Bowdoinham -
Winter safety Kits

For the last several winters, volunteers from Age-Friendly Bowdoinham have organized and distributed seasonal safety kits. These kits include hats, gloves, blankets, hand warmers, canned goods, even wind-up radios for when the power goes out! In 2021, the committee included carbon monoxide detectors and this year, smoke detectors were added. Small battery-powered lanterns, capable of charging phones, were included last year, as well. The committee solicits feedback and uses it to make adjustments –  so the lanterns were added.

Brochures describing winter support programs and resources, including information on heating assistance and nearby food pantries, are added to the kits.

A grant from the Maine Community Foundation, and generous private funding support has kept this great program thriving.

Age-Friendly Bowdoinham organizes this project each year and works closely with the food pantry, the Fire and EMS departments to make it happen. As in any small town, the informal safety net knows the people who may be isolated or need support in other ways. Other referrals may come from their Rides in Neighbor’s Cars or Tax-Aide programs. If needed, the committee will deliver the kits (and do an informal check-in, as well). 

Bowdoinham is another small town taking care of its own.

You will find  more information about all these programs (and a lot more!),  when you visit the Lifelong Maine website. lifelongmaine.org