April Founder’s/President’s Report to Trustees April 28, 2026
Greetings everyone.
Where do I start?
The solar array was almost done last week, save for two or three panels that we found our today also had special “off switches” that are required by fire code. Those panels, however, were STOLEN last week and hopefully the security camera will give police an idea of who took them.
I’ve been trying to reach the people that own the salon on the opposite side of the building from us from the Marsh Island Apartments. I want to see if they would allow us to use their Internet connection so that security cameras can be more easily accessed. As part of the deal, I would get one more additional camera that would scan that side of our building as well as that side of their building.
Another incident was when someone tried to kick in the very old oak double doors which caused a crack in the bottom of the door. Gary Smith, my best friend and handyman with his fellow carpenter friend came up and with some nails and glue repaired the split door. They also added a thin piece of wood behind the deadbolt, so it is easier to lock and unlock. Despite this, the warehouse volunteers are going to keep a breaker bar in place which is fine.
The solar system is now completed. The next steps before activation are an inspection by The City of Old Town. That inspection is then shared with Versant and then the system gets activated. In addition to saving us an estimated 80-percent (Yes, they upgraded us at no charge) which will help when the colder months are here and we won’t have to worry as much using our 3-unit heat pump system, it also follows our mission. That being the fact we’re environmentally friendly and we’re using a system that can “bank” energy credits for the colder months and we’re not expending any fossil fuels.
Latest meme went out this afternoon, as we were contacted by an agency from Missouri that is helping a 92-year-old lady from Ellsworth by trying to find her a lift chair. Her contact information is on the meme so a donor can call or email Stephanie Giberti. It’s also been forwarded and shared with Sarah Bowden the head of Community Closet 207 in Ellsworth and I’ve asked her to share with some of the Ellsworth furniture store owners. It also went to Jason Parent, the CEO of ACAP which now oversees Hancock and Washington Counties as well as Aroostook.
As a side note, both Sarah as well as Jason were featured in separate half hour podcasts, which has helped raise awareness for them, and helped us build and even stronger connection that, like today’s “ask” can make a big difference.
Pasted below is the letter composed by Robin our treasurer that we mailed out to the folks with the Narragansett Number One Foundation to report how last year’s $20,00 has been used. We also, thanks to Craig Saunder’s quick work, we also submitted an updated grant quest to NNOF for THIS year as well.
April 27, 2026
Dear Narragansett Number One Board,
Thank you for the grant awarded to Welcome to Housing Home Goods Bank in May of 2025. It has been greatly appreciated and truly made a big impact on our organization. Your support allowed us to continue with our work of providing people in need with home goods such as furniture, bedding, cookware, dishes and other household necessities. We have also been able to offer adaptive equipment to elderly and disabled community members. We would like to provide you with a summary of how the funds were used.
Between last May and the end of the first quarter of 2026 we spent approximately $18,000 of the grant funds. A major part of the grant was used to keep our facility (warehouse) open so that we can store the household goods and adaptive equipment donated by the community and have the clients we serve come in to pick out what they need. We are fortunate to own our building, so we do not have recurring rental costs. Also, as a 100% volunteer staffed organization we have no salary costs. As you know, do still incur expenses as we endeavor to provide services to people in need throughout the state.
Facility Costs
· Insurance $4200.00
· Electricity $2500.00
· Sewer, Water $550.00
· Trash Removal $830.00
· Snow plowing $500.00
· General Supplies $200.00
o Cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, sand/salt for ice
· Repairs $2200.00
o The repairs needed were for replacement of a faulty hot water tank and a leaking toilet.
Transportation
· Truck rental $1765.00
· Fuel $365.00
Office/admin $1800.00
· Includes web site costs, printing, tax form prep and general office supplies
Client Purchases $3005.00
· These purchases include items that were needed for clients and were not available from donations or were required to be new (baby items for example.)
We would like to share a few stories of the people who we have helped over the past year. These are just a few examples of literally hundreds of people who have come to Welcome to Housing for either household goods or adaptive equipment. In many cases, the needs appear very easy to obtain to most of us, but to someone without the resources available to purchase items it can be a daunting task. Thanks to the support provided by Narragansett Number One foundation we were there to help fulfill their needs.
Ø A lady contacted us asking for help in getting a small dorm sized fridge and microwave oven. She had recently experienced the amputation of a leg and was experiencing difficulty getting around in her home. She was on the second floor while her kitchen was on the 1st floor. Her son worked during the day and although he was happy to leave a lunch for her to eat while he was at work she had no way to get to it, and no way to keep it fresh on the second floor. She also had no access to a cool drink. Money was very tight due to expenses from her illness, so they reached out. We were able to purchase a small fridge for her to have in her room as well as a small microwave oven. This way she could be more self-sufficient and maintain good nutrition while her son was at work.
Ø A young couple reached out to see if we could help with a crib for their baby who would be arriving in a few weeks. The couple has been homeless for a while but recently had found work, as well as apartment. We were able to provide them with a safe new crib and mattress for the baby.
