, State Representative for District 119.

February 2022 was officially recognized as 211 Month by the Maine Legislature, with the resolution passing in the Senate and House with bipartisan support. Finding help for complex needs like shelter, substance use, mental health, or food access can be hard for many Mainers. Fortunately, there is a Maine-based resource that can help.

In addition to helping Mainers connect to the spectrum of health and human services, 211 continues its involvement in specific initiatives, including Maine’s Opiate Helpline to provide confidential referrals to treatment options, fielding questions about prevention, treatment, and mitigation of browntail moth caterpillars and moths, answering the Maine Problem Gambling Helpline, and co-hosting the first Maine Virtual-

Veterans Experience Action Center (V-VEAC) with Veterans Affairs, Bureau of Veterans’ Services, and other partners.

Specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by texting a Maine zip code to 898-211 or by dialing 211. 211 Maine is a collaborative effort of the United Ways of Maine, the State of Maine, and The Opportunity Alliance as the Contact Center Partner.

Webmaster’s Note: Good information to include in your Family Health and Hearing Report?

Grange Heirloom — March, 2022

Use the icons below to share this Grange Heirloom on social media and help others understand what the Grange stands for! If this heirloom has a particular meaning for you, click the responses link at the top right and share it!

Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Rituals and Declaration of Purposes.

For additional information and resources regarding the Heirloom Program, visit the Heirloom Resource Page on the Maine State Grange Website.

Grange Heirloom Program Kicks Off

Resources for Granges

produced by the
Maine State Grange Communications Department

Warning! This is a long video! You may decide to watch it in stages or steps but you will definitely want to watch it. This is a truly amazing program that will end up spanning a five-year period and it’s been over 150 years in the making.

Important additional resources for you:

Check out:

  • More Resources for Granges — Program Information and Inspiration
  • Program Books and Information –Information arranged by committee and topic.