As part of United Way of Eastern Maine’s Fall Day of Caring, volunteers from Seaboard Federal Credit Union help renovate a building that will house homeless families in Ellsworth. ELLSWORTH AMERICAN PHOTO BY MAXWELL HAUPTMAN

Volunteers lend a hand at Families First center

October 9, 2019 by Maxwell Hauptman on News, News-More Headlines

ELLSWORTH — Volunteers gathered at 41 North St. last Friday as part of the United Way of Eastern Maine Fall Day of Caring.

They were there to team up with the Families First Community Center to work on refurbishing the building that will one day house homeless families with children.

“We’re just trying to help people who are in the situation of being unable to maintain and sustain housing on their own,” said Theresa Ouellette, board president for Families First. “It’s great that people want to come out and help.”

Volunteers worked on repainting inside and outside the facility, which Ouellette said Families First hopes to have ready by next May. Once open, the center will provide housing and support services to six homeless families with children. In addition to apartments, there will be common spaces and space for child care.

“Our goal is to provide support services in addition to the housing, so that the end goal is to work with each family so that they can get the skills they need to be self-sufficient,” Ouellette said.