Meeting Basic Needs/Safety Net

Young Mother Attains Goals with Assistance from CED
A young mother of three, whose marriage of 10 years had ended, moved back to the area to be near family. She was homeless and unemployed and sought help from Coastal Economic Development's Family Development program. CED was able to assist her in obtaining transitional housing where she was able to accomplish her goals of obtaining a job, finalizing her divorce, and learning budgeting and home management skills as well as participating in a nurturing program so that she could maintain positive relationships with her children. By the time that she exited the program, she was working and taking classes. She eventually started her own business and has succeeded in purchasing her own home in Lincoln County. She credits CED with facilitating the fulfillment of her dreams.

An Elderly Couple Receives Transportation to Needed Services:
Coastal Trans helped an elderly couple deal with the challenges of limited mobility and the need for supportive care. The husband looked forward to his rides to and from Respite Care which included friendly interchange with the drivers and a ride on the lift. Meanwhile, his wife and principal caregiver was provided an extra hour of respite as well as being alleviated of the physical effort necessary to transport him. She reported that "Everyone was always so friendly and patient. I will always be grateful for the help provided by Coastal Trans."


Success By 6: Early Childhood

A Parent Gets Child Care Support:
A mother of a five-year-old and twin toddlers who attend the Family Focus Child Care Center suddenly found herself as the sole provider for her children. She needed to work to support her children, but could not afford the parent fee that she was required to pay for child care. The majority of the child care costs were covered through state subsidies; the remaining parent fee was covered by United Way funds.

Parents and Children Get Excited About Reading Together:
The mother of a kindergarten student at Huse School in Bath had never been to the Patten Free Library nor did she know where it was. She participated in the library tour as part of Tri-County Literacy Volunteers' Read With Me Family Literacy Program at which time she got cards for herself and her child. She has since expressed her enormous enthusiasm about the library to other members of the parent group. A father at the Northern Lincoln County Head Start Center in North Whitefield, who attend Read With Me while his wife works, did not know about the Gibbs Library in Washington before the Read With Me tour. He has returned many times, checking out books for himself and his son. He announced with pride and amazement at a parent session that the librarians now know him and welcome him warmly.


Youth & Lifelong Learning

Mentoring is proven prevention
Kayla is a 7 year-old girl who lives with her grandmother. Kayla has many challenges in her young life; she has a parent that is incarcerated. Kayla's teacher first contacted Big Brothers Big Sisters to see if we could find her a mentor. Maureen became a Big Sister in June of 2005 and was matched with Kayla. Kayla was a perfect fit. Kayla's grandmother couldn't be happier for with the outcomes of this special friendship. "Kayla loves one on one with her Big Sister. I love listening to her talk when she comes from an outing with Maureen" Kayla is so happy all of the time and always looks forward to Thursday's with her Big sister. She is also doing very well in school since being matched with her big sister.