Waldo Community Action Partners Annual Report

2 | BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | March 1, 2012

By Keith Small, Executive Directorwith Kate Mikovich, Board Chair

The year 2011 has brought manychanges for Waldo Community ActionPartners. With the threat of unprecedentedbudget cuts looming and a change in lead-ership after the agency’s executive directorof 23 years retired, the seas have beenstormy for WCAP. Yet, regardless of choppywaters, the agency has managed to cut asteady path onward with the strong sup-port of the community in which we serve.It is because of this that we have chosen tocall this year’s Annual Report “Neighbors

Helping Neighbors.”While our community has always been

supportive, the funding uncertainties pre-sented over the past year have truly spot-lighted this. When the Low-Income HomeEnergy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) fundswere cut by $18,000,000 statewide, low-income Waldo County residents saw theiraverage fuel benefit shrink from $829 lastseason to $483 this season. Many concernedcitizens came through WCAP’s door askingwhat they could do to help. A new fund,“Keep Waldo Warm,” was created as a com-munity-funded means to help supplementLIHEAP’s lost funding.

The agency will continue to address theloss of funding in its four largest programs;LIHEAP, Transportation, Head Start, andHousing/Weatherization, while still con-tributing to the needs of Waldo County inevery way it can. In 2011, WCAP was able togive its Belfast Head Start Center a majorface-lift thanks to a federal Early Head Startgrant out of Boston. The building, known asthe Jabine Center, is over a hundred yearsold. Work was done to strengthen the build-ing’s foundation and renovate the interiorwhile keeping true to the building’s history.An addition was added to the back of thebuilding, expanding the current classroominto an Early Head Start socialization space.

Also in the mix for WCAP during 2011was a Pathways to Excellence grant thatpaved the way for the development of sever-al tools for the community to use. The firstof which was a new community assessment,which was written with the guidance of theWaldo County Leadership Circle; a groupthat brings together over 30 organizationalleaders and community volunteers through-out the county. The Neighbor for NeighborCoalition, a clearinghouse of churches, civicgroups, and local businesses that provideholiday projects also played a role. Theycame together during the summer as agroup to develop a two-sided Directory ofServices, which became available to the pub-lic in the fall of 2011.

The dangerous state of the current econ-omy is well reflected within the walls ofWCAP — all programs have experiencedsignificant increases in requests from those

in need. LIHEAP applications surged wellpast 3,000 families. WCAP’s Holiday BasketProjects also saw a significant increase, withan additional 158 boxes of food beingrequested in 2011 from 2010’s year-endtotal.

The Transportation program’s phonecontinues to ring off the hook and staff havebeen working hard with fewer resources.Luckily, the program was able to benefitfrom the arrival of two brand-new buses thispast year. Both buses were funded by thestate of Maine through American Reinvest-ment Recovery Act (ARRA) funding andeach can hold up to 20 passengers and twowheelchairs.

With a growing client base and shrinkingfunding sources, 2011 has proven to be ayear full of creativity and collaboration. Theagency came out with a clean audit, as didthe Early Head Start and Transportationprograms. The Housing and Weatherizationdepartment was chosen as one of only fivein the state to receive Sustainable EnergyResources for Consumers (SERC) fundingthrough spending out ARRA contracts ontime. Internally, the agency was able toachieve significant administrative savings byrevisiting employee health and pension ben-efits to create a new plan. Cutting costs willbe crucial in the coming year, second only tocontinued partnerships within the commu-nity.

As the new executive director of WCAP, Iam thrilled to have been given the opportu-nity to lead the agency through its efforts to

LLOOWW--IINNCCOOMMEE SSEECCTTOORRMMEEMMBBEERRSSEllie Weaver

Eric Nadeau (Vice Chairperson) *Joe Brooks

Walter Ash, Jr.Kim MitchellJessica WoodsJason Moody

AAlltteerrnnaatteessDan HortonBeverly Flagg

Katherine PaigeVyvyenne RitchieStephen Flagg Jr.

Gary Moore Amanda Shorey

PPRRIIVVAATTEE SSEECCTTOORRMMEEMMBBEERRSS

Angela CrawfordArlin Larson

Kate Miklovich (Chairperson) *

Aaron FethkeMichael Weaver

Kristy Richardson (Secretary) *Amy Wagner

Alternates:Sarah Martin

Linda StecBob MeggisonJoyce Fenner

PPUUBBLLIICC SSEECCTTOORRMMEEMMBBEERRSS

Joanne E Pease (Treasurer) *Faith Campbell *

Charles Miklovich Jon Cheston *Mertice Moore

Sandra Otis-Anderson

AAlltteerrnnaatteessMarilyn Fogg

Ron Cook

* denotes officer

A message from Waldo Community Action Partners

2012 WCAP Board of Directors

See MESSAGE, Page 8

2: Executive director’s message

3: A look at just one family enduring LIHEAP cuts: Cuts to LowIncome Home Energy Assistance Program affecting WaldoCounty residents

4: Development Committee: In changing times, WCAP thankful forits neighbors

5: The Waldo Community Action Partners Staff and VolunteerDrivers

6: Holiday food-baskets program swells with success

6: WCAP: Need for holiday donations is great

7: WCAP’s transportation services vital to Waldo County residents

9: How Head Start benefits children, families, and communities

8: WCAP offers child safety seat education, and seats

10: Early Head Start invaluable to many... just ask Kayden

11: Waldo County Head Start Annual Report

11: Head Start Policy Council

12: WCAP Financial Assistance Request - Summary of ServicesReport Period, October 1, 2009 to September 3, 2010

This supplement was pro-duced and published by the

EEddiittoorr//LLaayyoouutt::David M. Fitzpatrick

WWrriittiinngg::David M. Fitzpatrick, Tabitha

Lowe, Keith Small

PPhhoottooss::Some photos courtesy WCAP;others by David M. Fitzpatrick

SSaalleess::Jeff Orcutt

CCoovveerr DDeessiiggnn::Michele Prentice

If you’d like to participate innext year’s WCAP Annual

Report, contact Jeff Orcutt at(207) 990-8036 or at jor-

[email protected].

If you’d like to reach awide audience with yourorganization’s message,

consider running your ownspecial supplement. Contact

Jeff Orcutt for details.

