Oct. 15, St. Andrews Auxiliary members gathered at St. Andrews Village’s dining room for their annual presentation of donations and group luncheon. 

The group’s donations for 2025-2026 were $79,995, and the 2024-2025 scholarships were $45,938, for a combined $125,933. President of LincolnHealth, Cindy Wade, was there to accept part of this funding.  

Linda Redman shared during the event that they are currently over 11 scholarship recipients, including one who was recently accepted to Tufts University School of Medicine.  

“If you buy at the thrift shop, donate to the thrift shop (or) work at the thrift shop, that makes this all possible ... You should be really, really proud that you are helping a lot of students succeed in the medical field,” she said. 

Two guest speakers from LincolnHealth shared brief presentations on their programs.

Community Health Program Manager Kristina Verney discussed “Help Yourself Shelves,” satellite food pantries in medical facilities in Wiscasset, Boothbay, Waldoboro and Damariscotta. The auxiliary donates personal care items to Boothbay Family Care Center as part of this program.  

According to Verney, Maine is ranked first in New England and 21st in the country for household food insecurity; this issue is present for 12.5% of Lincoln County residents. 

However, it was observed that many local food pantries have limited working hours, which can make it hard for working families and those with unreliable transportation; the stigma with seeking food assistance can also be a deterrent; with funds dispersed during the pandemic, the shelves were started to address this need.  

“People still need medical care. So even if they couldn't make it to a food pantry, they were able to get to their doctor's office,” she said 

Verney reported the program has been incredibly successful and has persisted despite last year’s funding cuts. Currently, LincolnHealth uses a mixture of purchased items from Good Shepherd Food Bank and free donations from the Midcoast Hunger Prevention program in Brunswick to keep the pantries stocked.  

Case manager for MaineHealth Care Partners, Jeff Slack, thanked the auxiliary for their funding and the work it does helping Lincoln County residents. Slack mainly works as an advocate for people who are uninsured, or who fall into coverage gaps, to either adjust their bill if they are income eligible, and navigate the insurance process, among other services.

“The work that you guys do has given me such peace of mind going home at night," he said. 

Fall Donations Total: $57, 730 

Boothbay Region Health Center: 

Medical Grade Scale and Height Machine - $230 

Three New Exam Tables - $6,000 

Surgical Instruments (General Surgery Set) - $500 

Two Dynamap Pro Care Vital Sign Machines - $1,500 

Boothbay Region Ambulance Service - $10,000 

St. Andrews Village:  

Patient Gifts – $2,000 

Nurse Call System - $27,500 

School-Based Health Center - $5,000 

Care Partners Assistant Fund - $5,000 

Spring Donation Totals: $22,265 

SASSMM - $5,000 

Meals on Wheels - $1,000 

St. Andrews Campus: 

Elliptical Machine - $6,265 

Nursing School - $5,000 

District Nurse - $5,000