Joe loves to learn about fun new programs in southern Maine, so here's a new one: Farm to Table Kids, Inc. is a local farm and nonprofit based in North Yarmouth that also operates a summer camp for kids. The mission of the camp is to inspire children & families to play in kitchens and gardens through healthy, happy, hands-on learning experiences. Showing children the power of a seed, healthy earth, and an educated mind, the wonders of growing - from SEED TO PLATE. Farm to Table Kids shows children how to plant, grow, harvest, and prepare healthy foods at their organic farm and solar powered greenhouse STEAM Lab.

Learn more about this great camp, including how to register, here.

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

As a young Portlander, young Joe was lucky enough to enjoy his early summers right here in Maine. One experience that is vital to so many young Mainers' youth is summer camp. Whether it's day camp or sleepaway camp, trip camps or sports camps, Maine is famous for its summer camps. On that note, Maine Summer Camps is a non-profit organization that represents 130 Maine summer camps. Each year this group organization hosts a free camp fair for families in the greater Portland area. This is a special opportunity for families to explore more than 70 day and overnight camps in Maine. The folks at MSC have provided this important resource for many years. The 2019 camp fair will be on Sunday, March 24th, from 1-3:30pm at the East End Community School. Joe hopes you consider attending- don't forget, summer's just around the corner!

Find more about Maine Summer Camps here. and more about the camp fair here.

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

If there's one thing Joe likes better than lunch, it's lunch for a good cause. Just such a lunch will be held on Tuesday, April 2nd, the date of this year's Leadership Luncheon, put on by the Maine Women's Fund. The mission of the Maine Women's Fund is to transform the lives of Maine women and girls through strategic grantmaking, community engagement and support to nonprofit organizations dedicated to social change. The Fund's vision is a just and caring society in which Maine women and girls thrive so communities prosper. Since 1989, the Fund has granted almost $2.25 million to organizations across the state. Find more about this great organization here and more about the Leadership Luncheon here. Joe wishes the Fund continued success, and hopes the event goes well!

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 at the Cross Insurance Arena 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. Strive U will host the marathon overnight at the civic center running from 8pm Saturday, March 16th, to 8am on Sunday, March 17th. In addition to the all-night marathon, STRIVE will be rocking all day on Saturday from 10am-6pm. There will be bands, DJ's, tons of food, games, and excitement! 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.

As readers of this blog now know, UFWH is a coalition of institutions of higher education dedicated to educating students in all disciplines about the causes of hunger and to training and encouraging them to take effective action, both at home and abroad. The 2019 UFWH Summit at the University of Southern Maine will be held today and tomorrow, and will bring over 500 students, faculty, and activists together for two days of action-oriented workshops and inspiring presentations from leaders and activists at the front lines of fighting hunger. This is the first time this Summit has been held in the northeastern U.S. and, given the density of colleges and universities in this region, plus its long history of food systems activism, this promises to be a large and exciting event.

Learn more about UFWH here. Joe hopes the event is a smashing success!

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

Joe is always happy to promote local educational institutions. That's especially true when it's a school that has given so much to his family. Waynflete is a K-12 school whose mission is to engage the imagination and intellect of its students, to guide them toward self-governance and self-knowledge, and to encourage their responsible and caring participation in the world. Waynflete's aim is to provide a program that combines security with challenge, playful exploration with rigorous expectation and range of experience with depth of inquiry. Joe wanted to help spread the word that tomorrow is Waynflete's "One Day"fundraiser, when the a 24-hour period when the entire school community comes together to support the Waynflete Fund. Joe hopes it's a great success, and offers his thanks to the folks at Waynflete for the countless memories and lessons they imparted on his children.

Learn more about Waynflete here.

PS thanks to Erin for the photos!

Joe has been active in Maine's Jewish community since he was a young boy, when he could be spotted hanging out at the Jewish Community Center after school. One of his favorite local traditions is the Maine Jewish Film Festival, which is taking place this week, March 10th-17th. MJFF curates a program of films that explore the Jewish experience through drama, comedy, documentary and short film formats. The festival has grown to be one of the best-attended, most well-respected, and highly-anticipated cultural events in the State. You can catch showings of great Jewish films at local theaters from Portland to Augusta and multiple places in between. For more information about the MJFF, visit the official website, and for the day-to-day schedule click here. Joe hopes this festival has another great year and continues to contribute to the rich cultural fabric of Maine!

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

Joe has been blessed with many amazing women in his life, some of them immigrants, so he's honored to spread the word about Women United Around the World, a nonprofit organization that helps female immigrants acclimate into a new environment and reaches out to women globally to give support and education. Women from over 30 countries who now live in Maine are gathering today to celebrate International Women's Day. In honor of their global sisters, Women United Around the World ("WUAW") will hold its 10th Annual International Fashion Show Gala and Fundraiser from 6pm to 10pm, at the Italian Heritage Center.

Joe applauds WUAW for the noble work it does, and hopes you consider attending what's sure to be a fun event! Learn more about WUAW and the gala here.

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