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Archive for November, 2009
Notes on Thanksgiving from Spruce Run
Thanksgiving is here, and at Spruce Run we have a lot to be grateful for. The support of our community is truly amazing!
Just check out this example:
In July we hosted a Family Fun Day for the families in our shelter and transitional housing programs. Chili’s Grill and Bar in Bangor made a large donation of snack food and gift cards, which we gave away as prizes to the families at the event. As Thanksgiving approached, Chili’s again showed their generosity by providing desserts for our holiday feast at the Community Center. When we picked up the food–a whopping 60 Chili’s Sweet Shots!–they surprised us with more gift cards and coupons for kids’ meals! Our contact at Chili’s, Ed Noonan, makes a special effort to choose donations that families will enjoy, and their gifts are always extremely thoughtful and generous.
Chili’s is just one example of the abundant generosity we receive and see all around us. It is everywhere, from the student groups who do service projects for us, to the children who come to the door with donations collected at their birthday parties, all the way to the myriad of individuals, groups, and businesses who make helping those impacted by domestic abuse a priority in your busy, hectic lives. Your gifts of time, money, and goods are invaluable, and truly keep this work going.
Please know that this Thanksgiving you are in our thoughts, and we are especially thankful for all that you give.
Spruce Run Advocates Participate in OVW’s Inaugural Advocacy Learning Center
This year marks the start of the Advocacy Learning Center, a new program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. The Advocacy Learning Center’s goal is to improve the skills and abilities of advocates throughout the nation working to end violence against women. The first class of trainees includes 17 organizations, hailing from 12 states and one U.S. Territory. Maine is particularly well-represented: Spruce Run and our sister project, the Battered Women’s Project, were both accepted into the program!
While much of the program is completed long distance, participants recently traveled to Minnesota for a week-long, face-to-face session. Spruce Run’s team returned energized and excited by the possibilities before us. As an organization, we believe that the Advocacy Learning Center will help strengthen and enhance our work to change attitudes, save lives, and end abuse, and are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking initiative.
To learn more about the Advocacy Learning Center and what the participants have been up to, click here.
Spruce Run’s Fall Appeal Has Launched!
Every year in the fall we write a letter, asking you to support the work we do in our community to change attitudes, save lives, and end abuse. This year is no exception–if you are on our mailing list, your letter is on its way!
If you are not on our mailing list but would like to contribute to the 2009 appeal, or if you are getting a letter but prefer to give securely online, please visit our donate page.
Whether you give $10 or $1000, it all adds up to the work we do. The appeal is one of our most important fundraisers, so we thank you for doing whatever you can.
Maine Association of Nonprofits Conducts Case Study of Spruce Run
The Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP), an organization working to strengthen Maine’s nonprofit sector, has conducted a case study of Spruce Run’s decision-making process and has posted it to their online resource center! Earlier this year MANP awarded Spruce Run with an honorable mention in the Dirigo Awards for Nonprofit Excellence in Maine, which recognizes nonprofits throughout the state that have achieved significant results by combining sound management practices with creativity. We hope you will check out our case study, and explore our wesbite to learn more about Spruce Run.
Thanks to MANP for all of your support and recognition!
November Brings a New Need of the Month…
Have you checked out our wish list lately? There are lots of ways you can help people impacted by abuse, and we hope you’ll get involved.
In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, for November’s Need of the Month we are asking for help sprucing up the kitchens of the folks we work with. Examples of things we can use include new bakeware, cookware, or dish sets. We can also use new or gently used small kitchen appliances (for example, microwaves, coffee makers, toaster ovens).
And speaking of holidays, we are looking for sponsors for families in our shelter and transitional housing. If you are interested in providing gifts for a family in need this holiday season, please email Johnnie at jwalker@sprucerun.net.
Many thanks to all of you who responded to October’s request for diapers! You really helped to restock our shelves with a comodity that is so important to the families we work with!
Dirigo Pines Inn Makes a Creative Donation to Spruce Run
On October 26, Spruce Run accepted a heartfelt and creative donation from the staff and residents at the Dirigo Pines Inn. They worked together to make 50 hand-embroidered stuffed animals and pillows for the children at shelter. Regina Rooney, Spruce Run’s Current Projects Coordinator, visited the Dirigo Pines Inn and accepted the donation on Oct. 26 (see photo below). The folks at Dirigo Pines wanted the toys to go to children who may be scared and in need of comfort, and who may not have a toy of their own to hold.
We are truly touched by such a considerate, unique donation–thank you to all of you at Dirigo Pines who worked on this project!
Above, from left: Maggie Michaud (Dirigo Pines Executive Director), Regina Rooney (Spruce Run staff), Marcie Oechslie (Dirigo Pines staff).
