The Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church was the setting for a Tuesday, Jan. 17 Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast honoring community volunteers who serve under the umbrella of the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council (BRCRC). East Boothbay General Store prepared the breakfast.

“Each program has a committee chair, and volunteers serve under that chair. This breakfast is a thank you for all that they do,” explained Sue Burge, president of the BRCRC. The six programs in the BRCRC include the Free Clothing Closet, Food for Thought, Woodchucks, Community Fuel Fund, Set for Success, and the Addiction Outreach Specialist program. Burge refers to them as “spokes” to the “hub” of the wheel, the Community Navigator program.

Before opening the program with a short prayer, the Reverend Dr. Sarah Foulger reminded those assembled that, “In a very divisive time, service is what brings us together.”

Burge's introductory remarks included one of her favorite quotes, attributed to Pastor Bill Wilson. “To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world,” she said to volunteers.

Amy Winston, Ph.D, L.S.W., and Kathleen Arabasz, L.S.W., coordinators of the Community Navigator program, provided an overview of what they do. “We are the mechanism for coordination and a single point of contact for the peninsula,” she said. Arabasz joined Winston on the BRCRC last May, and Winston is grateful. “We went from seeing 282 clients in 2015 to seeing 416 in 2016. I peaked at 54 a month in 2015. After Kathleen came on, 33 was my peak. Kathleen peaked out at 41. Having two of us has made my life easier,” Winston said.

David Patch, commander of American Legion Post 36, presented the BRCRC with a check. “Besides connecting with veterans, the American Legion supports the community,” he said. “Partnering with BRCRC enabled us to contribute in an efficient way. We collaborated on our American Legion breakfast this year, and we doubled our intake and our profit. We need to thank you for joining us at the breakfasts. Attendance has greatly increased, because now we have the most wonderful waffles from our waffle lady. I am here to present a ceremonial check to BRCRC for $936.67.” Burge thanked Patch, and said to the crowd, “If you haven't been, you should go. And yes, my husband and I do a Belgian waffle station.”

Patch surprised Burge with a certificate of appreciation for the advancement of the American Legion programs. “She's brought guidance on how to support the things we do,” he said.

Next, Burge introduced Nancy Van Dyke, who received one of this year's the 'extra mile' awards. Burge said Van Dyke “helped create the Food for Thought program. Not only does she hold down the volunteer driver base for Food for Thought, she works alongside me to coordinate our back-to-school event, Set for Success. Often, I've referred to her as 911-Nancy.”

Said a surprised Van Dyke, “I couldn't do it without the whole Food for Thought team. I want to thank them, most of all.”

Next, Burge introduced Andy Hamblett, executive director of the Boothbay Region YMCA, which offers the Field House and storage closet for Set for Success, entering its sixth year. “Through the past five years, after Set for Success day, I return to the Y to turn in my keys. And it isn't uncommon for Andy to invite me into his office to say, 'Sue, what date should we put on the calendar for next year?'”

Holly Stover, who has been hired part-time as an Addiction Outreach Specialist for BRCRC, recognized Hamblett in another way. “In this community we have a serious opiate problem,” she said. “We have found that healing the body after a long period of addiction is a challenge. Andy has been instrumental by offering a free membership to those in recovery. Being able to be part of the community makes all the difference in the world to them.”

Stover also thanked Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Bob Hasch for his role regarding the opiate crisis. “Doing this work is more than a paid job. You don't shut it off when you go home at night. You worry about these people and you hope you're going to see them again. Thank you for going above and beyond and for making this program happen,” she said.

Stover presented Burge with flowers at the end of the program, saying, “She doesn't just do this because she's a committed volunteer, it comes right from the center of her heart. She believes in the best of our community.”

Burge concluded the program by saying to those present, “Look at you. What a wonderful community we live in. Beautiful people, with giving hearts. When we each do our little piece, we can move mountains and we can save lives. Thank you all.”