WCAP ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS

By David M. FitzpatrickSPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER

Priscilla and Donald Lundgren’saging house isn’t much to look atfrom the outside, and the inside isunfinished in places, but when youwalk in, it feels like a home. There’sa wood stove near the front porch,with comfortable chairs so theycan sit and stay warm, surroundedby family photos.

“There are [many] people evenworse off than us, and I worryabout that,” Priscilla said when theLundgrens invited me into theirhome to talk about the LIHEAPcuts. “Which is why I’m allowingmyself to talk to you… we’re kindof private people.”

In 48 years of marriage, theLundgrens have always workedhard. In their younger days, theyworked at and later owned a chick-en farm. Donald worked for theJackson and Prospect Fire Depart-ments for 30 years and as a schooljanitor for a time. Priscilla was ateacher’s aide until budget cutsforced her out. Donald worked fora lumber company until retiring at62; he was to continue part time,but the employer decided theyounger guys were faster workers.

Medical problems soon inter-rupted their retirement. Priscillahad rotator-cuff surgery and twohand operations, and now needsboth knees replaced. Donald hashad cataract surgery and an earoperation, has trouble with a badlyswollen arthritic knee, and recent-ly went on nighttime oxygen.They’re both diabetic and havehigh blood pressure, and needmany medications every month.Amidst all of this, they finally hadno choice but to go on MaineCareand Medicare.

But under the currently pro-posed MaineCare cuts, the Lund-grens are worried they’ll be elimi-nated from MaineCare. With acombined income of about $1,339per month, they’d never be able tohandle their medical care, nevermind putting food on the table.And then there’s the heat.

“We’re very frightened rightnow, because our oil… is less thana quarter of a tank,” Priscilla said.

“We do have wood heat, thanks toour son and family; they keep ussupplied with wood.”

Until this year, Donald split thewood by hand and hauled it up thestairs. Now 69, and with that badknee, he was grateful to their sonfor building a ramp and gettinghim an electric wood splitter. Thequestion is how long he’ll be ableto keep doing it.

But the wood stove can’t heatthe whole house, and certainly notthe basement, which must be keptwarm to prevent the pipes fromfreezing. The Lundgrens must alsoburn oil.

They only recently needed assis-tance. In retirement, Donaldworked part time as a wide-loadescort driver, but when that com-pany folded four years ago, theywere forced to apply for fuel assis-tance through LIHEAP. Theyreceived LIHEAP for three yearsbefore the recent drastic cuts; lastyear, they received about $1,200,but this year it was just $486 — noteven enough for one tank.

“We knew that was going tohappen... so my son has filled upthe wood supply more than weever had,” Priscilla said. “We usedto use [wood] just for supplemen-tal [heating]; now, it’s 24/7.”

They’ve done everything to con-serve heat. For instance, Priscillaloves to sew, and on their limitedincome she’s able to make birthdayand Christmas gifts. But now theentire upstairs, including hersewing room, is closed off becausethey can’t afford to heat it.

They know their house needs tobe better insulated and weather-ized, but they can’t afford it. Theyapplied for weatherization helpbut were denied because too muchother work must be done to ensurethe weatherization would be effec-tive.

Even their volunteer activitieshave been curtailed. Among manyactivities, Priscilla was volunteer-ing in Bangor at Philips-StricklandHouse until she couldn’t afford thegas to drive there. And now, theycan’t afford to fix a vehicle to puton the road.

Priscilla said that, with taxbreaks always making the news, it’sdistressing to her that LIHEAP hasbeen cut, endangering many des-perate people. It’s one more factorthat makes survival harder.

“Our goal is to not just get by —I don’t like that term,” Priscillasaid. “I like ‘living.’”

“Living” might mean Bermudacruises or Vegas vacations forsome. For the Lundgrens, it’s justbeing together in their home, per-haps feeding the birds and chip-munks, which they can watch fromtheir stove-side seats, surroundedby those family photos.

“We live here and we’re happy,”Priscilla said. “And this is where wewant to stay.”

At WCAP, the LIHEAP cutbackhas resulted in the staff managingday to day, relying on piecemealdonations from individuals,churches, businesses, the Stephenand Tabitha King Foundation, andUnited Way.

“Benefits are not stretching veryfar and everyone’s running out offuel,” said Kitty Doughty of WCAP.“It’s just been emergencies, whereyou try and work extra people inevery day. I feel badly for the peo-ple that are living that way, justwalking a tightrope.”

* * *AAuutthhoorr’’ss nnoottee:: The interview for

this story was on Jan. 26. Two dayslater, their oil ran out and theirheat pipes froze. Their son workedfor six hours to thaw them, andthey managed to get 75 LIHEAPgallons delivered the next day. Butthe furnace wasn’t working right

as a result, and they could only runit 10 minutes at a time. Donaldhad to stay up around the clocktending it. The repairs cost $200,money they were hoping to use toget a car on the road. They werewithout heat until Feb. 12.

“We are warm and rested now,”Priscilla wrote in an email. “Ofcourse, now there is no money forfixing our vehicle or gas money toput in it, and March 3 is a ways off.But guess what? We’re happybecause we are warm and safe inour own little piece of Eden.”

Their son will drive her to hervolunteer work at the JacksonFood Pantry.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS | Thursday | March 1, 2012 | 3

A look at just one family enduring LIHEAP cutsCuts to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program affecting Waldo County residents

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY DAVID M. FITZPATRICK

Priscilla and Donald Lundgren sit by their wood stove. After mas-sive cutbacks to the LIHEAP program, the Lundgrens have strug-

gled to keep enough oil in the tank to keep their water pipesfrom freezing. The wood stove can’t heat the whole house, but

keeps them warm when the temperatures drop.

By Tabitha LoweWALDO COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERS

Waldo Community Action Part-ners’ articles of incorporation statethat the purposes of said corpora-tion are exclusively charitable andeducational, namely to act as animprovement society for WaldoCounty and as a private non-prof-it agency in the administration,operation, sponsorship, and coor-dination of community actionprograms under the Federal Eco-nomic Opportunity Act of 1964,Title II.

