SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Mainers helping Mainers is a common phrase used around the Pine Tree State.
While neighbors and organizations work year-round to help those in need, that mission picks up a notch this time of year.
On Monday, Portland Media Group and Preble Street held its annual Neighbors in Need donation drive to raise more than $24,000 for the nonprofit. Volunteers from IDEXX also spent the day preparing meals at Preble Street's food hub in South Portland.
Staff and volunteers at Preble Street prep more than 2,000 meals a day to help meet the organization's mission of empowering people experiencing problems with homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty.
Besides volunteering on Monday, Todd Walker and his family have made it a Thanksgiving tradition to make dozens of pies for Preble Street and for another donation effort in Gorham. It's been a way, Walker said, for his children to learn about the importance of giving back and helping others in need.
“And that’s why we do it; it is about not just giving back, but it is about lessons," he shared. "And when you see people in need and you want to do something nice, it’s a great way to do it. It’s something that we can do as a family and also give back to a great cause."
For Mark Swann, the executive director of Preble Street, these individual or group donation efforts provide a great opportunity for Mainers to learn more about the organization's mission. His team has been busy collecting donations to help distribute meals across the state with the help of partners like The Good Shepherd Food Bank.
For every dollar raised, Preble Street can stretch its value to $5 thanks to its partnership with Good Shepherd. While this work goes on 365 days a year at Preble Street, Swann said there's more energy to give back around Thanksgiving.
“The community is stepping up. More people are volunteering, more people want to get involved and learn more. And it keeps us going. It helps our morale, frankly," he explained. "It’s good for the agency to know that so many people in the community are behind us."
On Tuesday, the Pies for Preble Street event will work to make 90 pies, which will be handed out by Preble Street on Thanksgiving. The marathon pie-baking project has been held for the last 22 years. This year's event will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Congregational Church in South Portland.
To learn more about Preble Street, or to donate, click here.
