Dear Friends and Supporters,

It is a crisp and bright late October morning as I sit down to write this all-important letter to you and others who have so generously donated to Friends in Action. Like many people, I love this time of year. The hectic pace of the previous two seasons has slowed down – no more frantic spring gardening and fewer events on the calendar than in the summer. As things slow down, there’s more time to think – to reflect on the past and plan for the future. In my role as the President of the Friends in Action Board of Directors, fall offers me a little more time to think about how we encourage people to respond to our annual appeal by offering us financial support.

When I think about why I donate to FIA, my starting place is always our mission – to empower older adults and people living with disabilities to thrive and to live independently, with dignity and a strong quality of life. I know we give a lot of people rides to a lot of different places. So far in 2025, we have given over 5,000 rides to people who need them. We take people to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, barbers or beauticians, and to our Senior Center. Heck, we have even taken a client’s pet to the vet! And in an area like Hancock County, where public transportation is very limited, these rides certainly address our mission directly. I also know that with each one of those miles we drive with our clients comes many intangibles that cannot be quantified – feelings of involvement in a community, connection with friends, freedom, comfort, and safety. There is no doubt in my mind that FIA’s transportation program is critically valuable to the individuals we transport, their families, and to the larger community.

But Friends in Action is so much more than just a lot of rides! The FIA Senior Center is an uplifting place where people congregate, chat, laugh, eat, sip coffee, play games, make art, learn, and get help. It is a place where there are endless opportunities to combat the isolation that so often comes along with the aging process. Every time I enter the Moore Community Center, I am struck by the sounds and sights I encounter. From the cafeteria, I hear conversations and laughter and see people gathered for coffee or lunch. From FIA’s art room, I see the Wednesday Painters bent over their work and silently admire their talent, diligence, and the camaraderie they share with each other. But the real prize comes when I pass the auditorium and the sound of Europa’s upbeat, encouraging instruction to the people in her fitness classes rings out and fills the airwaves. Seeing the auditorium full of people giving it their all to dance, bend, stretch, and march in place ALWAYS puts a smile on my face!

At this time of year, there are many good causes asking you for monetary contributions. As you sit down to make your decisions about which ones you will support, please know that Friends in Action promises to use your donation, no matter how small or large, to have a powerful and lasting impact on the lives of many people in Hancock County. We will get people where they need to go in our communities, and we will offer them ways to feel in community with other people.

I hope we can count on your continued support this year.

With Gratitude,

Charlotte Stetson
Board President

Help us continue to be more “than just a senior center” with a gift today!

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Please help us reach our $60,000 goal by the end of the year!

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Friends in Action
PO Box 1446
Ellsworth, ME 04605

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