Nonprofit Corner

Once again, it’s the season to brave short days and long nights, smile, and prepare for planting time. That’ll happen, but let’s get the bad news out of the way first: According to the World Wildlife Fund, our planet has lost two-thirds of its wildlife since 1970, mostly insects.

“A vibrant community recognizes the importance of connecting its people across generations. Harpswell Aging at Home is always looking for new ways to involve our younger neighbors with our older ones to foster mutual respect, understanding and caring,” said LeAnne Grillo, a member of the HAH Steering Committee.

Volunteer opportunities allow us to utilize our past experiences and skills. Over the years, Harpswell Aging at Home has benefited from the talents of many volunteers and has, in turn, provided those volunteers with an outlet to pursue their interests and passions.

A new guide to the Harpswell waterfront aims to educate both current residents and newcomers about the community they share.

One of the biggest issues facing older Americans is isolation. As Harpswell Aging at Home looked at its goals, one of the priorities was to offer more programming that would allow residents to safely gather with others — so Friends Together was born.

Her smile really tells the story, along with the two-thumbs-up rating. Aggie Perry, 4, thoroughly enjoyed exploring the town of Harpswell’s recently renovated Cliff Trail with her wheelchair, “Go-Go,” and her mom, Molly Perry.

During its first 10 years, the Bandstand by the Sea became Harpswell’s community gathering spot for wonderful musical performances on warm summer evenings.

The Quahog Bay Conservancy will award two Harpswell students with $5,000 and a laptop each to support their college education. The Working Waterfront Science Scholarship supports students whose studies align with the conservancy’s mission and programs.

What’s yellow, climbs trees and utility poles, and has orange berries? Asiatic bittersweet, seen on a roadside near you every autumn. Even in early November, its yellow leaves can be seen climbing trees and poles throughout Harpswell.

This November, the Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund will hold its annual campaign to raise scholarship funds to support students in continuing their education.

The public is invited to a community potluck on Saturday, Nov. 12, to learn more about the challenges that threaten the future of Maine’s lobstering industry and what is being done to preserve the state’s lobstering heritage.

The Mingo Club, of Bailey Island, gives a $1,000 grant to a graduating Harpswell senior every year. This year, it gave two, both to graduates of Mt. Ararat High School.

Local nonprofits that offer programs seeking to improve the lives of women, children and families have until Dec. 1 to express interest in applying for 2023 grants from the Maine Women’s Giving Tree.

United Way of Mid Coast Maine kicked off its annual campaign for the community on Sept. 8. The theme for the 2022 campaign is “You belong. Let’s live united.”

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick has called the Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos as its new settled minister. Amos has more than 20 years of experience in professional ministry and social justice activism.

The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, a Brunswick nonprofit focused on rebuilding the fisheries of the Gulf of Maine and sustaining Maine’s fishing communities for future generations, has named its office building at 93 Pleasant St. after the Cushman family, of Port Clyde.

Volunteers were out in droves Tuesday, Oct. 4, preparing for the annual Christmas by the Sea holiday fair at the Elijah Kellogg Church in Harpswell Center.

The Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department held a recognition cookout at the Orr’s Island Fire Station on Sept. 18, to honor first responders and departing members of the OBIFD Board of Directors.

There have been changes at the Harpswell Invasive Plant Partnership in 2022. The year began with Ellen Shillinglaw as the newly installed chair of the group’s steering committee. Ellen launched two new projects nearly simultaneously: developing our own website, and revising and updating the guidebook to Harpswell’s invasive plants.

After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Harpswell Garden Club is bringing back its popular fundraiser, the Fun and Fabulous Fall Fest. The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Centennial Hall in Harpswell Center.