People Plus Non-Profi t Organization P.O. Box 766 U.S. Postage PAID Brunswick, ME Brunswick, ME 04011 04011-0766 Permit No. 52 35 Union St., Brunswick, ME 04011 729-0757 www.peopleplusmaine.org December 2015 Volume 15, No. 12 Goal is $50,000 Annual Campaign gets early and major gift “It's right in there with receiving emphasized the Center receives an early and amazing Christmas no federal or state funding and Present,” suggested People Plus remains dependent on gifts and Executive Director Stacy V. donations from individuals and Frizzle, as she announced an businesses in the community to unexpected and unsolicited gift help cover operating costs. Letters of $10,000 made to the Center are followed with personal con- last month by a lady who wanted tacts by board members, staff , and to remain anonymous. “It just development committee members, makes everything easier.” Frizzle who often make phone calls to said the annual campaign, which support the drive. “has to raise $50,000” came out Last season's campaign netted of its opening with nearly $17,000 more than $50,000, accounting already in the books. for more than 20 per cent of the More than 1,200 letters were Center's operational costs. “I'm mailed to members and friends sure we can do it again,” Frizzle of People Plus in mid-Novem- said. ber, putting the appeal into what Frizzle called “high gear.” She Bath Garden Club dropping off fresh holiday arrangements to go out with Meals on Wheels. Left - Casey Henson, Middle - Elizabeth Lakeman, Right - Joan Toy Kevin Mannix to lead discussion Join us on Thursday, December 10, at 1:00 pm, as People MCHPP Food drive continues Plus welcomes Kevin Mannix and wife Linda Rota to the The 1,000 pieces and pounds campaign to support the Midcoast Hunger Prevention Center to discuss their book, "Weathering Shame". Program is working well, nearing it's halfway mark at Thanksgiving day. “We wanted It is an autobiography, by one of Maine's leading weath- to be a little closer to our 500 numbers,” organizer Frank Connors admitted, “but a push erman, WCHS6 News Centers' Kevin Mannix and his in early December will put us over,” he said. wife, social worker Linda Rota, that details their personal The Center is accepting non-perishable food products for the journey with shame and stigmas. The book is a story of MCHPP and delivers them every week. The non-profi t commu- their personal experiences surrounding growing up in a nity food bank lists canned soups, fruits, and vegetables, peanut home with parental mental illness and alcoholism. butter and baked beans and boxed helper mixes (hamburger and tuna) as items that are in constant need. People wanting to donate money directly to the campaign (last year This event is free and open to public but registration is required. Books will be available for sale and signing. People Plus collected more than $200) should make their checks directly to MCHPP. CHAT AUTHOR CHAT Last season, the Center collected more than 1,000 pieces and 1,000 pounds, to end its most successful drive ever by Christmas eve. “That's where we want to land this year as well, “ Connors said. Center Stage Players Gifts can make a and Member Holiday event teen’s a Christmas Join us on Monday, Dec. 14 at 1:00 pm for a fun and festive afternoon to celebrate the holiday season. We'll start things off when The Center Help give our teens a wonderful Stage Players present their holiday show. Afterwards there will be a holiday by “stocking” the Teen holiday reception for members that will include cookies, punch, holiday Center and fi lling the teen gift music and other goodies. Crazy holiday attire encouraged. Please bring bags with much needed items a donation for our food drive! Call to register! including: Teen Gift Bag Wish List The holiday season has begun and the Center Stage Players • Movie tickets to Regal have put together another unique program to celebrate this Cinema special time of year. Reading poetry by Mary Oliver, Claude • Socks (adult sizes, boys and McKay and May Sarton; a piece from “A Christmas Carol” by girls) Charles Dickens; some improvisation about “ • Deodorant Many Happy Returns” and a “Circle of Friends”. • Shampoo Our numbers may dwindle, our voices may fade, Our spirits • Toothbrush/toothpaste may falter, our bodies degrade, But give us a script, and give us a stage, We’ll put on a show, that’s sure to engage! • Chap Sticks • Candy • Fruit snacks Teen Center Wish List • Hannaford gift cards pecial ift • Game stop gift