“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”

-Peter Marshall

We hope you all had a joyous and safe Independence Day!

The sun is hot and the work hard, but MATE is blessed! Many hands and hearts are recipients of important ongoing work while we build lives in the process of creating safer and more compassionate homes for our neighbors in Central Western Maine!

Continue reading for the latest update on the following MATE news:

• MATE July Golden Hammer Recipient: Michael Malek
• Update on the 2024 MATE Volunteer Home Repair Season
• Need for a 2nd MATE Work Vehicle

God has given us each a set of unique gifts, but how we use them is up to us….

Michael (Mike) Malek, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, retired from managing dining services at a large, upscale, retirement community in North Carolina several years ago. His 30+ years of creating food and facility innovations is legendary, while also maintaining an upbeat and positive, yet professional, rapport with his staff and residents.

Carpentry, building, tinkering, fishing, kayaking, exploring, church and hard work are the fabric of Mike’s life.

Mike has been coming to Maine for the summer to be near family and escape the extreme and unyielding summer heat of the south for a few years now. Last summer, he wanted to use his time in Maine to serve the Lord and his (seasonal) neighbors dwelling in the foothills of the Pine Tree State.

Michael and his wife Pam

Mike would spend the remainder of that summer serving a variety of roles in the MATE Housing Ministry.

Site Supervisors are skilled volunteers and independent contractors who assist MATE operations staff during our busiest weeks and help teach and lead workgroups to complete projects

Working numerous days a week, Michael served as a Site Supervisor during a couple of MATE’s busiest weeks, he also spent time riding around with MATE’s Assistant Operations Manager, Peter Clark, helping to prepare and cleanup job sites, he spent time working on the tiny home and the McCleary House, and in the process he gained a thorough understanding and appreciation for the transformational work that MATE was conducting in Central Western Maine. 

Spurred by his persistent desire to do more, Michael joined the MATE board in the fall of 2023 and has been assisting in a variety of roles to advance and fortify the operations of the organization. Notably, Michael has spent many hours helping to develop operational procedures and guides for MATE volunteers to refer to while conducting home repairs. 

MATE Barn on May 3rd

MATE Barn on May 3rd

Arguably, his most impressive accomplishment at MATE thus far has been the (ongoing) transformation of the “MATE Headquarters” into an incredibly well-organized setting that bears much more of a resemblance to a traditional hardware store than a barn (big thanks to the local business who donated thousands dollars worth of storage shelving!).

MATE Barn on June 13th

MATE Barn on June 13th

THANK YOU MICHAEL FOR ALL YOU

DO FOR MATE AND YOUR NEIGHBORS!

To nominate someone you know for the Golden Hammer Award, please email us by clicking the button below. In the subject line, state "MATE Golden Hammer Award Nomination", include at least one photo that we could use for the story (the more the merrier!), and a brief write-up, such as the one above, about why this person deserves the award. We can't wait to see all the wonderful stories from our incredible volunteers!

Volunteers poising for a photo with MATE's Assistant Operations Manager, Peter, after building an ADA ramp

Volunteers celebrating the birthday with a homeowner partner

MATE has been blessed so far this year to have welcomed 8 workgroups with 153 volunteers, 75 being under the age of 18 (49% of total volunteers), to take part in our life-changing service experience and deliver help, hope, and connection to our neighbors in Central Western Maine.

Volunteers have worked hard to complete a variety of projects, including but not limited to: installing a new roof on a mobile home, building ADA ramps, constructing new exterior staircases and landings, installing new mobile home skirtings, replacing doors, etc. So far, they have completed repairs on 21 homes for 37 members of our community.

Volunteers working together to install siding onto a mobile home

A teenage volunteer learning from a more experienced adult chaperone

So far we have hosted groups from the following churches, as well as the Farmington Rotary Club:

• The Dover Church (MA)
• Pilgrim Church of Duxbury (MA)
• Christ Church of Summit (NJ)
• St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church (TN)
• Union Congregational Church (MA)
• First Presbyterian Church of Mount Holly (NJ)
• Supplee Presbyterian Church (PA)

Thank you to all of our workgroups and volunteers!

Volunteers poising for a photo with a piece of lumber that was signed with all of their names and installed on a home

Volunteers having a little fun with their Site Supervisor, Matt Bader, after building a new staircase

Current MATE Work Truck

Example of a Future MATE Work Van

MATE repairs homes in 5 counties of Central Western Maine. That’s a lot of road miles for volunteer work teams and staff. Materials and supplies go to work sites and questions need to be answered.

MATE currently has one 10-year-old truck to respond to many demands; which makes it difficult to deliver and pick-up materials and tools when the truck is busy.

If you, or someone you know, have a work truck or van that you would be able to lend or rent to us for the season, or simply donate to MATE, it would be greatly appreciated and put to incredible use as we change a growing number of lives through volunteer home repairs. Please contact our Executive Director, Chris DeLisle, by clicking the button below.

• Become a homeowner partner (click button below for application)
• Volunteer to work (click button below to contact us)
• Donate time, talent or goods in support of our cause to build lives in Central Western Maine

We look forward to providing quality content to our followers to keep you all engaged and knowledgeable about the exciting things happening at MATE because of loyal supporters like you. Give us a follow!

We are extremely grateful and very excited for the future!

Mission Partner Grantors and Donors

• Presbyterian Women
• Betterment Foundation
• Maine Association of Realtors

Mission Partner Community Members

• Western Maine Community Action
• Center for Entrepreneurial Services
• OTIS Federal Credit Union

Mission Partner Churches

• Central Square Congregational Church
• St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church
• Supplee Presbyterian Church
• St. Joseph & Rose of Lima Parishes
• Pilgrim Church of Duxbury
• Supplee Presbyterian Church
• Stratford Street United Church
• Allentown Presbyterian Church
• Presbyterian Church of Sudbury
• The Dover Church
• First Presbyterian Church of Ramsey
• Leeds Community Church
• Wales Presbyterian Church
• Hildale Park Presbyterian Church

Memorial and Honoring Gifts

• In memory of Bob Beauregard
• In memory of Joyce Shatto
• In honor of Cathy & David Myer's children who both helped MATE

Individual & Family Donors

• Thank you to our many individual and family donors who make up the bulk of our donor base. We are so blessed to have you all behind the work we're doing in rural Central Western Maine!

**for the purpose of confidentiality, we will no longer reveal the names of our individual and family donors**