Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community but felt like you needed help? Joe knows how much being part of a group can empower an individual, and that's why he's proud to promote the Southern Maine chapter of 100 Women Who Care. 100 Women Who Care Southern Maine is a group of local women who are interested in supporting our communities by contributing to Southern Maine charities together as a group to increase the impact. The organization's mission is to reach out and help the community by finding 100 or more women (the count is currently almost 400!) to each contribute $50 four times a year in order to give $20,000+ annually to local charities. All charities and organizations up for consideration must be in the Southern Maine area. The idea is to keep it local and have an impact that can be seen in our communities!

100 Women's next meeting is tonight, Monday night, February 3rd. Given these strange times, tonight's meeting will be held via ZOOM. Lending a helping hand as part of a strong community has never been easier- you can do it from the comfort of your own home!

Find out more about this local organization here, and please consider joining the movement!

                       Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Like so many other people, Joe's life has been touched by cancer. As heartbreaking as the disease can be, few things inspire Joe more than survivors and their resilience. Each year, over a thousand women (many of them survivors) gather in South Portland to swim, bike & run as they Tri for a Cure in Maine's only all-women's triathlon. The Tri for a Cure, held by the Maine Cancer Foundation, has become the largest triathlon in the state, providing a unique opportunity for women to engage in the fight against cancer here in Maine. The triathletes share a unique bond; some are cancer survivors, others are racing in support of their loved ones, but all of them share the desire to create a cancer-free Maine, a desire that Joe shares.

In order to keep everyone safe, this year's event will take place virtually. Find more about the Tri here. The event has changed but the mission stays the same. Joe offers his thanks for the good folks at the Tri who adapted to these strange times, as well as everyone who chips in to this great cause.

                      Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

A perennial favorite message of Joe's, "STRV RCKS" is once again flashing on the Time & Temp to promote Strive Rocks, an annual dance marathon that benefits Strive U, a comprehensive program providing post-secondary education and training to young adults with developmental disabilities in the realms of residential, employment, and community skills with the goal of enabling its graduates to live and work as full community members with maximum independence, productivity, and dignity. This year Strive U is taking Strive Rocks virtual-- beginning at 8pm on July 17th, the fun will go until 8am on the 18th. Find more about the event and the organization here. The goal is to have as many people as possible participate in the overnight marathon and to raise the most money of any Strive Rocks marathon yet. Joe hopes Strive U reaches these goals and continues to do the amazing work on behalf of young adults!

                   Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

One of Joe's many favorite things about being an American is the right to have your voice heard on Election Day. With so many people around the world living under oppression, Joe is incredibly grateful that we get to freely choose who leads our country. We have a lot to be grateful for here in the USA. Whether you're politically to the left, right, or in the middle, please be sure to go to your local polling place today and exercise one of your most important rights. Visit this website to find your polling place. Rock the vote, Portland.

                          Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Joe would much rather be promoting another great nonprofit, but these days it seems essential to remind folks that wearing a mask can save lives. If you aren't able to practice social distancing, please be considerate of your fellow Mainers and wear a face covering. Hopefully we'll soon have this virus defeated and will be able to enjoy next summer in Maine mask-free. Until then, Joe says please wear a mask.

                      Image from the Portland Downtown Instagram page.

Next up on the Time & Temp Sign, Joe is promoting a more global cause: the Konbit Sante Cap-Haitian Health Partnership. This organization started in Portland as a group of health care professionals, business people, and other interested parties who shared a desire to work on building a sustainable health system in a community somewhere in the developing world. In 2001, a Haitian doctor doing his residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine told them about Cap-Haitian, Haiti. Following a May 2001 site visit to Cap-Haitian, in November 2001, they formally established a partnership with Justinian University Hospital ( JUH) in Cap-Haitian, the second largest teaching hospital in Haiti. Today, Konbit Sante continues its established relationship with the Haitian Ministry of Health, partners with four health facilities in Greater Cap-Haitian and supports initiatives in women and children's health, infrastructure improvements, supply chain, emergency response, and quality improvement, training and management.  Joe urges you to learn more about this inspiring local organization by going to their website.

This month is a very special edition of the annual Maine Walks with Haiti + 5K Walk/Run. While this event typically takes place on Portland's Back Cove, this year's event is virtual. Please learn more info about this special fundraising event here.

Joe thanks Konbit Sante for the important work they do and hopes next year's walk can return to Portland.

                           Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Today Joe honors the legacy of Whitby Tousignant, who led an extraordinary life. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Whit was saved several times by donated blood. While Whit's family had to say goodbye to him in January of 2012, they celebrate his birthday each year by hosting a memorial blood drive.

Saturday, June 25, will be the seventh annual Love Whit Blood Drive, held by the American Red Cross. Joe hopes you consider giving, as a single blood donation can save up to three lives, and the need for donated blood is especially great now.

To participate in the drive, please visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code "LoveWhit" to schedule your appointment.

Joe encourages you to learn more about Whit's inspiring life here.

There are many local venues that contribute to Portland's vibrant culture, and one of the more central ones is One Longfellow Square. OLS is one of Portland's most charming and versatile non-profit performing arts and concert venues, offering a warm and intimate atmosphere and setting the stage for unforgettable live music, performing arts and community events.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OLS is in danger of closing forever. This would be a real loss for Portland's art community, so Joe hopes Portlanders can save it. OLS has set a goal to raise $100,000 and is almost 90% of the way there. Will you chip in and help out? Joe hopes so!

Learn more about OLS here and please considering donating to the cause here.