Project Week, March 4 - 8, 2013, "A Look Back"

Kids Helping Kids

Maine is a beautiful place to live and to visit.

However, there are other Maine facts.

For example, according to the Children Defense Fund, did you know . . . ?

227,294 children live in Maine.

16,921 children live in extreme poverty.

47,727 children are considered poor.

A child is abused or neglected every 3 hours.

26,445 adults and children receive cash assistance from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

(TANF).

5,000 households in Cumberland County alone depend on food pantries every month.

21% of food pantries report that their numbers have more than doubled.

82% of food pantries have had to make some type of cutback, either giving out less food or even

turning people away.

Given these dire circumstances, what can one do?

Working for Portland's Preble Street Resource Center, "creating solutions for homelessness, hunger, and

poverty" can help.

Making special deliveries can be enlightening.

Putting food in a bag can put a smile on your face and on the face of someone else.

Wearing a stylish apron with matching gloves can be good clean fun!

Working with generous local businesses and others can be rewarding!

Many hands do make light work,a few tears, and full pantries.

Reflections• “They were desperate for something I take for granted and

feel entitled to have.”

• “It really opened my eyes not only to appreciate the people in my life but also to take advantage of these opportunities. Who am I to throw away all I have when these people are thankful for an extra piece of bread?”

• “The most valuable lesson for me was I realized how much I have. It's one thing to say I have a lot, but it was another thing to see so many people with literally nothing.”

• “There were so many people, and it broke my heart to see how little they had. They depend on this one place for everything.”

Off the coast there once was a farm in Fairfield, Maine. During the late 1800s it became Good Will-Hinckley,

a place with a mission "to provide a home and helping hand for young people and families."

Recently things have changed. This "home to youth facing complex academic, social, behavioral, and emotional challenges" recently became MeANS . . .

the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences (MeANS), the first charter school in the state's history.

Dr. Glenn Cummings, President and Executive Director of Good Will-Hinckley, now leads GWH and MeANS towards a new vision.

Dedicated faculty and staff now work with and learn from one another to make their experiences that

much more rewarding and sustainable,

four days a week, all year long.

At the L. C. Bates museum, Deborah Staber, curator, still shares the unique qualities of the

"coolest" place on campus.

Students now go to school and present their learning through performances and projects.

Gilford, Hall, Bancroft, and Pike Cottages still house boarding students in the small, family settings George Walter Hinckley envisioned as "a home and helping hand for young people."

This beautiful, historic homestead continuesto open its doors to the people of Maine.

It continues to carry on traditions like The Festival of Trees because . . .

knowing the history of Good Will-Hinckley is essential to appreciating its past . . .

and to carrying on its mission in the future.

Reflections• “At the beginning, I did not have any expectations for what the day

would be like. I was solely curious about each and every one of the kids’ stories.”

• “To my surprise, they were just kids and easy to keep up conversations.”

• “These kids are genuinely nice people, and they deserve a second chance so they can have a shot at a bright future.”

• “Getting to know the students was extremely interesting because I learned about what school was like at Good-Will Hinckley for them. The student life is a lot different here than at New Hampton School.”

• “Even though we were outsiders and complete strangers, I felt the girls were really inclusive of us,. What caught me by surprise was they didn't expect us to help clean up after dinner.”

So ask yourself, "Do you like helping others?"

"Do you like viewing things from a different perspective?"

"Do you like to create colorful crafts so kids can use their imagination and learn?"

"Do you know how tomake liquid gold?"

"Do you know how tomake natural sweetness?"

. . . and a project can turn into a

passion?"

"Did you know a product can turn into

a project . . .

"Did you know there are many ways to view success?"

(Some are just sweeter than others!)

"Do you like the idea of getting your hands dirty and your back sweaty to plant a 'seed' that could make the world greener?"

"Do you like to visit places of educational, historical, political, and social significance?"

"Would you like to stay at a place known locally as the 'Blue Roof Inn?'"

"Would you like to relax and to have fun with friends?"

"Would you like to take a hike and to explore old stone walls?"

"And when the hard work is done . . .

when the history has been heard, and the chores have been completed. . .

and when the hikes and helpinghave come to a halt,

do you like to kick up your heals . . .

and truly celebrate together,

awaiting your next chance to explore . . .

with old friends and new?"

If so, join us for some smiling after a week of hard work and lessons learned. Join us next year for Project Week 2014!

Kids Helping Kids 2013

Lasting Reflections

• “We did a lot of bonding with the group."

• “Overall on this trip I learned to be accepting and less judgmental. I learned it is important to help . . . I also learned the kids here at the school are just like us, and embracing them and accepting them is all they need.”

Lasting Reflections

“It  made  me  feel  good  that  people  trust  me  enough  and  can  rely  on  me  to  carry  them  somewhere.  It  taught  me  sometimes  we  can  count  on  our  friends  if  we  need  help.”

Lasting Reflections

• “It was an amazing learning experience, and it really made me appreciate everything I have. The whole time we were at dinner, I couldn't stop thinking about how I shamelessly ordered steak tips while someone in Portland is struggling to afford a piece of bread. After this week I will always keep in mind when I think I have it bad, someone else out there has it much worse.”

“Prior to this I had a preconceived opinion about Maine. I thought everyone was rich and there was no way there would be poor people needing food the way they did. As soon as we arrived I quickly realized I was wrong.”

Lasting Reflections

“We met as a group and discussed the contrast in the way students learn and present at Good-Will Hinckley compared to New Hampton.  After our dinner we had a final meeting and discussed the differences in our dinners the first and second night. We also opened discussion about what we believe the school needs to do to improve and how we could help.”

Lasting Reflections

• This brought me much joy because we were helping students express themselves and come out of their shells. During all of this, we realized the Good Will-Hinckley students were similar, in many ways, to us. I really enjoyed hearing all of the talent and music that was shared, and I really hope to participate in the festivities again.”

Lasting Reflections