President Lyndon B. Johnsonsigned the Federal EconomicOpportunity Act in 1964. The actcharges community action pro-grams with developing employ-ment opportunities, improvinghuman performance, motivation,and productivity, or bettering theconditions under which peoplelive, learn, and work. With themaximum feasible participation ofresidents of the areas and membersof the groups served.

Community action agencies —WCAP included — were intendedto remain closely braided into thecultures and communities inwhich they serve. Waldo Commu-nity Action Partners and othercommunity-action agenciesmobilize public resources, such asfederal and state grants, andbring them to their neighbor-hoods in an organized way.“Many don’t realize WCAP islocal and not a governmentagency,” said Arlin Larson, chairof WCAP’s Development Com-mittee. “We’re working togetheras neighbors. Therefore, our con-cerns are for Waldo County.”

“We are a private organizationwith the broad charge to eliminatepoverty through many different

programs and many differentpools of government funding,”said Executive Director KeithSmall. “We really are the connec-tion between government fundsand our community.”

Unfortunately, as federal andstate funding continues to dwin-dle, WCAP and its clients are find-ing themselves in a difficult posi-tion, made fortunate only by localhands.

If not for the agency’s stalwartbase of volunteers and communi-ty supporters, it would be impos-sible for the agency to keep afloat.“Think of the number of volun-teers. Think of the volunteer[transportation] drivers, and theHead Start volunteers,” said Lar-son. “The agency belongs to the

community. It is community-run.”

Waldo Community Action Part-ners is a private non-profit agency,governed by a board of directorsand policy council—all residentsof Waldo County, whose roles areto represent the people of thecounty.

In many ways, WCAP has beenperforming a balancing actbetween local efforts and govern-ment funding. The hardship is that

while the local community contin-ues to invest time, energy, andmoney, the state and federal gov-ernments aren’t able to continuetheir support at the level that theyused to. Times are bleak economi-cally and it has been the communi-ty that has kept the chins ofWCAP’s staff up. Already, lettersand private donations are fre-quently received, simply fromneighbors who wish to help.

One woman entered the red and

white building where Waldo Com-munity Action Partners is locatedand approached the receptionist.When asked how the receptionistcould help her that day, shereplied, “What can I do to help?”The woman expressed a concernfor WCAP’s fuel assistance pro-gram and wished to make a dona-tion. Another family sent a $50check in the mail, with a note stat-ing that they had received helpfrom WCAP in the past and werebetter off now, so they wanted togive back.

“Donations can be as little as$28 to buy a box of food for a fam-ily through our Holiday BasketsProjects to amounts as great as$1,500 or $2,000 — enough tohelp several individuals with fuelor furnace repair,” said Small. “Inthis time of cutbacks, we recognizethat we need to turn more towardour friends and neighbors.”

Even small donations can go along way. “Small donations showbig donors that we have the sup-port of our community,” Larsonsaid. “We want to continue to domore in tough economic times.”

WCAP’s Development Com-mittee, a subcommittee of itsboard of directors, has been work-ing to develop fundraising andplanned giving plans. The agencyrecognizes the great fortune it hasbeen handed in the friends that ithas—whether it be a local businessholding a benefit dinner for one ofits programs or a stranger off thestreet looking for a way to help.


In changing times, WCAP thankful for its neighbors

One woman entered Waldo Community Action Partnersand approached the receptionist. When asked how the

receptionist could help her that day, she replied,“What can I do to help?”

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTOS BY DAVID M. FITZPATRICK

Top right: Some of the hundreds of volunteers await the begin-ning of the Christmas holiday baskets event. Left: All ages pitchin to the holiday baskets, even if they’re small enough that theyhave to climb on the table to toss canned goods into boxes asvolunteers slide them by. It’s community teamwork like what isseen at these events that help Waldo CAP succeed.

AADDMMIINNIISSTTRRAATTIIOONNKatie Bagley, SearsportKaren Clark, Searsport

Gale Hogan, MorrillPatricia Hogan, MorrillBarbara Hughes, BelfastTabitha Lowe, BelmontDallas Prescott, LibertyHarmony Small, Waldo

Keith Small, OrlandMargaret Sweet, Liberty

EEAARRLLYY HHEEAADD SSTTAARRTT//HHEEAADD SSTTAARRTT

Cheryl Baldwin, SearsportSuzanne Boguslawski,

SearsmontJean Brown, Belfast

Rebecca Bruno, UnionDawn Bryant, Searsmont

Dera Clukey BelmontSherry Colby, Belfast

Diane Cornelison,Winterport

Crystal Cullen, WatervilleMary Dowling, Rockland

April Dulude, BelfastCheryl Gould, BurnhamHope Hitchcock, Unity

Sandra Holk, BrewerDennis Hooper, Frankfort

Iris Hooper, FrankfortCynthia Hubbard, TroyBridget Hubbard, Troy

Katherine Johnston,Orrington

Cheryl Jones, BelfastPriscilla Jones, Lincolnville

Barbara Later, ProspectChristine Littlefield, Belfast

Tami Miles, WaldoMaryKate Moody, Appleton

Donna Nielsen, SearsportDiane Page, Thorndike

Debra Palmer, MontvilleJudy Palmer, Thorndike

Nadine Richards, NorthportMiranda Riley, Montville

Linda Rolerson, ThorndikeNettie Simmons SwanvillePatricia Skaggs, Frankfort

Lorri Vaillancourt, ThorndikeVictoria VanTrump,

Bar HarborMelissa Warren, Vinalhaven

Patricia Woodbury, MorrillJacqueline Zollman,

Thorndike

TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTTAATTIIOONNHerman Barr Jr., Belfast

Pamela Bucklin, SearsportSteven Bucklin, SearsportBruce Chandler, Swanville

James Cunningham,Searsport

Donald Dunton, BelfastHerman Dyer, Belfast

Winifred Fowler, ProspectLeon Gallant, Morrill

Robert Hamilton, BrooksLeroy Harriman Sr.,

NorthportDean Hustus, Searsport

Joseph Klein, TroyWilliam LaValley, Belmont

James Mangin, ProspectNancy Manning, Brooks

Richard Marriner, Swanville

Edward Murphy, BelfastHarland Nickerson, Belfast

Jamie Parsons, BelfastHeidi Russo, Searsmont

Lucille Salisbury, NorthportElaine Saucier, Belfast

Darlene Sylvester, Belfast

HHOOUUSSIINNGGMegan Cullen, Belfast

Lawrence Horvath, LibertyBrent Stapley, Waldo

Bjorn Streubel, BelfastVictoria York,

Stockton Springs

OOUUTTRREEAACCHHNancy Doughty, KnoxLinda Dudley, BrooksPatricia Payeur, Waldo

Virginia Seekins, Belfast


TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTTAATTIIOONNVVOOLLUUNNTTEEEERRDDRRIIVVEERRSS 22001122

Herman Barr Jr.Tammy BarrSteve Bonin

Rose CardinaleDavid Chaney

William ConroyKaren CunninghamStanley DesjardinsJacqueline Emery

Neal HarknessDonald Harriman Jr.

