Community Calendar

Join The Maine Dog Rescue on Friday, November 8th from 10 AM – 1 PM at Tractor Supply in Holden, Maine for our Fill the Bowl Food Drive & Raffle!

We’ll be collecting dog food donations to help support local rescue dogs in foster care this winter.
🐾 Donate a 5 lb bag of dry food or a 6-pack of wet food and receive 5 raffle tickets for our prize drawing!

🎟️ Raffle basket includes:
• Hannaford Gift Card
• Gas Card
• The Maine Dog Rescue sweatshirt
• Hand-painted ornament of your dog by a local artist
• Grooming coupons and more!

Every bag, can, and kibble makes a difference — and all proceeds go directly toward feeding and caring for dogs in need through The Maine Dog Rescue.

Stop by to say hi, meet some of our team, and help us fill those bowls for a good cause! ❤️🐾

We hope to see you at our Film Fest for Casco Bay, an afternoon of environmental and adventure films curated by Maine Outdoor Film Festival just for us. You won’t want to miss it!

What: Film Fest for Casco Bay

Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025

Time: Doors open at 2 p.m. for snacks, drinks, raffle, & mingling

Films: 3 to 6 p.m. 

Where: University of Southern Maine’s Abromson Center, 88 Bedford Street, Portland, ME

Tickets: $30

Buy your Tickets on our website!

We will also host a raffle for prizes such as local hand crafted goods, gift cards to local shops and eateries, art, Friends of Casco Bay hats and jackets, and even private boat cruises on Casco Bay!

Interested in volunteering at Film Fest? Reach out to Sara Freshley to learn more: sfreshley@cascobay.org.

This fall, as people across New England come together in various family-centered holidays, we reflect on the deeper meaning of family—those we hold close, and those we reach out to in times of need.

Family goes beyond blood. We have the family we're born into, the family we invite into our lives, and the family we're welcomed into. It’s about connection, care, and commitment. It's about showing up when it matters most. At this gala, we come together not just as guests, but as part of a larger human family—one that crosses oceans to extend compassion where it’s needed most.

This year’s gala supports ongoing community rebuilding efforts and the medical/surgical mission in Bohol, Philippines—a province rich in beauty and resilience, where many still face challenges after natural disasters and economic hardships. We aim to raise $46,000 to complete the rebuilding of a community health center serving a fishing village of 1,200 residents (Barrio Tungod), begin rebuilding a community hospital for a struggling municipality with 21,000 people (Clarin), and provide more major elective procedures such as hysterectomies, cholecystectomies, hernia repairs, and cataract surgeries for indigent patients.

Join us for an evening of fine dining, a complimentary bar, live music, auctions, inspiring stories, and a powerful reminder that when we come together hand in hand in generosity, distance disappears. In the spirit of Bayanihan—the Filipino tradition of communal unity and mutual support—we come together to lift each other and extend the family table.

Let’s gather with purpose, and let the Bayanihan spirit shine through us all!

Gather to experience an evening of beautiful music and an opportunity to be in community, supporting needs locally and globally.

All proceeds benefit St. Alban’s Community Partnership Commission - supporting programs such as: Preble Street, Family Promise, Maine Needs, Cultivating Community, South Portland Food Cupboard - and St. Alban’s Partnership with St. Luc’s School in Haiti.

Reception afterwards.

Admission is free. Suggested donation $25, but any amount is greatly appreciated.

The UUCB Concerts for a Cause series presents the renowned singer-songwriter, Fred Small, on Saturday, November 8th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick, 1 Middle Street, Brunswick to raise money for Oasis Free Clinics and the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project.

Fred Small is a singer, songwriter, and song leader whose music inspires, heals, and empowers. He sings powerful ballads of hope in hard times. His songs illuminate the goodness and courage of all kinds of people.
A Unitarian Universalist parish minister for nearly two decades, Fred is also a singer-songwriter and environmental lawyer. In 2015 he left parish ministry to devote his energies to organizing for environmental, racial, and social justice. Currently he is the Minister for Climate Justice at the Arlington Street Church in Boston and is once again doing concerts for his many fans.

Named by Pete Seeger as one of America's best songwriters, Fred Small "sings songs of conscience in the tradition of Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, and Tom Paxton. When you hear Fred's message of love, unity, and respect for others and the environment, you will be lifted and moved by his words and music.

Fred’s inclusive lullaby of unconditional love, “Everything Possible,” has become a standard of LGBT choruses worldwide and is now a celebrated children’s picture book. His anthem “Peace Is” is sung in worship, in schools, and on the streets. Fred’s classic “The Heart of the Appaloosa” celebrates the enduring spirit of the Nez Perce.