Ø A hospital social worker called to see if by chance we had any oxygen concentrators. She had a patient who did not have insurance ( was in process of applying for Maine Care) but had to have an oxygen concentrator in order to be released from the hospital. This was not an item anyone had donated to us, but in an effort to secure one we sent out a social media blitz. Amazingly we received a call from a supporter that her friend no had one they no longer needed and was willing to donate it. The patient was able to leave the hospital and breathe a bit easier.
Ø Mattresses are one of the items in high demand. Everyone needs a comfortable bed to sleep in. We are fortunate that many hotels donate their beds when they upgrade. Late last year a hotel donated many excellent queen size beds and box springs. About a week later a client reached out. Previously we had provided her husband with a wheelchair and commode. She said she hated to ask for more, but did we have a mattress set since theirs had collapsed and now her husband with health issues could not sleep. The timing was fortuitous, so we were able to quickly provide them with a “new to them” bed. In some cases, we have to purchase mattresses, typically twin size. A recent situation involved a family who had been housed after experiencing homelessness. The children required beds before they could be reunified with their family. Since we had adequate funding available thanks to your grant we were able to purchase the needed twin beds.
These are just a few examples of the people we were able to assist at Welcome to Housing over the past year.
Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have any questions or would like to have additional information on how the 2025 grant funds were utilized. We are extremely grateful to Narragansett Number One foundation for its support.
Gratefully yours,
Christopher Olsen
Founder and Board President
Other Updates:
Craig has followed up with Brenda Moody who has agreed to sit in on the upcoming Fundraising Team meeting.
I spoke with Professor Katie Swacha from UMaine and she is still VERY interested in serving on the Marketing Team headed up by Joe Lawlor.
I also FINALLY connected with and have email address for Suzanne Farley who JUST retired from running the Wellspring, Inc. program. My suggestion would be to see if she could help us with getting volunteers to assist with Community Outreach.
Warehouse is packed to the gills, and the volunteers are doing a GREAT job. We’re hoping to hear back soon from one possible source on getting an exterior French Door.
As I mentioned up top, I’ve also left several messages (I can’t get into their building very easily anymore) with the Hair Salon next door. I’ve been trying to see about getting permission to piggyback on their Wi-Fi to enable us to access the security cameras we have.
Recent programs going on and ending this month:
A push to “Write In” WTH for the Bangor Savings Community Matters More ballot.
Hogan Road Hannaford in Bangor thanks to an old friend and former volunteer, is selling Community Bags for $2.50 and for every bag sold WTH gets $1.00. Store Manager Vic Wood also has a program involving floral bouquets this fall with a similar set up for us to receive a portion of the proceeds.
With some of the information we gathered for the NNOF report, we now have what we need to complete the application to the Agnes M. Lindsay Trust , asking for $5,000 to go into the adaptive equipment program.
I also want to remind everyone that Versant Power employees, a few years ago, voted for WTH to receive a $6,500 grant to help offset transportation costs for truck rental and fuel. We had a total of $2,300 left in our account at one point and if it weren’t for that grant we would have had to have shut down temporarily or worse. I mention this, so when we talk about the great new solar power system, please don’t put the folks at Versant in a negative light. Thank You.
For those of you who haven’t checked out the BWB (Bi-Weekly Blog) please do. They’re all posted on our website under the tab of “Our Story” and then click on “Press.”
I am hoping to mail out a hard copy of a request letter to the area towns and cities, asking for a monetary donation and asking that it be included every year from here on out. I KNOW we could email one but in years past, a hard copy has worked for several communities to send us $500.
I would also like to form a meeting of volunteers to brainstorm a program to approach the many programs in the area to consider “Adopting” a day each month to come in and help at 333. The sources I can see us approaching include:
Unlimited Solutions Club House (PCHC)
MERT Enterprises
Amicus
Living Innovations
Downeast Horizons
Wellspring Women’s House and Women and Children’s House*(Still trying to connect with new director Rick Gwinn who has taken over since Suzanne Farley’s retirement from Wellspring.
I heard from Martin Somers who has a commitment on Wednesdays, and I wanted to see if the Board would like to consider moving meetings back to the last Tuesday of the month. We only changed it when yours truly had a writing class every Tuesday night.
Theta Chi came out to work at 333. They plan to come back this fall to assist once we get the funds from the City of Old Town (façade grant funds) and our Mason’s carpenter, Louis Manzo to pull together the materials needed to give 333’s wraparound porch the repairs and facelift she deserves (Yes, a “She” as I feel like a Captain of a fine ship).
I KNOW there’s MORE to share but I have run out of time.
If you’re interested in checking out the Podcast, it’s on several platforms but it’s easiest to find on YouTube by simply copying and pasting the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/@PeoplePlacesParables
Respectfully,
Christopher Olsen
Founder and Board of Trustees President
