MAINE ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING

IN 2018, M4A CONTRACTED ITS ADVOCACY WORK TO THE MAINE COUNCIL ON AGING. M4A'S ROLE NOW ENTAILS DISCUSSION WITH OADS ON CONTRACTS, PROGRAMS AND PERHAPS WORK TOWARD JOINT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE FUTURE. IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS CHANGE, M4A AMENDED ITS BYLAWS TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE BYLAWS NOW STATE THAT THERE ARE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS, ONE BOARD MEMBER REPRESENTING EACH AAA. M4A RECEIVED A TWO YEAR GRANT FROM THE JOHN T. GORMAN FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM AT ALL FIVE AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND THE EZ FIX PROGRAM AT EASTERN AREA AGENCY ON AGING. THE GRANT RUNS FROM APRIL 1, 2018 TO MARCH 31, 2020. MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDING FOR ALL AAA'S IN MAINE TO BE TRAINED IN THE "FIRST CONTACTS PROGRAM". THE PROGRAM PROVIDES USEFUL TOOLS FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO NATURALLY ARE OFTEN THE "FIRST CONTACTS" TO SEE AN OLDER PERSON WHO IS IN DECLINE OR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES. THIS GUIDE IS DESIGNED TO HELP FIRST CONTACTS KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HOW TO INTERVENE AND HOW TO REFER TO THE RIGHT COMMUNITY RESOURCE TO SUPPORT THE OLDER PERSON. AGAIN THIS YEAR, M4A COLLABORATED WITH GOODWILL NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL COATS FOR MAINE SENIORS COLLECTION. SMAA AND SENIORS PLUS COLLECTED 300 COATS GIVEN TO GOODWILL IN EXCHANGE FOR A VOUCHER FOR A FREE COAT. 600 VOUCHERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE AAAS AND TO OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT SERVE UNDERSERVED SENIORS WHO IN TURN MADE SURE SENIORS WERE ABLE TO ACCESS A WARM COAT. LL BEAN HOSTED A COLLECTION SITE AT THE FLAGSHIP STORE DURING THE OPENING WEEKEND OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS HOLIDAY CELEBRATION.