Eric LavinDorothy Nichols

Joanne PetersDonald RackliffPaula Roberts

Tabitha SpragueDarlene Sylvester

Brenda York

WWCCAAPP iiss aallwwaayyss iinn nneeeedd ooff vvooll--uunntteeeerr ddrriivveerrss.. IIff yyoouu hhaavveessoommee ssppaarree ttiimmee dduurriinngg tthhee

wweeeekk aanndd wwoouulldd lliikkee ttoo hheellpp,,ccoonnttaacctt WWCCAAPP aatt((220077)) 333388--66880099..

The Waldo Community Action Partners Staff


Each year, Waldo CAP managestwo programs to distribute boxesof food to needy people. The firstis WCAP’s holiday project atThanksgiving. The second is theannual People for People Christ-mas holiday project. Together, theydistributed nearly 2,000 foodboxes in 2011. That number isexpected to increase this year.

Paul Garelli started a holiday- -basket program in his three-baygarage in the late 1980s, distribut-ing a couple hundred boxes. Theevent eventually outgrew Garelli’sgarage, and he approached WaldoCAP, which was doing a similarproject at Thanksgiving. The twogroups joined forces; in 2011, theydistributed nearly 2,000 boxes.

Franklin Hart first becameinvolved around 10 years ago,when someone suggested he might

enjoy helping out. Back then, theydid about 700 boxes, and the vol-unteer group was much smallerthan today.

“We took a little bit longer;sometimes it would take us maybethree hours to put 700 boxestogether,” he recalled.

Hart started assembling, filling,and delivering boxes. He laterbecame a director, keeping lines inorder and looking out for potentialhazards.

“You have a chance to meet andgreet people that you probablynormally wouldn’t even see,” hesaid. “Some of the kids... havegrown up to be young adults thatwere kids when they started.”

Hart is also a basket recipient,and he feels he owes it to the pro-gram to lend his time to the groupeffort. The six hours or so hedonates is the least he can do, hesays. “I figure that earns my box,”he said.

Hart said he has many memo-

rable stories from his years helpingout, but what sticks out in hismind is when, during his first fewyears, he made a delivery to an eld-erly lady. When he brought the bigbox full of food into the house —a turkey, potatoes, vegetables,bread, rolls — she was astounded.

“Her eyes lit up,” he said,because the lady had been expect-ing a microwave dinner, or maybea plate of food. “She says, ‘I can’tbelieve it. What a Godsend!’ Itmade my whole day.”

There have been many changesover the years as they’ve stream-lined the process: taping boxes thenight before, abandoning town-specific stacks of boxes for one bigstack, changing from carryingboxes to sliding them along tables,and so on.

These days, the Thanksgivingproject is held at the Tarratine Halland the Christmas project is heldin the Belfast Armory.. It begins inthe wee hours of the morning,when truck drivers bring in andunload the food. At 5:30 a.m., vol-unteers start arriving; an hourlater, it’s in full swing. It takesabout under an hour to fill all theboxes, and about that to load upthe vehicles; emergency-servicespersonnel show up in cars, trucks,and even ambulances to get boxesfor their towns to do the deliveries.

Anyone can help out, frommanning food stations to movingboxes to cleaning up cardboard.Hart cited examples of young chil-dren helping out, and a young BoyScout in a wheelchair who hasbeen there every year recently. He’sseen plenty of elderly volunteers,and even pregnant women. Harthas a prosthetic on his lower rightarm and uses gripping hooks in

place of a hand, so he knows fullywell that anyone can pitch in. Andhe says it’s always nice to see thatthey do.

“If you were to get everybodytogether for a photo, you’d have to

have all the people that distributeit, all the people that give food, allthe people that transport the food,all the people that box the food, thevolunteers in there, all the staff at

WCAP: Need for holiday donations is great


Twenty years after its founding, Waldo County’slargest holiday food box project remains one of thelargest community-wide charity efforts. Thousands offamilies are provided with food to share as a house-hold for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The mostastounding part, however, is not that over a thousandboxes of food are packed in under an hour or thatover 250 community volunteers crawl out of bedbefore the sun to help pack them, but also that thisproject is 100 percent funded by community dona-tions and every penny that is donated goes directlytoward the cost of food.

Unfortunately, when the number of families in needcontinues to steadily increase, so does the cost. Gro-

cery prices are also on the rise. “It’s getting muchharder to swing,” said Tabitha Lowe, the project’s coor-dinator. “We don’t ever want to turn anyone away butthe project is getting so large, it’s difficult not to startto wonder where the tipping point is.”

Lowe said that donations are extremely valuable tothis project, in so many ways. “The project means alot to not only those who receive the food boxes butalso those who show up to pitch in,” she said. “I hearthem talking sometimes before we start packing theboxes, about how much they look forward to doing iteach year. It’s become an important part of their fam-ily’s holiday traditions.”

-By Waldo CAP

Holiday food-baskets program swells with success

TToopp (photo courtesy WCAP): Franklin Hart (left) directs the actionat the 2011 Christmas holiday baskets event. AAbboovvee (BangorDaily News photo by David M. Fitzpatrick): A young girl in her

pajamas finds a way to heft a box of food.

Continued on next page


What do you do when you livein Waldo County and can’t affordto get to a doctor’s appointment inBangor? Or you can’t drive ordon’t have a car? You call WaldoCAP, which provides transporta-tion services throughout WaldoCounty.

“I think it’s pretty important allthe way around, because it helpsmeet their medical needs,” saidJamie Parsons, WCAP’s Opera-tions Manager.

