GPFP is a hospitality program. Families in our program are referred to as guests and volunteers are called hosts. Volunteers are trained to understand that the greatest gift they can offer guests is their hospitality, to treat families as though they were a guest in their home. Guests are not served dinner in a soup kitchen style line. Rather, volunteers and guests share a meal together at a common table. As GPFP guest families encounter and interact with volunteers, they are building relationships and becoming connected with valuable community resources. Video Credit: Ophelia Hu-Kinney

A company in Portland, Maine works to "dignify temp-work" through the employment of former convicts, addicts, and other individuals in rough transitional phases of life. The company operates as a for-profit business working for social good and facilitates a daily meeting for workers to check in with each other and form a supportive community.

The City of Portland, Maine, has created a new path to teacher certification for immigrants who served as teachers in their home countries. The program aims to help immigrants navigate the country's complicated teacher education system, diversify Portland's public schools, and address a shortage of qualified educators in the city.

This “first look” video of the Healing Center highlights the program and shows the current status of construction. We expect to be open by the end of June. Very exciting!

"After years of analysis, debate, and a referendum second-guessing the decision, Maine’s largest city has begun construction on what will become its largest shelter to serve a growing homeless population. Mayor Kate Snyder and Interim City Manager Danielle West led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the new, 208-bed capacity shelter expected to open in 2023."

The South Portland Food Cupboard is gearing up to distribute all of its Thanksgiving meals.

"When people immigrate to the U.S. they face many challenges, including, food and housing insecurity. Once immigrants get settled in their new homes, they are likely craving a dish that reminds them of their home country. During the pandemic, Wayside Food Programs realized a lot of the things they were giving folks in the to-go boxes weren't being used...Earlier this year, Wayside held focus groups with more than 30 people representing a number of different immigrant communities in Maine. The groups included Somali, Arab, African, Angolan, Serb/Croatia/Russia/Albania, Asian, and Hispanic communities. Staff learned just about all immigrant groups are reluctant to eat canned food, because they feel uncertain about what's in it. Instead, many people want things they can make a traditional meal with...Wayside is also trying to get the word out to people who may participate in food drives so hopefully instead of collecting canned foods, they can collect things like rice, dried beans, or cooking oil, which all the cultures they surveyed said they would like to have included in their boxes."