Have you heard about Boothbay Treasures? A group of 26 local nonprofits from the Boothbay region are collaborating to let the world know that they live, work and serve in one of the most caring places on earth.

With under 10,000 year-round residents, the Boothbay region is home to over 50 nonprofits that serve their peninsula and beyond. In the spirit of #GivingTuesday, a national holiday for philanthropic giving set for Dec. 2, 2014, the effort has been dubbed #BoothbayTreasures, to express both how the community treasures the work they do and how the nonprofits treasure their local supporters.

Upcoming articles and the entire #BoothbayTreasures movement are meant to spotlight some of the important work being done by your neighbors. We hope you will learn something new about the many community and business services, health and wellness resources, nature and science organizations, and cultural institutions in the region; and perhaps you will be inspired to give back to one (or more!) of these nonprofits on #GivingTuesday.

This week highlights the four organizations involved with the #BoothbayTreasures collaborative that focus on community services locally and globally.

With a staff of 20 and 40 volunteers, BeadforLife creates sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty by connecting people worldwide in a circle of exchange that enriches everyone. BeadforLife enrolls women who are living on about $1-$2 a day into an entrepreneurial program in which they are taught how to roll beads as a source of income, all while receiving ongoing literacy, numeracy and business skills trainings. At the end of 18 months, they graduate from the program and go on to open their own small, sustainable business in their communities. To learn more about BeadforLife, visit www.beadforlife.org.

Founded in 2002, the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council (BRCRC) works with a staff of two, and over 30 volunteers. Their mission is to assist persons in need by providing funds, information and referrals in a confidential and collaborative manner. The BRCRC also strives to inform the citizens of the region about the social services available. They accomplish this through the following programs: Community Fuel Assistance, Community Woodpile, Community Clothing Closet, Set-for-Success Back to School Program and Boothbay Region Food Pantry. Visit www.boothbayresources.com to find out more.

The Boothbay Region Student Aid Fund (BRSAF) was established in 1964 to provide scholarship assistance to graduates of Boothbay Region High School. Awards seek to reduce the unmet financial needs of these students attending any post-secondary institution. Using a standardized government formula (FAFSA) to determine the amount students and families can reasonably pay, these institutions make grants and loans. Often there are remaining unmet financial needs. The Student Aid Fund provides grants, paid to the institutions, to help meet these needs for as long as the recipients are in good standing, even throughout graduate programs. For more information, go to https://sites.google.com/site/boothbayregionstudentaidfund/home.

Hope Haitian Ministries was recently formed in 2012 to speak hope to America through the faith testimonies of those from Haiti. They aim to give hope to Haiti through spiritual development and by practically helping them with education, food, water, medical care and other basic needs, always glorifying the name of Jesus Christ. They support this mission with the Hope Haitian Choir, made up of children ages 7-21, which travels the U.S. performing in order to raise funds for specific projects in their homeland. This year, they plan to build a school/church in Haiti. Learn more at www.hopehaitian.com.

To find out more on the #BoothbayTreasures initiative, visit Boothbay Treasures on Facebook or on www.boothbayregister.com on Main Street. This Dec. 2 we encourage you to celebrate the National Day of Giving, #GivingTuesday, by giving back to a local nonprofit. For more information on #GivingTuesday, go to www.givingtuesday.org.