WCAP serves 3,000 people whoneed to get to medical appoint-ments, often well out of town —Augusta, Bangor, Waterville, andfar beyond — but who don’t havecars, can’t afford the gas, or areunable to drive.

With a stable of about 20 driversfrom around Waldo County,WCAP dispatches volunteers totransport those in need. Driversare reimbursed at just 41 cents amile.

WCAP will also reimburse thosein financial need who use theirown vehicles, or family or friends’vehicles. They’re reimbursed atjust 21 cents a mile. Computersdetermine mileage from pickup todropoff, so there’s no guesswork orerrors.

And WCAP operates a fleet ofbuses that make regular runsaround the county and out oftown. Those in need can get sched-uled onto the buses, but the gener-

al public is welcome to use them aswell by paying fares. It’s quite amoneysaver, since a ride fromBelfast to places like Bangor,Augusta, and Waterville costs just$3.50. “You can’t run a car forthat,” said Parsons.

Joanne Peters knows the valueof WCAP’s transportation servic-

es. After having a kidney with atumor removed two years ago, shediscovered she had renal-cell can-cer in March 2011. She needed tohave regular chemotherapy treat-ments, and couldn’t drive herself.She got set up for transportationthrough WCAP, and was


PHOTOS COURTESY OF WCAP

WCAP Transportation Director Ed Murphy (right) hands the keysto a new bus to driver Dean Hustus. WCAP received grant money

to buy the much-needed two new buses, which are the biggestWCAP operates. The bus service is just one of three ways WCAPprovides transportation services; the others are volunteer driversusing their own vehicles and reimbursements for self-drivers. The

buses are even open to the general public with paid fares.Buses go around the county and well out of town, including to

Bangor, Waterville, Augusta, and Rockland.

WCAP’s transportation servicesvital to Waldo County residents

Waldo CAP,” he said.“It’s amazing.”This year’s programs distributed

1,953 food boxes to 26 WaldoCounty towns (1,122 boxes atChristmas and 831 at Thanksgiv-ing). The total cost was $55,570.92.The food weighed a whopping71,860 pounds, or 35.93 tons.

The food isn’t free, and the pro-grams need donations to help fundthe 2012 holiday baskets; $30 willbuy food for an entire family,

enough to last a week.To donate to the Thanksgiving

baskets, send your contribution to:WCAPThanksgiving Basket ProjectPO Box 130Belfast, ME 04915

To donate to the Christmas bas-kets, send your contribution to:

People for PeoplePO Box 372Belfast, ME 04915

Continued from previous page

See TRANSPORTATION Page 9



Is your child car safety seat installed cor-rectly? Are all its parts functional? Is it theright seat for your child? And is it past itsexpiration date?

Yes, expiration date — usually about sixyears from the manufacture date. There aremany safety concerns when using car seats,but most of us don’t know about them. Infact, recent statistics show that 90 percent ofchild safety seats are not used properly,which puts children at risk.

Waldo Community Action Partners ishelping to educate people, offering freemonthly workshops and individual consul-tations, as well as providing free car safetyseats for income-eligible people.

“A lot of people don’t know that car seatsexpire, or that car seats are recalled,” saidDawn Bryant, WCAP’s Health and SafetyCoordinator, noting that her recall bookcontains over 100 seat models.

At the workshop, participants can bringtheir car seats in to be checked for expira-

tion and against the recall list. Bryant willgo through a checklist to see if the seat isinstalled correctly, facing the right way,buckled properly, and that the retainingclips and harnesses are in top shape. Partic-ipants learn that car seats should only beused if you got it new or you know whodid, it was never in an accident, the modelwas never recalled, and the seat hasn’texpired.

Bryant said that since no stores in WaldoCounty sell child safety seats, and many des-titute people can’t afford them anyway, peo-ple frequently use old or unsafe seats. Seatspast expiration dates, or that have been instorage for too long, might have brittle plas-tic or unsafe straps. And, like a bike helmet,a seat that has been in a vehicle accidentshould be discarded and never reused.

As we learn more, recommendationschange. For example, conventional wisdomused to say a child had to be in a rear-facingcar seat until age 1; this year, the NationalHighway Safety Administration and theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics havechanged its recommendation to keep seatsrear-facing until the child can longer fit that

way, usually at 35 pounds or 36 inches.Last year, the WCAP program served

144 families and 190 children, and distrib-uted 147 free child safety seats. The safetyclass is held at the Belfast Fire Department

on the second Thursday of each monthfrom 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. WCAP will doindividual training by appointment. Formore information, visit :

www.waldocap.org.

WCAP offers child safety seat education, and seats

continue supporting its mission. Ihave spent 30 years in the commu-nity-action world with Washing-ton Hancock Community Agency(WHCA), working as director ofthe Down East Business Alliance—one of WHCA’s many arms. In thefew months I have been working atWCAP and in its outlying commu-nities, I have already become trulyastounded by the magnitude of

Waldo County’s neighborliness.The staff at Waldo CommunityAction Partners feels very fortu-nate to be assisting individuals inthe community that it serves, agrassroots community that provesitself to be helpful and compas-sionate in sometimes the mostunexpected and inspiring of ways.Waldo Community Action Part-ners has been working in WaldoCounty for over 45 years and wehave our friends, partners, andneighbors to thank for that. Ourhats are off to you.

MessageContinued from Page 2



Amanda Shorey didn’t give itmuch thought when her sonAndrew’s speech developmentseemed a little slow. He’ll grow outof it, everyone advised her.

But he didn’t, and when he was4, Amanda decided to investigate.His pediatrician referred Andrewto a child development specialist,who confirmed he was havingspeech problems. At age 4, achild’s vocabulary should number200 to 300 words; Andrew’s wasjust 25.

The specialist put him intospeech therapy, but also recom-mended another important step:enrolling him in Head Start, wherehe could be socially immersed andhave ample opportunity to put hisdeveloping speech skills to work.

A year later, Andrew’s vocabu-lary was between 500 and 1,000words, and he’d become quite a

conversationalist. At first, he couldtell his mother whether he had agood day or not, but couldn’tdescribe the activities he’d done.All that had changed.

