Skip to content

Current News

Melissa McLaughlin - Our New Coordinator of Volunteers
September 14, 2026

      The Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition felt fortunate to have several well-qualified individuals apply for the new part-time position of Volunteer Coordinator for MMHC. After interviews and thoughtful consideration, the Board of Directors hired Melissa McLaughlin for the position which will start in Mid-September. 

      Melissa has extensive administrative and volunteer coordinating experience through working at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and Bread & Roses Community Fund. Her previous work with nonprofit organizations involved multi-level communications, scheduling of volunteers, technology systems, and trainings with volunteers. She worked as part of the Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS), coordinating volunteers and support groups engaged in intentional community, social justice, and spirituality.

     We are excited to welcome Melissa to the work of MMHC and we will soon introduce her to both the Family Harbor House community and to the Youth programs now integrated into the MMHC mission. 

MMHC at the Final Belfast Summer Night of 2026
       Photo: Board member Lacey Durkee talks to visitors at Belfast Summer Nights
September 12, 2026
Our newest board member, Lacey Durkee, worked at the information table on September 10. MMHC had the privilege of meeting many of those who came to hear music that night. Visitors asked questions, provided their email addresses, and made cash donations (including a $100 bill!)
Thank You Belfast Co-op!
       Photo: Co-op employees present the Common Cents check to MMHC board members Steve Alspach and Suetta Tenney (lower right, with check).
September 7, 2026
     The Belfast Co-op Common Cents program set a new record during the month of August! During that month, the round-up campaign at the cash registers collected a total of $8,666.15 to support the programs of the Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition.
     A total of 18,165 individual donations were made by Co-op shoppers throughout the month. This resulted in the highest amount raised in one month in ten years of the program! One hundred percent of those donations will help MMHC run its programs for youth and families in Waldo County.

Tabling at Party for the People
       Photo: Board member Joel Krueger answers questions at the infomation booth on a beautiful day.
September 7, 2026
Making friends and finding new volunteers ... MMHC operated an information table at the second-annual Party for the People at Steamboat Landing Park Saturday afternoon, September 7. Lots of people stopped by to learn more about MMHC, Family Harbor House and ways to volunteer.
United Midcoast Charities Honors MMHC, FHH, and Volunteer Wendy Trefrey
       Photo: MMHC board chair Kathy Muzzy (left) and Volunteer Wendy Trefrey (right)
September 1, 2026
      Each month, United Midcoast Charities, in conjunction with FM radio station 105.5  “The Wave”, produces a program called “Be the Tide Volunteer of the Month”. They produce eight radio stories which are then featured on-air three times a day for that month.
      For the month of August 2026, that volunteer is Wendy Trefrey, who volunteers at Family Harbor House in Belfast – the transitional housing program of the Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition. Trefrey and Kathy Muzzy, board chair of MMHC, were interviewed by Becca Gildred, the executive director of United Midcoast Charities.
      They talk about what the organization does, why the volunteer was chosen, and what opportunites exist at the organization. The volunteer is asked why they choose to volunteer with the organization, how they knew it was the right fit for them, what they get to do, and why they feel it is personally rewarding.
      United Midcoast Charities is also the organization that held its annual Rising Tide party and auction on August 20 at Riverside Farm & Learning Center in Searsmont. At that event, MMHC board member Barb Gage spoke about the process of bringing all of the But Still I Am One youth support programs into the MMHC. United Midcoast Charities helped significantly in facilitating that work. UMC then honored MMHC for bringing the programs together smoothly and efficiently, without a break in support for Waldo County youth.
      Read More & Hear the Radio Stories
MMHC Highlighted as an Example of Cooperation, Service, and Efficiency
       Photo: MMHC board member Barb Gage speaks at the Rising Tide party and fundraiser held by United Midcoast Charities
August 22, 2026

      MMHC was asked to speak at the annual Rising Tide event held by United Midcoast Charities (UMC) in Searsmont on August 20. UMC annually provides financial support to more than 40 nonprofit organizations serving Knox and Waldo counties. They asked representatives of MMHC to speak about bringing the transitional housing program of MMHC together with the youth support programs of But Still I Am One, to provide all of those related services under the auspices of one service organization.

       Barb Gage, who served as board president of the former But Still I Am One organization, and is now on the board of Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition, spoke of the support received from United Midcoast Charities as the programs, resources, and leadership of two organizations were brought together earlier this year to create a stronger, more efficient, more-unified service provider focused on homelessness in Waldo County.

        UMC had provided significant support to MMHC in evaluating the mission of the programs, coordinating support resources, and facilitating the transition. MMHC was honored to be recognized by United Midcoast Charities at this event, and also to have the opportunity to thank them publicly for all their assistance. The goal of United Midcoast Charities is to provide financial support, strategic guidance, and tangible resources to Midcoast nonprofits providing services in the areas of food, housing, health & safety, and economic security.

       Midcoast Maine Homeless Coalition continues to provide housing for previously unhoused families at Family Harbor House in Belfast, and now also operates the Homelessness Prevention Initiative,  providing financial support to offset costs of food, utilities, rent or other needs to allow the youth to avoid homelessness as they stay with an appropriate family in the community.

       In addition, MMHC provides a one-time prepaid Visa card, or PEX card, to youth who are facing home insecurity in Waldo County, giving them an opportunity to make their own decisions about expenses, budgeting, and have more control over their lives. There is also driver’s education funding is available for youth aged 16-21 who are home insecure.

Playground Cleanup Day - Not Exactly as Planned
       Photo: Board Member Steve Alspach gets down-and-dirty, digging out the floor of the old shed.
August 15, 2026
      Cleaning and painting were on the agenda for this volunteer day in the playground behind Family Harbor House. First up was the clean-out of the storage shed alongside the playground. All went well until the workers found much of the floor of the shed was rotted out. The morning was spent largely with ripping out part of the old floor and installing a new one. This was a big step forward, and the painting of small buildings in the playground will wait for another day.
      A big thank you goes to volunteers Stacy Stewart, Laurence Pengelly, Drew Gage, board members Joel Krueger and Steve Alspach, as well as Family Harbor House Director David Beseda. The playground itself still needs some touchup, but is in great shape for Family Harbor House children to play in.