"The Heart of the Appaloosa" was elected to the All-Time Bluegrass Hit Parade by WAMU Radio in Washington, DC, and UU Mass Action presented him with the Ruth Rowan Award for his musical contributions to social justice movements.Fred has released seven albums and two songbooks. He has performed at prestigious folk festivals throughout the United States as well as in Japan, Australia, England, and Canada.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for students/children. Available at the church office (729-8515), Gulf of Maine Books, or online at http://ticketstripe.fredsmall.com.

Hear from your loved ones from the spirit world as Spiritual Medium Melissa Boyd listens between the worlds bringing messages of love, peace and connection. The power of mediumship is an undeniable way to know that we move into another world after earth. Each guest will receive a soul tool and an opportunity to learn simple ways to take compassionate actions to create peaceful change in the world. All proceeds to benefit A Place to Start, Kennebunk.

Need for Volunteer Literacy Tutors Remain Great
Tutor Certification Rescheduled for September & Available Online

BANGOR, Maine – Literacy Volunteers of Bangor (LVB) is recruiting new volunteer tutors to teach Bangor area adults who want to speak and understand English as well as read and write better. Certification training for new tutors has been rescheduled to start on October 15th with an information session from 6-8 p.m. at Eastern Maine Community College. A combination of in-person and online classes will follow over the following four weeks.

LVB’s redesigned Tutor Certification is flexible and engaging. The course includes a blend of online and in-person training as well as clear, self-directed learning assignments. Interested volunteers will need access to the internet and will attend some classes via Zoom. Staff are available to help prepare interested volunteers. The same Certification is also available completely online.

Many people may think tutoring requires teaching experience or the ability to speak another language. It requires neither. LVB seeks individuals who simply have the desire to help.

“We continue to have many adult students waiting for a tutor,” explains Mary Marin Taylor, Executive Director. "In particular, we’re looking for volunteers to tutor English to immigrants. Additionally, we need tutors to help adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities or who may advance slowly and who value the social aspect of reading to improve memory, learn words, and connect with others.”

Better English literacy affords a higher standard of living, access to better decision-making information, and a sense of belonging – all things we value. Volunteer tutors make this work possible by dedicating time and helping adult students develop fundamental skills.

Tutoring requires about 1-2 hours a week. Tutors meet with a student on a one-on-one basis, either in-person or remotely using a virtual meeting platform like Zoom. Examples of goals for adults who reach out to LVB include receiving a high school diploma, obtaining a driver’s license, securing a better job, voting for the first time, reading to children, or becoming a U.S citizen.

A training schedule, a registration link, and additional information are available on our website or call us at 207-947-8451.

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This annual STRIVE Auction titled, Wonders of the World, is Thursday, November 13th from 6-9pm. This year's venue is Maine Studio Works at 170 Anderson Street in Portland. Items include great experiences, gift cards to restaurants, and memberships and subscriptions to several of Maine's favorite spots. Tickets to the Live Auction are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. There wil be live item bidding at Maine Studio Works, Fund-A-Need, STRIVE Participant speeches, fun and games, dessert and a cash bar. Bill Zafirson will be the evening's Auctioneer, with Emcee Chris Costa from News Center Maine, and music by Paul Burgos.
The on-line Auction, which is free, will run from 6pm November 13th through 8pm on November 20th. Items are added daily to the on-line Auction, so be sure to check back often.
Buy tickets to the live auction at pslstrive.org under Events, and emai any questions tol Alex Woodhouse at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.

Benefit Sports card and Pokémon Show Saturday, November 15th 9AM to 2PM. in the Bath Rec Gym located on 4 Sheridan Rd Bath, Maine We will have an Autograph Guest and we will also have show raffles, Door prizes and 50/50. Admission is Free (Donations are Accepted) Dealer Tables are $30 each for an 8FT table, Dealers can signup for this by either visiting WWW.bathrecreation.com>programs to make an account and reserve your table(s)! or you can contact Bill Mckellar @ 339-226-1179 or diehard72@comcast.net

Each fall, we come together to shine a light on the individuals and organizations that go the extra mile to make life better for Maine’s children and families!

The Maine Children's Alliance celebrates those who "stick their necks out" for Maine children and families! We honor our Giraffe Award winners with our annual luncheon and celebration.

The Champions for Children event celebrates outstanding contributions to children’s health and safety, early care and education, and family economic security. It’s also an important opportunity to support the Maine Children’s Alliance and our work advocating for policies that help kids thrive.