WTH BWB January 23, 2026

Greetings!

I’m on day 3 of being unable to stand after a bad fall at home. My wife has been so incredibly supportive as I have been getting around on an office chair over a plastic chair mat from our bedroom to one made with Chewy boxes to the Oval Office.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

There’s no feeling quite like being freshly showered. Using a transfer chair my wife picked up at Home Depot and with her help I’ve been able to clean up nicely. Tonight, we used the bench to the little shower stool I normally use. My ankle is healing albeit slowly.

I’m so very excited as Bangor Adult Education is offering a Creative Writing class over in Brewer starting later this month and the Board of Trustees are okay with moving meetings to the last Wednesdays of the month as opposed to the last Tuesday evenings as Tuesday evenings are the nights of the class.

Writing has ALWAYS been something I’ve enjoyed. I have one historic short story published from a previous class that’s part of an anthology.

There’s a story I wanted to continue working on and having classes is a great “nudge” to make time for writing. I have also written many poems that actually rhyme. I stopped counting at 50 poems.

Our bylaws have been accepted by the Trustees and because the original founding bylaws were signed, according to our SCORE Mentor (Senior Corps Of Retired Executives) Dennis Wint, it’s not necessary to have the updated version signed.

I’ve reached out to one of the Masons who is a professional carpenter and was one of four who worked on fixing up 333’s entryways a couple of years ago. He in turn is reaching out to the other carpenters to see if we can get their help to repair the wraparound porch. The house would look naked without it as it’s a nice addition that was put on many years ago and wasn’t original to the main house which we’ve determined was built in the 1820s.

Just had a nice email exchange with Board member Craig Saunders. He’s a great example of how devoted to the mission someone can be and how friendly they can be. There have been a couple of events we’ve gone to that have been a challenge for me, not just because of parking but the distance between where I can park and how far I would have to hike with my canes or rollator/walker.

Once again, I want to put out a call. Not just to the usual…. Clubs and organizations to organize and oversee a fun/fund/awareness raising event but something else.

Back a number of months ago, I learned that one of the people we helped with furniture up in Lincoln had sadly passed but wanted what we gave him to come back to WTH and given back out to someone in need. Instead, I contacted Maureen Bean who started a food pantry up in Burlington, which is just above Lincoln and even serves people from Danforth which is in Washington County and she found someone local who could use it.

In the process of calling around, I spoke with the General Assistance representative in the Town of Lincoln. In the conversation I learned that General Assistance there and apparently in other town offices, when someone no longer needs adaptive equipment or passes away, loved ones often contact the Town and donate it. The other factor is that not every G.A. office has SPACE for the equipment.  

January 23, 2026

When we say that we serve ANYONE in need in the State of Maine, we’re not kidding. There’s an online referral service and there is a family with baby in South Portland and they needed a crib. I spoke with her and asked her to try and reach Furniture Friends but all she got and all I got when calling was a voicemail. Rather than wasting time going back and forth with phone calls, voicemails, etc. I texted her back and said we’d take care of it. There was a nice crib that converts 5 ways and a mattress that Amazon claims will be delivered by Monday, except I don’t think they’ve considered the massive snowstorm forecast for Sunday night into Monday.

What is really cool to me is the fact that the lady we helped is an immigrant from Nigeria. Ever since I can remember, diversity and genealogy has fascinated me.  It’s heartbreaking to see how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) is running amok all over the United States and even here in the State of Maine. As a kid if I saw someone different, instead of making a judgement or being fearful, I would go right over and introduce myself. The mother with the baby in Nigeria was a teaching and research analyst.

I think the reason that the TV Series Star Trek was and remains popular is it shows diversity and hope for a society that celebrates differences and the fact that outward appearances mean nothing.

I remember in grade school how poorly a couple of special education kids were treated by the students and how poorly a friend of mine in high school was treated because of the color of his skin. In fact when gym class (physical education) had square dancing, my friend Dana assumed none of the girls wanted to dance with him and asked me if I would come to talk to the coach with him. I did and Dana ended up getting into boxing and did pretty well.

I’ve run into people in my 64 years that are prejudiced, including one who was a racist that was the (now former) Executive Vice President of the American Cancer Society. I’ve also had run-ins with classmates in high school who were homophobic and gave me grief because I had good adult friends who owned a florist shop where I worked.

Well, I’m a day late in submitting this blog as it’s the 24th of January. I wanted to write more but sadly the mood has shifted for me as there had been another fatal shooting in Minnesota at the hands of I.C.E.

I also have to get my agenda together for this month’s Board of Trustees meeting.

Have yourself a peaceful and productive couple of weeks.

Sincerely yours,

Christopher K. Olsen
Founder and Board of Trustees President

welcometohousing@gmail.com

Call or Text (207) 745-1287