Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – A local business with years of home-improvement experience is helping to improve life for the homeless, donating much-needed funds to Homeless Services of Aroostook.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
Cindy Dufour, manager of the Home Design Center for S.W. Collins, presents a check for $750 to Susan Mitchell, executive director of Homeless Services of Aroostook. Employees of S.W. Collins’ three locations – Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton – raised funds recently for the shelter, with the company matching the figure.
“The employees of S.W. Collins’ three locations – Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton – donated money, with the company matching what was collected,” said Cindy Dufour, manager of the business’s Home Design Center.
Dufour presented a check for $750 to Susan Mitchell, executive director of HSA.
This isn’t the first year the business has helped make life a bit easier for displaced individuals who rely on the homeless shelter due to circumstances beyond their control.
“This is actually the second year we’ve done this. Last year we raised money and made a donation to the shelter,” said Dufour.
The donated funds will assist the agency with day-to-day necessities. Despite an unusually tough winter, complete with a record-breaking accumulation of snow, Mitchell said the shelter is “holding its own” this year.
“We got a Citizens Energy Corps grant and donations are still coming in,” said Mitchell, noting that it’s still a struggle to make ends meet, with fuel costs continually going up and daily expenses rising as necessities continue to increase in price.
Mitchell said the shelter’s capacity is “about average for this time of year.”
“When the snow starts to melt, that’s when we begin to see more people coming in,” said Mitchell.
When Mitchell first started working at the shelter, she said she was surprised to find there was more of a need in the spring for the facility than over the winter months.
“I thought more people would use the facility during the winter, but that wasn’t the case. Folks seem to be able to stay in their own homes/apartments when times get tough in the winter, thanks to delayed payment programs for such things as electricity and heating assistance. But when the weather starts to warm, those programs tend to come to an end for the season,” said Mitchell. “That leaves people struggling to make ends meet.”
Some homes benefit during winter months, Mitchell said, since utility companies are required to provide power to homes made up of families with young children and elderly individuals.
“But once spring rolls around, folks unable to keep up with electrical bills find disconnect notices start appearing. That’s when we start seeing an increase in occupancy,” she said.
Currently, the shelter has about eight occupants, which is considered low based on shelter averages.
“We consistently have 10-15 occupants. We have a capacity of 30. The highest we’ve seen was around 26 the spring of 2005,” said Mitchell. “We see a lot more families than individuals.”
Mitchell said it’s the working poor who rely on the shelter’s services.
“It’s folks who make too much to get government assistance but not enough to make ends meet,” said Mitchell. “They either qualify for all of it or nothing at all.”
She said it’s hard for the working poor to survive and that most of those who stay at the shelter do it as a last resort.
“It’s the rare individual that doesn’t try to improve their situation and move on – that we have to push them to look for work or a place of their own. Most people are motivated and don’t want to rely on someone else. They want to be self-sufficient but just need a little help to get there,” said Mitchell.
In addition to monetary donations, the shelter has a wish list of needed items if anyone is interested in contributing.
“We have a staples wish list: office supplies, cleaning and paper products, meats, cheeses, consumables. One thing we do need are sturdy folding chairs. When our numbers go up, we need more chairs for the dining area,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell is grateful for donations such as that made by S.W. Collins.
“We appreciate every donation received. The money is used for the daily upkeep and maintenance of the facility and provides much-needed necessities,” said Mitchell.
Dufour said the company hopes to make this an annual fund-raiser and encouraged others to consider helping a worthy cause, such as the shelter.
“We’d like to make this an annual event. Staff really got involved. It’s nice to be able to help others,” said Dufour.
Donations can be made directly to the shelter at: Homeless Services of Aroostook, Inc., PO Box 1753, Presque Isle, ME 04769, or phone 764-5114.