“Sometimes I’m still amazed,”said Amanda. “He can tell me howhe feels. He says ‘I love you, Mom.’When we drive home from school,he’ll tell me about his day. It wasjust stuff I never got before.”

Now almost 6, Andrew contin-ues progressing well. But he’s notthe only one who has undergone ametamorphosis. Amanda’s eyeswere opened to Head Start’simportance, and she got moreinvolved with the program. Shesoon joined the Waldo CountyHead Start Policy Council andserved as the chairperson. Later,she served on the Waldo Commu-nity Action Partners board ofdirectors, where she was part ofthe committee that hired WaldoCAP’s new executive director,Keith Small. And although shehad worked with computers as an

intelligence analyst in the U.S.Army and was in school to learnnetworking technology, her expe-riences inspired her to switch hermajor: She’s now workingtowards a career in health andhuman services.

Recently, with the Head Startprogram facing possible cuts, shespoke to the Maine Legislatureabout her experiences, and howshe and Andrew have benefitedfrom Head Start. Normally shyand reserved — she once criedright before speaking to 15 peoplein a college speech class — Aman-da persevered.

“I was very scared,” she said.“But… I knew I wanted to speakwith my heart and give them a lit-tle taste of what a Head Start par-ent goes through.”

“Head Start takes care of ourkids, but it also promotes familyengagement,” she told the Legisla-ture that day.“It gives parents voic-es and the ability to serve theircommunities. I am not just a Head

Start parent; I am an advocate formy child and my community.Please do not take away thatopportunity for other parents tofind their voices. Please do not cutour Head Start program.”

So what are her plans when sheearns her degree?

“I would love to stay with HeadStart,” she said. “That’s definitelymy passion, because so many chil-dren need [that experience]…Head Start... not only helps chil-dren but it helps families, too. Itgives people a chance to help theircommunity. It’s awesome.”

How Head Start benefits children, families, and communities

impressed from the start.Then, “I read about volunteer-

ing, and when I got back on myfeet, I said, ‘I think I’d like to dothat,’” she said.

By September, she was able todrive herself, and began as a volun-teer driver two days a week. Mostof her drives have been aroundWaldo County, but she’s been toLewiston, Lincoln, Brunswick, andeven South Portland.

“It occupies my mind a coupledays a week,” she said.“I do like thepeople I come in contact with.”

The reimbursement is enoughto cover her monthly car paymentand insurance, but she puts on alot of miles, not to mention wearand tear. She makes nothing.

“Not a cent,” she said. “You’reputting it back in your vehiclebetween your tires and gas and oilchange and miles on your car.”

The state may soon changehow such transportation is han-dled, going to what’s called a bro-kerage system. Currently, WCAPhandles everything: workingwith the client, establishing eligi-

bility, and schedulingtransportation. A bro-kerage method wouldinvolve an independ-

ent agency to take over most ofthat.

While having one agency han-dle that statewide might soundfiscally smart, the result wouldmean an extensive loss of fundingfor an agency like WCAP. With-out funding, positions wouldlikely be lost, and the public busservice would possibly suffer. Itcould impact how WCAP pro-vides transportation to countyresidents. As such, WCAP iswatching those developmentsclosely in an effort to protect itsclients’ needs.

On an average day, WCAP sets

up and dispatches around 650trips. “It’s pretty big,” said Parsons.“It’s getting bigger and bigger andbigger.”

Parsons’ job is to plan out allthose trips, which is quite a chal-lenge. “It’s like a great big giganticpuzzle every day,” she said.

Meanwhile, Joanne Peters con-tinues on her mission to help oth-ers — by getting them their med-ical appointments, but also being afriend in the car for the trip.

“Everyone has a story,” Peterssaid. “You almost feel like you’re acounselor at times, but that’s okay.I’m a good listener.”

Peters still goes to chemo everyweek, although her cancer is inremission. She’s pleased she foundWCAP’s service, and hopes others

take notice.“I think it’s a very good organi-

zation, and I hope it continues get-

ting supported,” she said. “I thinkit does a real good thing for thecommunity.”

TransportationContinued from Page 7


Mary Cox knew early in herpregnancy that her son would beborn with a bilateral cleft lip andpalate. And after Kayden arrivedin the world, he underwent sevensurgeries in Boston, all before 18months, to correct the extensivedeformation.

There were concerns about hisongoing development, so hispublic-health nurse referred himto several professionals, such as aspeech therapist at Waldo CountyGeneral Hospital. Today, at 2½,Kayden has the vocabulary of a 5-year-old and speaks in complexsentences, although he’s stillworking on his articulation. Butpart of that success was the col-laboration the speech therapisthad with another early referral.

That was to WCAP’s EarlyHead Start program. Once aweek, an EHS home visitor comesinto the Cox home to work withKayden and help with his devel-opment. The process begins withan Ages & Stages Questionnaire

to identify challenge areas. Fromthere, the home visitor workswith Kayden in fun, engagingactivities that are intensive evalu-ation and education — but looksand feels like playtime. Thatworks well for an energetic guy

like Kayden, and great for Mary.“I love having a goal, knowing

what I should be looking at,knowing what his strengths are,”said Mary. “And they make it fun,too.”

The home visitor observes thefamily engaging in activities withKayden, and then suggests waysto get additional benefits fromthe activity. For example, theCoxes worked with Kayden tocount and stack blocks, whichworks his brain in two ways. Butthe EHS visitor suggested a newidea: line up alternating long andshort blocks, and ask Kaydenwhich comes next.

And when Kayden was learningcolors, the home visitor took himon outdoor color walks to findcolors in nature and in the neigh-borhood — turning an educa-tional task into physical exerciseand an entertaining time with thefamily.

Such activities are not by acci-dent. The EHS home visitorscarefully track children’s develop-ment to mark what are calledmilestones — ensuring the chil-dren can do certain tasks at cer-tain ages. If they’re behind, thevisitor knows what areas to workon, and can suggest activities tohelp, without needing to spendmuch money to do them.

“These are all things that fami-lies can do in their homes,” Marysaid. “You use supplies that peo-ple usually have already.”

Kayden’s parents are intimatelyinvolved with his development.Her parents, who live downstairsin the house, also spend a lot oftime with him.

