A van donated by Downeast Community Partners helps residents of the Healthy Acadia Recovery Residence
MACHIAS – Safe Harbor Home for Women and Children, a Machias recovery residence operated by Healthy Acadia in partnership with three other nonprofits, has an invaluable new asset parked in the driveway. Downeast Community Partners recently transferred ownership of a van for use at Safe Harbor. With partnership and community service as a priority, they generously sold the vehicle to Healthy Acadia for the low price of $1, making this much-needed resource accessible.
“Lack of transportation is always a barrier for our residents,” says Katie Sell, house manager at Safe Harbor. “Having this vehicle available for us to provide trips to appointments, groceries and other errands will improve the quality of life for people living in Safe Harbor. We are very grateful to Downeast Community Partners for this gift.
Safe Harbor opened in the fall of 2020 and has since provided a supportive housing option for women at all stages of recovery from substance use disorder. The project was initiated and is supported by four non-profit organizations, all of which serve recovering community members in multiple ways. Healthy Acadia’s role is to support all programmatic aspects of Safe Harbor, and Downeast Community Partners, which owns the building, manages all aspects of the house itself. Community Caring Collaborative and Aroostook Mental Health Center are key partners in providing support staff, programmatic advice and other resources.
“We are very pleased to support Safe Harbor residents in this way,” said Rebecca Palmer, Executive Director of DCP. “This is a unique and wonderful collaborative project that makes such a difference to the people it serves, and transportation is a critical need. We are happy to help.
Healthy Acadia is currently fundraising to establish a Vehicle Maintenance Fund to ensure this essential transportation resource will benefit Safe Harbor residents for years to come. The community is invited to contribute to its fundraising goal of $10,000 by donating today and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
“Downeast Community Partners has been extremely generous in providing this resource for Safe Harbor,” said Shoshona Smith, Director of Development for Healthy Acadia. “We are asking our community to make a generous donation in turn, to ensure this van can provide many miles and years of transportation support to Safe Harbor residents on their recovery journeys. Every gift, regardless of the amount, is meaningful and appreciated.
Community members can donate to bit.ly/SupportSafeHarborVan through a one-time donation or through monthly contributions. To donate appreciated stocks or other securities, or to learn more about ways to give, visit www.healthyacadia.org/ways-to-give or contact Shoshona at [email protected] or by calling 207-255-3741 Ext. 210.
Healthy Acadia thanks the community for partnering with them to provide this essential support service to women in recovery from substance use disorder in Downeast Maine.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(C)(3) community health organization that builds vibrant communities and empowers everyone to lead healthy lives in Washington and Hancock counties. For more information on Acadie en santé’s health and wellness programs and services, visit acadiasante.org.
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