MARCH 2024 NEWSLETTER

We partnered with the Augusta Food Bank and Granite Hill Church to get Narcan out to the public

Last summer when were were training the public at Old Hallowell Days how to administer Naloxone (Narcan), our tent was next to the Granite Hill Church tent. The friendly parishioners said that we should come to their church and train their congregation. We took them up on their suggestion on Sunday, February 25th. After the services we stayed and had the pleasure of explaining the importance of having Naloxone in their glove compartment, purse or briefcase at all times, just in case there is a need to be a Good Samaritan and save a life. Speaking of Good Samaritans, we also spoke about how the Good Sam Law means that no one should hesitate to call 911 at the scene of an overdose. 

On Thursday February 29, Mobilize Recovery organizers trained people at the Augusta Food Bank free food giveaway open to the public. This event surpassed our expectation as we train and provided a box of Naloxone to 50 people. Looking back to the experience, we felt it was a very fitting partnership. While the Augusta Food bank was sustaining families with food, Mobilize recovery was supplying people with life sustaining medicine, Narcan. 

During the month of February, Mobilize Recovery also visited the Lighthouse Soup Kitchen, Discovery House and Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, in Waterville, Maine, to train people with Naloxone.

If your organization or business is interested in scheduling a training, please contact Jon Reynolds at Jon@MobilizeRecovery.org.

We hosted a make a Bag event in January and our first event was such a hit that we decided to extend the event to another night. We will be meeting at the Mobilize Recovery office here in Augusta on March 7th, 2024 at 4PM to finish filling bags with local and statewide recovery resources for our canvassing initiative this year. Bring a friend, an ally and a family member to come join together and help make a difference in our communities. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. The bag you make could save a life!

WE COULD ALSO USE YOUR HELP AS A CANVASSER. To continue this critical, life-saving work and further reduce the of preventable overdoses in Kennebec County, we welcome more volunteers. If you're interested in joining us, please click on the button below.

The Youth Caucuses of Kennebec, Penobscot and Washington County worked diligently toward the Youth Service Grants from Volunteer Maine. The work led them to impact other areas of their community this month that they may not have otherwise: first graders, nursing home residents, and the unhoused.   

Washington County Youth Caucus made made progress on their Volunteer Maine grant projects. In keeping with the grants' directives, the work is designed and implemented by the youth themselves. Sam has been trained to educate young people on how to use Narcan and plans to do more. Zoey has completed her project with the nursing home by doing crafting projects. Laela has completed her project of working with first graders. Serenity has been working hard with the organization of our book list and book pricing and staying on top of our grant management. Emma has been keeping up with the weekly posting of our meetings on social media. The Youth Caucus also had the DownEast Rainbow Alliance as guests of one of their meetings last month. 

Penobscot County Youth Caucus

has been actively preparing for their grant project to train students their age to administer Naloxone and to show their support for LGBTQ youth in the community at their April Pop-Up event. The youth all received Narcan training with Bangor Public Health and discussed with their instructor about the youth curriculum they are in the process of developing. They’ve also been setting up and designing their newly expanded, dedicated space at the Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN). Their group meets there every Sunday and always welcomes new members. 

Kennebec County Youth Caucus made Valentines for the unhoused as it was a particularly harsh time for them with the -below freezing weather. The adult allies dropped the cards off at the local warming center. Collectively, the youth decided on their project for the Volunteer Maine grant, a community event that will be informative and relationship building. They will screen a film, conduct a Narcan training session and afterwards socialize with other area youth with games and a bounce house. This concept came out of a discussion the youth had about ways to get to know people better and why it matters.

If you know of youth who have been impacted by substance use in their families or friends, check out a youth caucus in one of the three locations. In Kennebec County, contact deidrah@mobilizerecovery.org. In Washington County, contact joe@mobilizerecovery.org. In Penobscot Country, contact krystal@mobilizerecovery.org.