I joined the Lifelong Maine AmeriCorps program almost by accident. After the deaths of my mother, father, and older sister for whom I had provided assistance and caregiving after my retirement, I was at a loss; mentally, physically, and spiritually. I reached out to Anne Schroth, Executive Director at Healthy Peninsula (HP), who I knew from my work at the Peninsula Free Health Clinic, to ask about volunteer opportunities. The conversation was one of those “funny you should ask” moments as she told me about an upcoming full-time AmeriCorps position with HP. After thinking about participating in AmeriCorps again, I called to let her know that I would accept a part-time position with the provision that I could work with older adults in their Healthy Aging programs, specifically to provide A Matter of Balance programming.

My father had passed away as a result of a fall and my mother and sister had struggled with balance and mobility issues, so I thought A Matter of Balance program would be a fine memorial while helping others decrease their risks of falls and begin to exercise to improve their strength and balance. With Anne’s approval and a collaboration with the Eastern Area Agency on Aging, we began a program to serve people through Age-Friendly Coastal Communities. We were fortunate to be given a generous sponsorship from AARP Maine to cover the costs of beginning the program.

After I attended the Matter of Balance Master Training, I was able to train lay coaches to offer the program. While hampered by the continuation of Covid, we were able to train our first coaches in the summer of 2022 and held our first class in September 2022. To date, we have successfully trained 10 lay coaches and attracted 28 older adults to three classes with two additional classes on tap for Spring 2023. We are offering classes in Deer Isle/Stonington with an additional collaboration with the Healthy Island Project. Collaborations are a fine way to get more accomplished!

By securing the collaboration with EAAA, we ensured that the program will continue after my term of service ends in August 2023 as I will volunteer through Healthy Peninsula and EAAA to continue to provide classes into the future.

I was excited to learn that I would be joined by Sonya Bates who would cover the other half-time position with HP. I knew Sonya and thought we would make a great team. I was right! Together we designed and implemented The Walk-In Cafe, a weekly outdoor free community cafe to bring a safer gathering for people in our community who were longing for connection after the Covid pandemic. With a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor, we have been hosting the cafe since April 2022. The cafe has become the weekly highlight for many of our older guests as we celebrate birthdays and holidays, provide information about available programs, and create new friendships as well as offer refreshments and drinks each week.

While Sonya and I have been involved with other programs at Healthy Peninsula including The Simmering Pot (free weekly delivery of soup throughout the AF Coastal Communities area) and distribution of the food boxes and fresh fruit and vegetables through the USDA’s Supplemental Commodity Food Box program, one other collegial effort makes me smile. We organized and hosted Healthy Peninsula’s first ever Volunteer Appreciation Event in the late fall of 2022 to celebrate the contributions of HP’s amazing volunteers. The night was a smashing success, and I hope to return as a volunteer to be involved in an on-going annual event.

Finally, when I look back on my AmeriCorps service, I am thankful for the opportunity to have met many new friends and to have provided programs that have supported our community’s physical and emotional health. Somedays I think it has been just a drop in the bucket. Then I remember how much a kind word, a helping hand, or a warm meal have meant to me throughout my lifetime and hope I have returned the gift.