“There’s always somebodyaround that really cares for him,and really, really wants to see himgrow and develop,” said Kayden’sfather, Kenneth.

That’s key, the parents agree,

and some parents might need alittle boost in that department —a boost EHS can give a family thatneeds it.

But despite the success of EHS,its government funding couldvery well be endangered next yearas across-the-board cuts for 2013are considered as part of thedebt-limit deal.

“That’s scary, because I justthink what we’ve done is puregold,” Mary said. “A lot of that isthat we’ve had tremendous sup-port from them.”

“It’s just like a house: If youbreak the foundation, it isn’tgoing to work,” said Kenneth.“When they cut back all theseHead Start programs, that’s reallywhat they’re doing is they’rebreaking the kids’ education rightfrom the start.”

Mary’s mother, Kate Sweet-land, didn’t believe that EarlyHead Start would work with Kay-den. “I thought, ‘What can theydo for him?’” she recalled. “Weread to him already. He eats veg-etables.”

But well into the program,she’s a woman with a changedmind.

“It really has done a lot forhim,” she said. “This has been afantastic program. Even thedoubting grandmother is wellconvinced. And the people in itare just incredibly good people.”


Penquis has offices in Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft, Lincoln and Rockland (800) 215-4942 www.penquis.org

Providing Quality Services with Integrity and Respect to 30,000 Maine Residents Each Year.

Penquis assists individuals and families in preventing, reducing, or eliminating poverty in their lives and, through partnerships, engages the

community in addressing economic and social needs. CONGRATULATIONS

Waldo Community Action Partners for 47 years of dedicated service.

Early Head Start invaluable to many... just ask Kayden

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTOS BY DAVID M. FITZPATRICK

Kayden enages in many at-home activities designed to stimulatehis learning and help the Early Head Start professionals gauge

his development. At left, Kayden and his parents work with EHSHome Visitor Crystal Cullen. At right, Kayden sits with his mother,

Mary, rolling a pain-covered ball in a plastic tub.

Each Head Start agency must make available to the pub-lic an annual report that discloses the following informationfrom the most recently concluded fiscal year. During theprogram year covering September 1, 2010 – August 31, 2011,Waldo County Head Start:

1. Total amount of public and private funds received and theamount from each source:

State DHHS Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 225,969State CACFP & Child Nutrition . . . . . . . . . .$58,378.69HMP Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,000.00MSAD #34 Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,996.88MSAD #22 Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 7,800.00Federal Head Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,123,012Federal Head Start Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 20,495Town Funding Head Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,952.40In-Kind – Head Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 329,728.91Federal Early Head Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 592,164.00Federal Early Head Start Carryover . . . . . .$150,423.00Federal Early Head Start Training . . . . . . . .$29,608.00Town Funding Early Head Start . . . . . . . . . . .$1,517.00Melanoma Foundation of NE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$500.00In-Kind –Early Head Start . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 166,306.00

2. In 2010 Head Start lost $7,082.00 in State Funds.

3. 15% of Federal Head Start funds used tosupport administrative services. 85% used tosupport direct services to provide childdevelopment programming.

4. Total number of children served: 159 (HS)54 children and 6 pregnant moms (EHS)

5. Total number of families served: 151(HS)families 52 EHS

6. Average monthly enrollment: 151 (HS) 50(EHS)

7. Head Start eligible children served living inWaldo County: 98% (HS) 100% (EHS)

8. Results of most recent financial audit:• No audit findings disclosed that are required to be

reported in accordance with Circular A-1-33, Section 510(a)• WCAP qualified as low risk auditee

9. Percentage of enrolled children who received medicalexams: 93% (HS) 91% (EHS children) 100% (EHS pregnantmoms)

10. Percentage of enrolled children who receiveddental exams: 99% (HS) 81% (EHS children)33% (EHS pregnant moms)

11. 2010-2011 concluded our first full year ofproviding both Early Head Start and Head Startservices. For the first time, Waldo CommunityAction Partners had the ability to present holis-

tic services to families. We are now able to support pregnantmoms through their pregnancy, the transition from preg-nancy to birth; newborn to toddler; toddler to preschooler;preschooler to pre- kindergarten and onto the public school.It is with our strong community partnerships with Broad-reach Family and Community Services, First Steps ChildCare as well as with SAD #3, RSU #20 , SAD #22 that ourprogram is so successful. Waldo County Head Start has anequally strong partnership with our parents. Families areinvited to participate in center Parent Groups, Policy Coun-cil, on our Health Advisory Committees for Head Start andEarly Head Start as well as an opportunity to participate inthe Self Assessment process. They are also encouraged toparticipate in their child’s education by volunteering in ourclassrooms, in their home (for our home based EHS pro-gram) , at the center in the kitchen, on our buses as moni-tors and on field trips. Last year our total number of volun-teer hours was 10,306.00 (Head Start 8,746; EHS 3,600).This was achieved by 256 volunteers in all.


BBeellffaasstt PPrrooggrraammss BBHHSSCC && FFSSCCCCJason Moody, Voting

Melinda Moody, VotingHeather Emerick, AlternateMichelle Martin, Alternate

Vacant , EHS VotingVacant , EHS Alternate

SSeeaarrssppoorrtt PPrrooggrraammVacant , Voting

LaTisha Robert, VotingShauna Pomeroy, Alternate

Katie Santerre, Alternate

UUnniittyy PPrrooggrraammss UUHHSSCC,, UUPPRRKK&& UU--EECCIIPP

Katie McCormick, VotingMerrily Stevenson , Voting

Jennifer Turnbull , AlternateEmily McCormick , AlternateRebecca Greenleaf, Alternate

Ashley Quimby , VotingVacant , Alternate

MMiillll LLaannee pprrooggrraammss --EEHHSS CCeenntteerr bbaasseedd && BBRR EE--CCIIPP

CCoollllaabb CCllaassssrroooommMolly Warren, Voting

Vacant , AlternateCarly Mercer, Voting

Vacant , AlternateLeroy Smith Pre-K Program ,

Bobbielee Hobbs, VotingWendy Bolduc, Alternate

AAMMEESS PPrree--KKVacant , Voting

Vacant , AlternateBelfast Pre-K ,

Kristy Sprague, VotingVacant , Alternate

CCoommmmuunniittyyEllie Weaver, Voting

Amanda Shorey , VotingJennifer Richeson, Voting

HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL COMMITTEEPROGRAM YEAR 2011-2012

