Donate Blood:  Our hospitals have a critically low blood supply.  Please consider donating by contacting redcross.org 
 
Donate Plasma: If you have recovered from CoVid 19 the antibodies in your Plasma could save the lives of those severely ill with the virus.  Contact redcross.org on where to donate plasma. 
 
Preble Street Resource Center: Preble Street Resource Center, which serves more than 1,000 meals a day at its soup kitchen, is in need of volunteers. Interested people should sign up online before coming in for a shift, instead of just showing up at the kitchen. Learn more at preblestreet.org/volunteer. Questions can also be directed to [email protected].
 
Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels is looking for people who can help deliver meals to seniors. People who are interested in helping can email [email protected] or leave a message at 396-6595.
 
Maine Med Needs Plug-In Video Baby Monitors for Critically Ill CoVid Patients   The Pallative Medicine Team at Maine Medical Center is caring for seriously ill patients who are dying of Coronavirus. If you have a Plug-In Video Baby Monitor that you no longer need please consider donating to: Shelley MacQuinn Jacobs, Social Worker, Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102   
 
POTHE Parishioners Help With Surgical Mask Shortage   Cheri Lozoraitis is heading up a team of volunteers who are making surgical masks for donation to Portland and area hospitals. Patterns and instructions are available to share. If you have sewing skills and would like to help please contact Cheri: [email protected] or Yvette Knight at yknight@maine. rr.com 

Crafters across Maine and the country are sewing facemasks for health care workers who are on the front lines of the coronavirus. While the state Center for Disease Control and Prevention is not recommending that providers use those donated masks as personal protective equipment at this time, some groups are still fulfilling orders for hospitals and other health care workers. Their intent is to create cloth shields that would go over N95 respirators in order to extend the life of those more effective masks. Some of the Facebook groups that have organized are A Mask for A Mask and Sewing Masks for Maine, but you might find others popping up in your area. Partners for World Health is also sharing surgical blue wrap and other materials to make masks for donations, and contact information for interested volunteers is available at: facebook.com/PartnersForWorldHealth.
 
Parish Outreach – Personalized Phone Trees  There is a parish-wide effort for volunteers to connect by phone, on a weekly basis, with anyone who is homebound, recovering from illness or just wanting a personalized connection during this time of health crisis. If you wish to volunteer for this effort, or are someone who would appreciate a weekly phone call, or are someone who wishes to be a recipient of this effort, please contact parish staff member Kim Palli, at [email protected]. If you do not have an email address, contact our parish office at 847-6890 and your message will get to Kim. In two weeks, we have 50+ volunteers! Thanks and blessings to all of you!  WE ARE GOD’S CHURCH! 

Urgent Appeal: Donations needed at many Maine Soup Kitchens and Pantries: 
 
St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen is in need of donations to support the purchase of food to prepare bagged lunches which volunteers are assembling for the Homeless and NOW Unemployed individuals & families too. Please send donations to:  St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen 307 Congress St, Portland ME 04101/ATTN: Jesse
 
The Good Shepherd Food Bank is still up and running and doing the organizing needed to support the food needs in the state consistent with the current situation.  They anticipate donations from grocery stores to be down 70%. Link to donate to the Good Shepherd Food Bank –  https://www.gsfb.org/get-involved/donate/
 
The Yarmouth Food Pantry has reduced its schedule to two mornings a week (Wed & Fri).  The pantry is limiting donations to certain items since the plan is to prepare bags of food which can be given to people who come to the pantry on the designated day s.   https://www.firstparishyarmouth.org/ya
 
Gray Community Food Pantry   At this time, we would prefer money donations in the form of checks written out to the Gray Community Food Pantry and mailed to me, Jan Nowinski at 55 Westwood Road, Gray, ME  04039. Food donations are still welcome and delivery would be by appointment by calling Donna at 671-4458.
 
Cumberland Food Pantry is still open on Fridays.  We are “shopping” for the clients and then delivering to homes or they come to the drive through.  The pantry is accepting non perishable food donations as well as checks.  Cumberland Food Pantry, 290 Tuttle Rd, Cumberland, ME 04021  
 
The Falmouth Food Pantry is not accepting donations of food at this time. Donations can be made:  1) Through a Pay Pal account at Pay Pal Food Pantry Account, 2) Through a Go-Fund-Me account, which accepts credit cards, at Go Fund Me site, 3) By sending a check to the Falmouth Food Pantry, at 279 Middle Road, Falmouth, ME 04105.  Make the check out to the 'Falmouth Food Pantry'
 
Freeport Community Services Freeport Community Services is bagging groceries and putting out on loading dock Monday & Wednesdays. People can donate food items to the dock on those days as well and donations are being accepted at FCS for food pantry.