PORTLAND, Maine — For many men, the month of November signifies more than just chilly weather and falling leaves. It's synonymous with No Shave November, or Movember, a time when individuals embrace facial hair growth to raise awareness for men's health.
One local company, Graybar Electric in Portland, takes this tradition a step further by participating annually to support men's mental health. The men take pride in these facial hair transformations, as they represent a larger contribution to the community. The tradition at Graybar Electric started as a team-building exercise but quickly evolved into a meaningful initiative.
"It was a silly team-building exercise for the guys to not take themselves so seriously, and then as we learned about the Movember Foundation, we understood the impact and the need to talk about men's health," branch manager Nate Boutin explained.
"You know you have this bizarre-looking mustache on your face," Chris Waterbury, a sales representative, added. "It's a great conversation piece. It allows us to tell a story, be vulnerable without having to get into it in an awkward way."
This year, Graybar Electric has redirected its fundraising efforts towards a specific cause: the families affected by the tragic events in Lewiston.
"Unfortunately, we have two connections, customers, electricians who were impacted in the shooting at the bar," Boutin shared. "We're raising funds to support the two families that were impacted and connected with our industry."
Through generous donations, Graybar Electric aims to contribute nearly $5,000 to the Morin and McNair families, providing tangible support to those affected by the tragedy.
"In previous years, we've done this, supporting a bigger cause, but sometimes you don't know where that's going," Waterbury reflected. "So the fact that this is supporting Lewiston victims, you know where the money's going, and it feels really nice."
While the mustache initiative is all in good spirits, some Graybar employees are eagerly anticipating the return of their razors.
"My kids and my wife hate it," Boutin joked. "They hate it, and it's almost like a countdown to the end of the month."
"But December 1st, cutting sounds," Dean Goyette chimed in.
Graybar Electric's commitment to Movember goes beyond facial hair growth; it's a heartfelt effort to make a positive impact in their community. By supporting the families of Lewiston victims, they exemplify the true spirit of Movember: bringing people together for a good cause.