WALDO CAP - WALDO COUNTY HEAD START ANNUAL REPORT


WALDO COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERS 2010 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTSummary of Services Report Period, October 1, 2009 to September 3, 2010

22001100 22001100 22000099 22000099AASSSSEETTSS UUnnrreessttrriicctteedd TTeemmpp.. RReessttrriicctteedd TToottaall UUnnrreessttrriicctteedd TTeemmpp.. RReessttrriicctteedd TToottaall

CCUURRRREENNTT AASSSSEETTSSCash and cash equivalents $252,688 $448,936 $701,624 $4,919 $316,183 $321,102 Accounts receivable 23,943 - 23,943 42,581 - 42,581Grants receivable 428,787 - 428,787 648,508 - 648,508Loans receivable - deferred - 157,052 157,052 - 160,182 160,182Loans receivable - repayable - 18,639 18,639 - 18,211 18,211Prepaid expenses 41,739 - 41,739 37,592 - 37,592Total current assets 747,157 624,627 1,371,784 733,600 494,576 1,228,176

FFIIXXEEDD AASSSSEETTSSLand 12,200 - 12,200 12,200 - 12,200Buildings and improvements 176,008 - 176,008 131,899 - 131,899Furniture and equipment 130,048 - 130,048 130,048 - 130,048Vehicles 688,872 - 688,872 668,589 - 668,589

1,007,128 - 1,007,128 942,736 - 942,736Less: accumulated depreciation (898,987) - (898,987) (855,946) - (855,946)

108,141 - 108,141 86,790 - 86,790TTOOTTAALL AASSSSEETTSS 855,298 624,627 1,479,925 820,390 494,576 1,314,966

LLIIAABBIILLIITTIIEESS AANNDD NNEETT AASSSSEETTSS

CCUURRRREENNTT LLIIAABBIILLIITTIIEESSAccounts payable 131,255 - 131,255 142,293 - 142,293Accrued payroll/compens. absences 121,893 - 121,893 51,937 - 51,937Payroll taxes & accrued other 26,396 - 26,396 7,549 - 7,549Current portion of long-term debt 5,957 - 5,957 5,500 - 5,500Deferred revenue - 525,821 525,821 - 326,621 326,621Advances - 14,983 14,983 - 46,020 46,020Escrows Payable 40,628 - 40,628 169,113 - 169,113Total current liabilites 326,129 540,804 866,933 376,392 372,641 749,033

NNEETT AASSSSEETTSS 518,517 83,823 602,340 443,998 121,935 565,933TTOOTTAALL LLIIAABBIILLIITTIIEESS AANNDD AASSSSEETTSS $855,298 $624,627 $1,479,925 $820,390 $494,576 $1,314,966

PPrrooggrraamm SSeerrvviicceess PPrroovviiddeedd NNuummbbeerr SSeerrvveedd DDoollllaarr VVaalluuee ooff SSeerrvviiccee 22001111 FFiinnaanncciiaall Request

Transportation 2,606,191 Waldo Vehicle Miles Operating $1,671,661.00 $57,492.0071,153 Out of County Miles Inkind $244,678.00

Total $1,916,339.00

Home Energy Assistance 2,949 Households Operating $156,643.00 $51,074.00(HEAP) 6,519 Individuals Benefit Amount $2,397,076.00

Total $2,553,719.00

Energy Crisis Intervention 239 Households Operating $- $1,849.00(ECIP) Benefit Amount $78,999.00

Total $78,999.00

Head Start and Child 134 Households Operating $1,425,598.00 $35,105.00Nutrition 159 Individuals Inkind $329,729.00

Total $1,755,327.00

Weatherization 143 Households Operating $306,221.00 $20,514.00346 Individuals Benefit Amount $719,449.00

Total $1,025,670.00

Home Repair 6 Households Operating $11,904.00 $1,189.007 Individuals Loan Amount $47,545.00

Total $59,449.00

Donated Commodities 991 Households Operating $14,419.00 $2,115.00(Food) 2,303 Individuals Food Value $85,135.00

(monthly, not annually) Total $99,554.00

Central Heating Improvement 72 Households Operating $87,198.00 $2,687.00(CHIP) 170 Individuals Benefit Amount $33,171.00

Total $120,369.00

Early Head Start 53 Individuals Operating $572,221.00 $13,326.0064 Visits Inkind $94,145.00

Total $666,366.00

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) - $255,750.00 $19,382.00

TOTAL $8,275,792.00 $204,733.00

PPrrooggrraamm SSeerrvviicceess PPrroovviiddeedd NNuummbbeerr SSeerrvveedd DDoollllaarr VVaalluuee ooff SSeerrvviicceeCCoommmmuunniittyy SSeerrvviicceess BBlloocckk GGrraanntt ((CCSSBBGG)) $255,750.00

CCoouunnttyy WWiiddee SSeerrvviicceess UUnnddeerr CCoommmmuunniittyy SSeerrvviicceess BBlloocckk GGrraannttElectric Lifeline Program (ELP) 1090 Households $442,760.00Child Care Food Program 25 Homes/135,208 Served $163,628.00Dental Project 24 Households/24 Served $5,986.00Appliance Replacement Program 17 Households $8,641.00Above Ground Storage Tank Program 16 Households $20,086.00Credit Assistance 3 Households $8,400.00Safety Seat Program-Seats 147 Car Seats $8,820.00Safety Seat Program-Checks 190 Safety Checks $3,800.00Holiday Projects $51,215.00

725 Families received Thanksgiving Baskets Total $713,336.001070 Families received Christmas Baskets

TOTAL $969,086.00OOnnggooiinngg IInniittiiaattiivveess

Neighbor for Neighbor Clearing House for 1190 FamiliesCinderella Project for 84 IndividualsCompleted Community Assessment as of 2010 GRAND TOTAL $9,244,878.00

REVENUES

EXPENSES

Administration Other

Federal/StateContributions

Fees/Medicaid

Transportation

Family

OtherAdministration

Community

Housing

Waldo Community Action Partners Annual Report

Documents

Transcript of Waldo Community Action Partners Annual Report