An inclusive community for all ages and life experiences

A REFLECTION BY  SARAH JANDREAU

Sarah Jandreau's projects during year one included assisting in the writing of Millinocket's AARP Age-Friendly Action Plan and helping to establish a Community Garden in partnership with Millinocket's Sustainability Committee. She also began the 'Learn & Grow' garden at Millinocket Memorial Library - a model raised bed/container garden established with partners Wabanaki Public Health and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to encourage food security, promote shared learning by children and adults, and encourage people to try preservation techniques. During our second year of service, we were able to add a third partner 'Breaking the Cycle', a recovery residence for women. The program will use the opportunity to grow their own produce and enjoy the therapeutic benefits gardening brings. 

Another project completed with the Millinocket Memorial Library is the Information Hour, which presents topics of interest to local residents.  Some of the topics presented have been Container Gardening, Using USDA Commodity Food Box and SNAP food benefits to get the most health benefits, Seed Saving/Starting, resources for hearing-disabled residents offered by Disability Rights Maine, and a technology class offered by the National Digital Equity Center.

As part of our AmeriCorps service to the local community,  Sarah was a guest reader at Millinocket Memorial Library for the January 16th National Day of Service.  The children enjoyed the age-friendly book 'Miss Tizzy', as well as an associated craft project.  

Great fun was had when the 3rd annual Age-Friendly Millinocket event 'SnowDown' was held, with Sarah overseeing the children's game area, and serving hot chocolate to the attendees/skaters. Over 100 area families attended with a wonderful time reported by all.

Starting in my first year of service and continuing in the second is a 'Caregivers Support group' for those caring for a loved one with dementia or other chronic, serious illness.  We have transitioned to a partnership with Eastern Area Agency on Aging to offer the Caregivers a virtual Zoom meeting to better meet the needs of the participants. To facilitate the transition from in-person to virtual, Sarah matched each support group participant with a notebook device and made sure they were comfortable logging into a Zoom session. The class has grown from 2-12 regular participants. 

In the planning stages is a new support group for cancer patients in partnership with The Dempsey Center for Cancer Support and Millinocket Regional Hospital's oncology department.  

Last summer Sarah was instrumental in bringing the USDA program 'Sr. FarmShare' to the Millinocket area.  In partnership with Foxgreen Farms, and Tri-Town Baptist Food Pantry, over 70 Millinocket residents were able to avail themselves of free, wonderfully fresh produce, promoting wellness and saving grocery dollars.  This Spring/Summer, we have 2 farms now interested in providing produce for the program, so hope to expand the numbers of older adults we serve.  

I am excited to also be a help to my AmeriCorps colleague, Barbara, to bring a long-awaited Farmers' & Artisans Market to downtown Millinocket this summer. 

It has been my pleasure to serve my community by helping to create and organize new Age-Friendly initiatives which have an impact on citizens' quality of life, health, and well-being.