TRP 2023 Project Information Form: Boston Cohort – The Regenesis Institute for Regenerative Practice

Your Name	Richard Gorvett
TRP Cohort Assignment	Americas with In-Person Intensive in Boston 2023
Study Cohort Members	Dan Butt, Elva Castaneda, Jennifer T. O., Carmen Bonilla, Molly Mysliwiec
Working Title of The Project (which we will use to refer to it throughout the series)	Freeport Community Services
Project Location	Freeport, Maine, USA
Nature of The Project (e.g. building, new community, economic development, etc.)	Town community services organization. Freeport Community Services has been helping its neighbors since 1974. 45 years ago, a small group of Freeport citizens recognized that some of their neighbors were struggling to meet their families’ basic needs such as clothing, food and home heating fuel. Operating from a space above a volunteer’s garage, they collected furniture and clothing to distribute to those in need of help. Their effort has evolved and grown over the years into today’s Freeport Community Services. FCS is a vibrant 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that fulfills its mission through a range of programs and emergency and relief services including a food pantry, fuel assistance, summer camp scholarships, summer lunch, holiday meals and holiday helpline. FCS’ mission and programs are carried out by a stalwart staff of 12, supported by over 200 dedicated community volunteers. From sorting donations to the thrift shop to managing the annual budget to serving nutritious lunches to schoolchildren, these 2 groups form the heart and soul of FCS. Every day the community center which is owned and managed by FCS is a beehive of activity and energy that makes all of us involved with FCS very proud.
Why do you think this project is appropriate for the course assignment?	It is a town-level organization focused on supporting the community. They have a building, offer a variety of different programming to meet the needs of different segments of the community, and have a mixed revenue model, with foundation and corporate partners as well as a thriving thrift store. They are about to celebrate their 50 Year Anniversary, and in the fall will be doing their visioning for the next 50 years + their next strategy for the next several years. In this work they will be trying to figure out how they can be of greatest service to the community going forward. The Exec Director (Sarah Lundin) is very interested in our work, will be very available for us, and any recommendations we come up with will be fed into their work in the fall.
Additional Useful Information	website: https://fcsmaine.org/about-us/ :
Date Created	May 30, 2023