2021 Goals
The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers is a thriving nonprofit with more than 121 years of experience providing essential services and care for children, youth, and families across the state of Maine. We are continuing to make enhancements to the Dorothy ‘Bibby’ Alfond Campus in Waterville for long-term development. We are increasing the marketing & branding of our Adoption services; evolving methods to share our parenting education tools and supports across the state; expanding awareness and support for children that have been impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), through training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) and adding Telehealth services to our Counseling Center to support our clients through the pandemic.
We are expanding supports that ‘build and strengthen families and their children, instilling hope for the future and a better quality of life’ through our six programs:
- George J. and Mary S. Mitchell Adoption Unit
- Harland A. Turner Family Counseling Center
- The Connected Community at MCH
- Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program
- Summer Camp Program Support
- Christmas Program
Fundraising Events/Opportunities
Maine Children’s Home supporters across the state raise resources for our mission, including the Friends of The Maine Children’s Home. The Friends hold a Lobster Roll Lunch each fall, Dining for Dollars events and gift drives. The MCH Board hosts three events annually:
- The Annual Meeting Celebration in January with delicious refreshments and the Annual Fund kick-off.
- The MCH signature Auction and Tasting Event in May with heavy hors d’oeuvres, local Maine wine & beer sampling with silent and live auctions.
- A Ride-In for the Sharon Abrams Teen Parent School Program with the Low XII Widows Sons Masonic Riders occurs in September. Supporters, program alumni and participants enjoy a BBQ lunch.
Corporate support is essential to meeting annual needs. Call (207) 873-4253 for more information.
Giving Opportunities
- Our established development program offers individualized legacy gift planning opportunities, welcoming donations of stock, art, and other charitable gifts that best meets each donor’s goals.
- Corporate sponsorships of MCH programs and events are available, offering broad exposure with promotions on our website, program & event materials, brochures, social media, e-mail and print newsletters.
- Direct-mail appeals are sent in early March for the Annual Fund (supporting more than 3,200 children, youth and families in 2019), Summer online appeals for the Christmas Program kickoff, and a Red Stocking Appeal in November, which supports all of our programs.
- In-kind donations of new books, clothing, boots, board games or toys are needed to meet all the needs of the Christmas gift boxes for youth across Maine.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Maine Children’s Home typically welcomes over 300 volunteers annually from local schools, colleges, civic clubs and businesses to complete activities and projects from the Dorothy ‘Bibby’ Alfond Campus in Waterville.
- Join the Friends of The Maine Children’s Home to provide support for The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers. The Friends are goodwill ambassadors that help promote and carry out activities as well as fundraising support to provide resources to grow and maintain MCH’s core programs.
- Assist our Christmas Program by sorting and packing more than 1,700 children’s gift boxes each year.
- Serve on the board or other planning and development committees.
Call the Development Office at (207) 873-4253 to find out how your group can lend a hand to The Maine Children’s Home.