cards A S G • Domino Pizza gift cards Enjoy our pull-out section • Walmart gift cards of poems and other works • Ear buds • Small computer desks • Juice boxes from the "Last season, Santa himself was drafted to carry food for Donations can be dropped off at Write On Writers MCHPP" the Center. Wishing you and yours a joyous holiday season! P 2 P P N D 2015 People Plus News The Holiday “Ripple Eff ect” From the The monthly newspaper of People Plus, I can’t believe we fed over 100 people I was pleased to introduce them all and have Executive serving residents of the Brunswick- turkey yesterday! We brined and roasted them get just a “taste” (no pun intended), if Topsham-Harpswell area. Editorial about 150 pounds of it and have just enough what we do here at the Center every day. Director submissions and advertising queries left over to feed the staff our holiday lunch It gets me a little choked up actually when STACY V. FRIZZLE should be e-mailed to: in December. So into the freezer it went I think about how much good work really along with a pan of stuffi ng, half a pan of does take place here and how many people [email protected] rutabagas and some cranberry sauce. are positively impacted by People Plus. community and see how far your ripple goes Can you freeze canned cranberry sauce? I With the ability to share a meal, engage in as well. Questions, comments and written contri- guess we will fi nd out. Gladys is skeptical. social activities, play a game, take an exer- I wish love and health to all of you. butions should be sent by the 15th of the I like to make my orange/ginger/cranberry cise class, chew on intellectual lectures and Happy holidays! month to: sauce fresh anyway, so we’ll have some of programs, get a birthday phone call, or go The Editor, People Plus News each at lunch! for a bike ride, there is no end to the ben- “Tech Time” for Windows & Android P.O. Box 766 The happy faces, full stomachs and efi ts the staff creates. Volunteers that help Operating Systems Brunswick, ME 04011-0766 general sense of well-being that fi lled our run the organization through the board, by Monday, Dec. 14, 10:00 am Offi ce phone (207) 729-0757 Center here at People Plus at the November cooking or working the front desk are as Bring your devices (non-Apple) and lunch were worth every minute of the turkey much a part of the team as those of us who questions to a fun, informal, monthly brining, roasting and carving process! We get paid and we all work together to make drop-in chat group. Beth Aldrich (from People Plus served 30 pounds of potatoes, 20 pounds of this an amazing organization. All Thumbs Computer Care) will provide turnips, three loaves of fantastic bread from With over 18,000 meals on wheels running tech support for all levels of users. Free, Board of Trustees the Union Street bakery across the street, through here every year, and several thou- for members only. and about 3 gallons of gravy… I had prom- sand miles in volunteer transportation Don L. Kniseley, Chair Brunswick ised to make the gravy but in the end Rose rides provided, we don’t lose sight of our Welcome to Medicare with Spectrum Robert Davis, 1st Vice Chair Harpswell did a better job at it. members who can’t make it to the Center Generations Designed to provide educate about Jack Hudson, 2nd Vice Chair Brunswick So thank you to all of our lunch volunteers every day. And we take care of them also. Medicare. This class answers 90% Chris Perry, Treasurer Portland who carved, cooked, shopped, cleaned, So at this time of the holidays, I hope that washed, set up and took down 75 chairs and you reach out to your neighbor and give of basic questions and is held the 2nd David R. Forkey, Secretary Georgetown 10 tables, made centerpieces, served choco- them a little squeeze. Share a cup of coff ee, Tuesday of each month from 12:30 – Thomas Farrell, Ex-offi cio Brunswick late putting, etc., you know who you are and a meal, a lecture, or a walk around the 2:00 pm. Free to the public. Registration required Claudia L. Adams Brunswick we love and appreciate you all. block. You just never know how impactful It was especially nice to have Don your outreach will be. Carol S. Aderman Freeport Kniseley, the chair of our board as well as We see the ripple aff ects of this Center Save the Date for Music in April Amy Berube Topsham Charlie Evans a board trustee and Larissa that builds Community and they seem to Mitchell W. Brown Brunswick Picard the new executive director of the be infi nite.